Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Perkinston Campus is holding a School of Performing and Visual Arts fundraiser entitled “Closure” on April 21 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Biloxi and on April 22 at the Perkinston Campus.

On April 21 at 6:30 p.m., Mississippi Sound, the Perkinston World Voices Chamber Choir, Perkinston Campus Concert Choir, along with Blessed Seelos, Our Lady of Fatima, and St. Michael parishes adult and children’s choirs will perform together, allowing students and community partners to demonstrate their talents to the community.

On April 22 at 6 p.m., the Perkette Dance Team, Mississippi Sound and the Perkinston Concert Choir will partner with visual arts students and instructors for the program at Malone Hall Auditorium.  The showcase offers students the opportunity to express themselves and explore their artistry through choreographic and performance works. The event will conclude with an art show and reception in the Community Arts Center.

All school and CDC Covid-19 guidelines will be followed, and social distancing will be enforced throughout the entirety of the events. Masks will be required by audience members at all times.

Prices for special VIP reserved seating is a donation of $10 for the community and $5 for students.  Tickets will also be on sale at the door.

For information contact Brandon Ring at 601-928-6370 or brandon.ring@mgccc.edu or Britney Patten at 601-928-6979 or britney.kuehn@mgccc.edu.

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Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Harrison County Campus will host its annual Spring Student Art Exhibit and Competition on April 1-May 3 in the campus Fine Arts Gallery.

Among the students showcased in the exhibit is Kayla Treadway, who is pursuing a career in animation. She works with pen and ink as well as digital media to create multiple illustrations, characters and stories. Her mixed-media drawing “Ancient Grave of Terrible Lizards” led her down a path of Aztec architecture.

“I looked up multiple sources of the ancient ruins, buried in jungle flora and detailed with specific runes,” she said. “I came up with the story that this Aztec tribe had accidentally woken up ancient reptilian spirits by incorporating their fossils into the stone buildings themselves.”

Uyen My T. Nguyen, originally from Vietnam, has been in the U.S. for almost seven years. “My dream is to become an anime/game characters creator, and visual effect artist,” she said. “I enjoy drawing portraits and animated figures, but now I’m trying to explore more different and creative art skills.”

In March, she won three awards in the 33rd annual Student Art Exhibition and Competition of the Mississippi Community College Art Instructors Association. She won first place in the Drawing category with her pencil piece titled “White and Dark Objects,” a value study project from her Drawing I class.

Bethany Johnson plans to become an art therapist after she pursues a master’s degree. She is predominantly an oil painter, preferring painterly style. “My favorite subject matter is a tie between portraits and florals. Even better when they are together,” she said. “My still life ‘Antebellum’ is an ode to Mississippi life. The bold magnolia in this piece plays tribute to the strong and beautiful women of Mississippi.”

Morgan Dingman said she began attending various art classes at MGCCC to expand her horizons and meet others who had similar mindsets.  Her mixed-media piece “Embrace of Organic Energy” is a reaction to the pandemic. “A fragile cat is being held up safely by gloved healthy hands,” she said.  “This is a pointed visual towards the distancing and isolation the world has had to part take in and is a portrayal of the literal barrier between contact.”

She said the fragile hairless cat is more prone to injury and illness, representing the vulnerable, immunocompromised members of society. “I wanted this piece to induce a feeling of reflection on our past, present and future, of where we have been, where we are now, and where we are going as an overall people and society,” she said.

The exhibit is free and open to the public. The Harrison County Campus is located at 2226 Switzer Rd, Gulfport. The art gallery is located in the fine arts building, building D. Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.  For more information, contact matthew.steadman@mgccc.edu or 228-897-3736.

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Thomas Capers of Pass Christian is set to complete the Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technology program at the college’s West Harrison County Center in May.  He already works as an apprentice for a tractor sales and repair business in Poplarville.

“I was active duty with the U.S. Coast Guard for four years and worked at Ingalls Shipbuilding for five years,” he said.  “I have always wanted to complete training in working on heavy equipment, so I decided to study at MGCCC.  It was the best decision I could have made.  We have extensive hands-on training here and that helps me fully understand any subject we are covering.”

When the class began learning essential skills, he said they made a difference in how he approached work.  “The essential skills are implemented daily on our program and began day one,” he said.  “They have helped me be a better listener and a better communicator, which makes a difference on my job and in class.  I’m very pleased with what I’ve gained in preparation for my future career.”

Capers said that another essential skill, punctuality, is something he thought he never had a problem with.  “I learned through our QEP training that punctuality is not just about being on time,” he said. “It’s also about being ready and prepared to begin your workday. It’s about leaving your home problems at home and being ready to do the job. There’s a lot more to these skills than meets the eye and it does make you more successful at work. I think it is so important that MGCCC is providing instruction in these skills so that we are better prepared to go to work.”

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Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s George County Center is starting an Honors College for students at the George County Center beginning fall semester 2021.  The program will offer students special opportunities for scholarships at MGCCC, special honors recognition at MGCCC’s graduation, and, upon transfer, opportunities to join Honors Colleges at universities that have agreements with MGCCC.

“We are very excited about being able to offer our students the chance to participate in the Honors College here at the George County Center as opposed to going to another campus for those classes,” said Dr. Lisa Rhodes, Administrative Dean at the George County Center.  “They will be able to participate in Honors contracts with instructors in several subjects and complete Honors projects.  Additionally, community projects will allow them to give back to the community and teach them how to be responsible citizens wherever they choose to live after college.”

A space in the center’s Academic Building is being set up as an Honors Lounge, where Honors students can work on projects, get advised, study and hang out.  “This will be an incredible space where our Honors students can relax and study in a more private space,” Rhodes said.

Students can apply for the Honors College now. Current MGCCC students, high school students from local private and public high schools, and high school students that are home schooled are welcome to apply.  “We are looking for the best and brightest and we have plenty of those students here in George County, so we are looking for this program to be a great success.”

For more information on the college’s Honors programs, visit mgccc.edu/honors.  For more information on the George County Center and the Honors program there, contact Mandy Withrow at (601) 947-6456 or mandy.withrow@mgccc.edu.

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The Apprentice Electric Lineman (AEL) program at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s George County Center has strong ties to industry, providing 100 percent of its graduates in the fall 2020 class to be placed in jobs.

“Our students receive industry-driven training that prepares them well for entry level work in the utilities field,” said David Eubanks, program instructor. “Companies that have partnered with us for years regularly hire our graduates because they know they are ready to start work on day one.”

After graduating from the lineman program in December, Matthew Lee of Summit, was hired immediately by Magnolia Electric Power as an apprentice lineman.

“My instructors at MGCCC always helped me and made sure we all learned as much as possible during the 16-week program,” Lee said. “Not only did I learn about the trade, but also how to work safely as a team with my peers. I’m very thankful for this program and both my instructors – Mr. David Eubanks and H.L. Ivey”

Eubanks said that an advisory board made up of industry leaders helps decide the curriculum for the program.  “On top of the state and national standards we are required to meet, industry advisory companies help set the requirements for graduation,” he said. “We want to make sure our students are getting what they need to succeed in their careers.”

Apprentice Electric Lineman Advisory Council companies and their representatives meet with  college administrators and AEL instructors twice a year to discuss and determine many topics such as curriculum, safety, equipment updates and needs, and budget.  They include Singing River Electric Cooperative, Dixie Electric Power Association, Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association, South Mississippi Cooperative Energy, and Magnolia Electric Power.  These companies hire many of the program graduates and often provide equipment for use in training students.

The AEL program is a one-semester program that is held each fall. Students receive specialized instruction in certification areas required by the electrical power industry. Upon completion, students are prepared for an entry level position as an electrical power-line installer or repairer.

The curriculum focuses on basic safety, basic electricity, pole climbing and bucket truck operation, along with other basic skills needed for entry-level work in the utilities field.

For more information about the AEL program, contact the George County Center at (601) 766-6424.

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Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College was selected as a Military Friendly Spouse School by Victory Media and was ranked in the Top 10 nationally.  More than 12,000 colleges, universities and trade schools compete for the Military Friendly designation each year.

Institutions of higher learning competed for the title by completing an extensive survey.  Additionally, the data collected by Victory Media are sourced from public data and personal data collected from surveys of veterans, active-duty military, spouses and dependents, as well as data provided by the U.S. Departments of Veteran Affairs, Labor, Defense, and Education. Results are audited by an outside agency before being published.

MGCCC assists its military students in scheduling courses around temporary duty assignments and interruptions for deployment. The institution’s military withdrawal policy ensures military students avoid any hardships when called into active duty. For military service members, military base campus representatives provide one-stop-shop services, including priority registration assistance, degree evaluations, and book service. Each MGCCC campus and center provides a VA School Certifying Official (SCO) to meet the needs of veterans, military spouses, and military dependents. Furthermore, Enrollment Specialists at our campus locations coordinate the review of transfer credit/military credit. Active-duty military, spouses, dependents and veterans receive in-state tuition.

MGCCC participates in the MyCAA Scholarship program (https://mgccc.edu/enroll/apply-now/military-students/spouse-education-and-career-opportunities/) as a benefit to military spouses.

For more information about MGCCC’s Military Friendly designation and top-10 ranking, please visit https://www.militaryfriendly.com/schools/mississippi-gulf-coast-community-college/.

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Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is committed to student success and has worked diligently over the past year to ensure all students are receiving the resources they need to be successful. From offering a BOGO plan last summer to opening new state-of-the-art facilities this fall and spring, Gulf Coast has continued to positively impact its students’ lives and be a great first choice for higher education.

In an effort to support students who continued their educational journey during the pandemic, MGCCC offered nearly $4 million in assistance to students in the form of CARES grants throughout 2020 and over $5 million in traditional college and foundation scholarships. The College will continue to provide another $4 million in grants throughout 2021 ranging from $400 to $600 for students enrolled in Spring, Summer, and/or Fall semester classes. Other initiatives include assisting students to clear past educational debt, offering a computer loan program, and providing wrap-around services such as virtual advising sessions and stocked food and clothing pantries to address other important student needs. Student-centered planning continues daily as MGCCC removes barriers for student success.

Dr. Mary S. Graham, MGCCC president, said the college received federal funds through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA).  “While some colleges are offering free summer tuition for one semester to students, we have taken a measured approach to distribute these funds to our students over multiple semesters,” she said. “We want to ensure Gulf Coast students are provided the resources they need to complete their degree or certificate. As we near graduation, we celebrate our students’ perseverance and resiliency as they reach this milestone.”

As part of Commitment Week taking place across the district, the college is currently holding in-person student orientation sessions and enrolling students for summer and fall classes. CARES funding will continue to be available to these students during summer and fall terms until all funds have been disbursed.

For more information or to apply for summer or fall classes, visit mgccc.edu/apply.

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The Student Occupational Therapy Assistant (SOTA) organization at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College has invited Visiting Pet Teams of South Mississippi to the Perkinston Campus on May 5, 2021 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. to administer pet therapy to students, employees, and visitors. The therapy dogs will be stationed in front of the campus cafeteria building along with their representatives/handlers for one-on-one love and attention.

“Our goal is to promote health and wellness during finals week through the use of therapy dogs,” said Emma Claire Dunaway, SOTA President.  “We know animals can reduce stress levels, which is why they are so often used at children’s hospitals, the veterans’ administration, and senior living facilities. We wanted to bring this opportunity to the Perkinston Campus so that everyone could enjoy a moment of relaxation and respite from exam stress.”

Dunaway added that this event will provide insight for SOTA members on participant interest in this activity and that may lead to a future research project on the effects of pet therapy provided at MGCCC campuses. Participants can volunteer to answer SOTA member questions such as, self-identified stress on a scale of 1-10 before and after the petting/interaction activity; educating participants on the value of health, wellness, pets and occupational therapy in countering stress; and if the participant would like to see this activity repeated during other stressful times on campus.

“Covid 19 has added to stress levels over the past year and that stress may affect how everyone handles life activities at school and at home,” she said. “If you experience elevated stress during final’s week, consider planned activities to decrease those levels. Activities that improve or boost your outlook on life can lower perceived stress. In the educational setting at MGCCC, occupational therapy promotes individual strengths and healthy habits to improve resiliency and sustained wellness.  We want everyone to know that pet therapy is one way to destress and can be very successful. Furry hugs and pats are certainly a very cheerful way to take care of yourself!”

Visiting Pet Teams of South Mississippi is a nonprofit organization that provides therapy animals and their handlers to hospitals, nursing homes, hospice care and other venues where pet therapy is welcome and effective. For more information on the group, visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/vptsmtherapydogs/.

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The Pi Epsilon Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society won in five categories at Catalyst, the PTK national conference, in April and walked away with an award in nearly every category at the Mississippi/Louisiana Spring Regional Conference in March.  The chapter, at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Jackson County Campus, was highlighted throughout both events, which students were able to watch virtually.

During the regional conference, the chapter was awarded the following:

• First place in the Honors in Action Theme – The Heirs of Our Ways
• First place for the College Project
• First place for the Honors in Action project
• Chapter recognized with the region’s Most Distinguished Chapter Award

Individual awards included:

• Maggie Pettus, Distinguished Chapter Officer Award
• Madeline Bui, Order of the Golden Key Award
• ThuyAn Pham elected MS/LA Regional President
• John Miller, Horizon Advisor Award

During the national event, the chapter won:

• Most Distinguished Chapter, third finalist
• Distinguished Chapter Award
• Top 100 Chapters
• Distinguished Honors in Action Project Award

Theme: The Heirs of Our Ways

Caring through the Challenges of COVID

• Distinguished College Project Award

A strong partnership with Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society has provided MGCCC students with opportunities to reach their potential through training, scholarships and career exploration. MGCCC students receive more than $1.4 million in transfer and other scholarships through Phi Theta Kappa annually.

For more information about Phi Theta Kappa, visit ptk.org.

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Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, with the help of local and corporate sponsors, broke the world record for largest jambalaya on May 1 in Ocean Springs as part of a fundraiser for campus food pantries.  Pending the filing of paperwork, the college’s attempt will be in the book “Guinness World Records” for the feat.

Carin Platt, event organizer, said that more than $3,200 was raised to benefit the food pantries and more than 2,000 people in need were fed during the event. “It was an amazing day thanks to the back-breaking work of so many.  We were also able to feed so many in need and bring awareness to food insecurity on college campuses.”

The Largest Jambalaya event is the second event of its kind held by the college. The first was Largest Pulled Pork BBQ in 2018.

“The food pantries at each of the college’s locations help our students through many trying times for them, whether it is food insecurity for just them or for their whole family,” Platt said.  “We provide frozen items, dry and canned goods, and personal hygiene products. We also have pop-up food pantries located around campus to provide snacks for students who need them.”

Platt said food insecurity is much more prevalent on college campuses than most of us like to think. “In a country like the U.S., where you would think everyone had access to proper nourishment, food insecurity is a very real thing.  It affects people in the general public and many students on our college campuses as well.  We don’t want our students to be worried about where their next meal is coming from and want to make sure that they have what they need to succeed in college.”

Event sponsors included The Pelican, MGCCC Food Pantries, Smithfield Foods, Southern Event & Party, Justin Wilson’s Southern Products, Lynchburg Landing, and System Scales Corporation Mobile.

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Four students from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community were selected to participate in the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) program.  The students are Adrian Dobbs, Jessica Harder, Heather (Kenzi) Lovell, and Katy Seymour.

NCAS gives community college STEM students an authentic NASA experience, and encourages them to finish a two-year degree or transfer to a four-year university to pursue a NASA-related field or career. NCAS consists of a five-week online course (no credit) followed by a four-day engineering design workshop at a NASA center. Students nationwide are chosen to participate through a competitive process. Selected students are encouraged to study mathematics, science, engineering and computer science by interacting with engineers at different NASA centers.

Jessica Harder of Ocean Springs said she plans to major in aerospace engineering at Mississippi State University after this semester.  She said the opportunity to participate in NCAS has been exciting for her. “I am looking forward to an experience learning more about NASA and their future moon to Mars missions,” she said. “I am also looking forward to working alongside NASA scientists and being part of a team to complete our project for Phase II.”

Adrian Dobbs of Wiggins is majoring in mechanical engineering and plans to participate in MSU’s Engineering on the Coast program at MGCCC’s Jackson County Campus.

“I applied to NCAS because the aerospace industry is why I am going back to school,” he said. “I jumped at the opportunity when my instructor contacted me about it because I love anything to do with aerospace. I had the opportunity to see a Space Shuttle launch in 2010 and it is one of the most amazing things I’ve had the chance to see.”

He said his dream is to work for NASA or SpaceX. “We are at the dawn of a new era of space flight, and I want to be a part of it and participating in NCAS has taught me so much about our history and future in space. “In Phase II we get to participate in an authentic NASA work team simulation to plan a lunar mission,” he said. “We will also be getting individualized resume feedback from mentors, which will help us all with planning our future at NASA or elsewhere.”

Katy Seymour of Ocean Springs is a freshman majoring in industrial engineering. “I have always been fascinated by space exploration and after my calculus instructor told me how the program could benefit me, I applied.  Phase I really helped me improve my research and analysis skills.  I’m looking forward to Phase II, connecting with other students and engineers, and learning about the career opportunities available at NASA.”

Students are scheduled to begin Phase II in August.

For more information about the NCAS program, visit https://www.nasa.gov/stem/murep/projects/ncas.html.

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From left: Jade, Jacob and Avery Barlow help their sister, Adyson (bottom center), move out of her residence hall at the Perkinston Campus.

The Barlow quadruplets are In The Blue

Adyson, Avery, Jade and Jacob Barlow were all students at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College until this week, when three of the four are graduating during the college’s Commencement Ceremonies at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.  These four energetic students are also quadruplets who all ended up at MGCCC despite different plans.

“We just had different ideas about college, where we wanted to go and what we wanted to major in,” said Avery, a member of the Reflections Team at the Jackson County Campus.  “I think we all decided we wanted to be close to home, and we knew MGCCC was a great college.”

Adyson, a Perkette and active member of the Student Government Association and Phi Theta Kappa at the Perkinston Campus, agreed.  “I wanted the college experience but also wanted to be close to home.  I love living in the dorm, and of course, I wanted to join the dance team.”

The four siblings all had different occupations in mind, however.  Jade is an Associate Degree Nursing student at The Bryant Center.  She will actually graduate in 2022.  Adyson, Avery and Jacob are graduating this semester and headed to different places.  Adyson is a speech pathology major.  Avery completed his associate degree but plans to attend the Apprentice Electric Lineman program at the George County Center next year.  Jacob completed his degree in Process Operations at the Jackson County Campus and plans to continue his education in a business-related major.

Always very close, the four do a lot of things together, including helping Adyson move out of the residence hall after finals, with Jacob borrowing a truck from his workplace.  “We lean on each other and do things for each other all of the time,” Jade said. “It’s like other siblings usually are, but even closer.  We are very different and have our own interests but also remain extremely close.”

While Jade is not graduating this year, and Jacob is not walking during commencement, they will both be there on Thursday night to watch Adyson and Avery cross the stage. “Absolutely, we will be there,” Jacob said. “Not only because our parents said we should but because we are genuinely happy for each other’s accomplishments.  We don’t always want to do things the same way, but we are always in it together.”

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Dr. Cedric Bradley, vice president of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Harrison County Campus, received the 2021 Interdisciplinary Studies and Professional Development Community Partnership Award.  The award, from the faculty members of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies and Professional Development at The University of Southern Mississippi, is given to outstanding representatives of the program.

Bradley was recognized during the ISPD Virtual Awards Ceremony on May 5.

“I am honored to receive the Community Partnership Award,” Bradley said. “Engagement and Partnerships is one of our four institutional commitments in Excelerate 2030, and this award demonstrates the commitment that the entire Gulf Coast family has to fulfilling the commitments of MGCCC’s strategic plan.”

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The Perkette Dance Team from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Perkinston Campus was awarded third place at the Universal Dance Association’s 2021 Virtual College National Championships on April 12. The Perkettes were the only community college squad competing against four-year college and university teams during the Open Jazz Division competition.

“The Perkette Dance Team continues to grow in talent, dedication, and passion each year,” said Britney Patten, Perkette dance coordinator and choreographer. “It was a challenge to compete virtually this year, but the team met that challenge very well. We are grateful and humbled to be sitting third in the nation, and I am eager and excited to see where we go from here.”

The Perkettes are the official dance team at MGCCC. Established in 1952, the Perkettes are proud members of the college’s Band of Gold, exemplifying tradition, precision, and excellence. For more information on the team, visit mgccc.edu/perkettes.

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Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Transition into Professional Nursing Pathway program offers graduates of the EMS/Paramedic, Respiratory Therapy and Practical Nursing programs the opportunity to expand their career options and provides nurses during the much-needed COVID-19 pandemic.  The three-semester program will have the inaugural class of students graduating in May 2021.

“Offering multiple nursing pathways, the TPNP option will continue to expand the knowledge and skill-set of current licensed practical nurses, paramedics, and respiratory therapists desiring to transition into the nursing profession,” said Dr. Joan Hendrix, associate vice president of the School of Nursing and Health Professions. “This expansion will further help with the current nursing shortage experienced by so many health care employers and organizations across the state.”

Dr. Karol Purdie, department chairperson, said the program will be expanded to include a Medical Assistant to Practical Nursing Pathway in the near future.

“We are very excited about offering these options to our student graduates. Most of the students are already working in a medical profession, which makes them excellent candidates for the Associate Degree Nursing and Practical Nursing programs,” Purdie said. “Employers know that these students have experience working in the fast-pace, critical environment of health care so they know they are getting veteran health care workers. In addition, there are several benefits for students as nursing is a growing and evolving profession, and graduates will be able to compete for higher-level jobs.”

Students Shánais Burton, practical nurse; Frank Duke, paramedic; and Brielle Sabella, respiratory therapist, are all seasoned health care workers who are working full time while in the TPNP program. Their shared goal is to advance their careers while helping people.

“MGCCC’s TPNP program was an incredible opportunity to further my education while still affording me the flexibility to work full time,” Sabella said. “When researching programs what stood out to me was the program length as well as an impressive NCLEX pass rate.”

Duke agreed, adding that becoming a nurse allows him to experience another side of patient care. “Being there for patients and their families is very rewarding, and I cannot wait to begin my career as a nurse,” he said.

MGCCC’s nursing programs have an outstanding reputation because they are very rigorous. “We know that we hold our students to extremely high standards,” said Hendrix.  “Nurses are required to do a tough job in an exacting manner, so we want to make sure our students are prepared to face those challenges.”

Burton said she certainly noticed the level of rigor in the program. “I thought I knew tough when going through the Practical Nursing program,” she said.  “The TPNP program brings a whole new level to it, though.  It is worth the hard work to know that I have received the best training.”

The TPNP program is offered on evenings and weekends to offer more options to working students.  Scholarship opportunities are available. 

For more information on the TPNP program, visit mgccc.edu/tpnp. 

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The new Center is focused on bringing XR to students throughout the school and beyond

EON Reality, the global leader in Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)-based knowledge and skills transfer for industry and education, announces the inauguration of a new Interactive Digital Center in Mississippi alongside its partner, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC). The Center features both a VR Innovation Academy and hub for advanced Extended Reality (XR) solutions.  The VR Innovation Academy will serve as the Gulf Coast region’s new home for educating and training the next generation of XR developers.  The Interactive Digital Center will provide opportunities for interested parties to develop XR solutions for business, industry, and other organizations.

For those who are unfamiliar with EON Reality’s VR Innovation Academy program, the academic institutions are embedded within colleges, universities, and other centers of learning around the world — each one focused on teaching students who are interested in learning how to create AR and VR applications.  It provides both the knowledge and experience necessary for someone looking to get a career in any field related to XR technology, as well as a thorough top-to-bottom understanding of EON-XR. The first classes for the MGCCC VR Innovation Academy commence this summer 2021.

For the MGCCC inauguration, EON Reality President Mats Johansson traveled to the Harrison County Campus in Gulfport — marking the first in-person inauguration since before the COVID-19 pandemic.  “We are very proud to partner with MGCCC on our quest to democratize XR for learning,” Johansson said. “Together we will use XR to help students and workers learn faster retain information longer and make better decisions.”

In addition to the speeches and ribbon-cutting ceremony, attendees from both parties — including Project Manager and inaugural VR Innovation Academy trainer Matthew Taylor from EON Reality and Dr. Mary Graham from MGCCC — were joined by important government officials, media, and other valuable participants for the grand opening.

“During the pandemic, MGCCC began implementing new technologies, such as XR, to enhance remote learning by introducing user-friendly immersive lessons and content.  Embracing emerging technology allowed the college to maintain the rigorous and high-quality education needed by our students despite intermittent shutdowns and reduced classroom/laboratory capacity,” said Dr. Jonathan Woodward, Executive Vice President of Teaching and Learning. “Through the partnership with EON Reality and with the grant provided through the Governor’s Emergency Education Response (GEER) fund for Essential Emergency Educational Services as part of the U.S. Government’s CARES Act, the college is stepping into a new era of technology-based learning, cutting-edge program development and training, and expanded learning opportunities for both college-level and high school students.

The AR/VR/XR technology and software for enhancement of remote skills-based learning will allow the college to provide training for its students and industry partners that will increase efficiency, specificity, and drastically reduce both costs and risks.

The Simulation and Game Design Technology program will help meet the job market demand for AR/VR/XR engineers, which has grown by 1,400 percent in the last year for many sectors, including industrial automation, aerospace, construction, education, and health care. This growth in the job market demand has led to an unprecedented need to rapidly train people to develop AR/VR/XR content.

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Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College received one of the first Centers of Excellence Designations for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE) from the Maritime Administration (MARAD) in the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2021. Twenty-seven institutions were recognized with the CoE designation for preparing students to begin careers in our nation’s maritime industry.

“We are excited by the news that the U.S. Secretary of Transportation has designated Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College as a 2021 Center of Excellence in recognition of its high quality and lasting commitment toward maritime workforce development,” said Dr. Mary S. Graham, MGCCC president.  “The CoE designation will position the college for federal funding to assist MGCCC in providing a highly qualified workforce that meets the needs of local employers; help employers maintain their competitive advantage through innovations in manufacturing; and also meet the very demanding needs of the military industrial base on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.”

Already a powerhouse in maritime training, MGCCC provides a variety of programs and courses in manufacturing and shipbuilding, with programs offered throughout its four-county district. These efforts contribute to a preeminent shipbuilding workforce with support from an actively engaged industry and educational partners who have manufactured ships for many decades. This workforce stands ready to produce the next generation of ships and autonomous vehicles.

“The CoE designations recognize the high standard of maritime education and training provided by the designated community and technical colleges and maritime training centers. These institutions play vital roles in our nation’s maritime industry by providing the training and skills students need to begin and advance careers afloat and ashore,” said Lucinda Lessley, Acting Maritime Administrator.

MARAD may now start working with the designated institutions to enter into cooperative agreements to help advance recruitment of students and faculty, enhance facilities, award student credit for military service, and potentially receive assistance in the form of surplus equipment or temporary use of MARAD vessels. Authorized under the National Defense Authorization Act of 2018, the CoE program is designed to assist the maritime industry in gaining and sustaining a well-trained labor force while enhancing diversity and inclusion in the industry.

MGCCC leads the way by fostering diversity and inclusion in campus culture, implementing initiatives to serve historically underserved populations in Mississippi, and through broadening the scope of the definition to include other groups such as nontraditional students, online students, and other part-time students who face socio-economic barriers in contemporary society. These efforts have gained national-level attention, with MGCCC being named the winner of the Excellence and Equity in Community College STEM Award given by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program and the Siemens Foundation.

A shortage of qualified maritime workers has been identified by U.S. industry leaders as the primary challenge to growth in the domestic maritime sector.  The maritime industry requires technical skills training and licensing – even for entry-level positions. To earn appropriate credentials for each level of maritime industry employment, workers must complete regular training.  Community and technical colleges can provide this training – on affordable basis.

MGCCC is one of the few community and technical colleges across the country already capable of providing leadership in domestic maritime workforce training.  MGCCC and other CoE colleges already have many maritime and marine technology workforce technical training programs in place that are capable of working with MARAD and U.S. industries to secure the domestic maritime workforce talent pipeline.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said the collaboration between MARAD and institutions like MGCCC that have the CoE designation is an important expansion of MARAD’s role.  “Our collaboration with these institutions in supporting maritime education will help form pathways to good-paying American jobs in our nation’s maritime industry.”

The post MGCCC named a 2021 Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education appeared first on Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

Spring 2021 President’s List

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College released the President’s List for the spring 2021 semester. Students who earn 12 or more semester hours with a 4.0 grade point average receive this honor.

Spring 2021 Vice Presidents’ List

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College released the vice presidents’ lists for the spring semester.  Students who earn 12 or more semester hours with 3.30 to 3.99 grade point average receive this honor.