The newly established scholarship by the Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District Inc. (SMPDD) was awarded to eight Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College students. The largest and most diversified regional planning and development entity in the United States, SMPDD endowed $100,000 to provide $750 scholarships to selected incoming sophomore students.

Each year, this scholarship will be awarded to two students from each of the counties, with one student in an academic program and one student in a skills-related program who meet the full-time status and cumulative GPA requirements. Students in MGCCC’s four-county district who were awarded the scholarships are Perry Stephens and Robert Holden, George County; Ashlyn Tapp and Armando Barnes, Jackson County; Kelsey King and George Cates, Harrison County; and Leslie Puckett and Franklin Blake Lee, Stone County. These four counties are part of the SMPDD’s 15 County District.

“Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is excited about this opportunity for our students,” said Dr. Mary S. Graham, MGCCC president. “By providing our students educational support, Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District is supporting the future leaders of our communities. Gulf Coast is proud to partner with SMPDD to further fulfill its mission of providing the best possible educational opportunity to residents of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.”

Jackson County Supervisor Mike Mangum, an SMPDD board member, said, “Jackson County is excited about the partnership we have built with MGCCC and the opportunity to help out in our community. We hope that these students will come back and work in Jackson County and contribute to our economic development.”

Lance Pearson, Stone County supervisor and SMPDD board member, said the group wished they could award scholarships to all students. ”We are honored that these students will benefit from receiving these scholarships.  We would love to be able to award everyone, but unfortunately, we have to narrow it down to two students. The important thing is that we all work together to enhance our children’s future.”

“We are excited to be able to contribute this amount to our local community college and advance the future of our students,” said Scott Strickland, Stone County supervisor and SMPDD board member.

Since its beginning in 1967, SMPDD has continually evolved to meet the needs, discover opportunities and anticipate the trends challenging the economic vitality, environmental integrity, and overall quality of life enjoyed in South Mississippi, which includes offering assistance to future leaders.

MGCCC scholarship recipient Blake Lee from Stone County, said, “I am very excited to receive this scholarship, and it will definitely help in repaying my student loans as I prepare to enter into the workforce.”

The Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District, through the leadership of the local officials comprising its board of directors and the efforts of its staff, assists 38 municipal governments within its 15 county district. The district consists of the following counties and cities within the county:

• Covington County: Collins, Mount Olive, Seminary
• Forrest County: Hattiesburg, Petal
• George County: Lucedale; Greene County: Leakesville, McLain, State Line
• Hancock County: Bay St. Louis, Diamondhead, Waveland
• Harrison County: Biloxi, D’Iberville, Gulfport, Long Beach, Pass Christian
• Jackson County: Gautier, Ocean Springs, Moss Point, Pascagoula
• Jefferson Davis County: Bassfield, Prentiss
• Jones County: Ellisville, Laurel, Sandersville, Soso
• Lamar County: Hattiesburg, Lumberton, Purvis, Sumrall
• Marion County: Columbia; Pearl River: Pearl River County, Picayune, Poplarville; Perry County: Beaumont, New Augusta, Richton
• Stone County: Wiggins
• Wayne County: Waynesboro