Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation Grants Promote MC Wellness

MC Disc Golf Course ribbon-cutting ceremony in late March 2017.

Mississippi College’s nine-hole disc golf course, the installation of outdoor fitness equipment, and free exercise classes are some of the amazing highlights.

The Farmer’s Market on the Clinton campus, free grab and go healthy breakfasts for employees, and water aerobics classes at Alumni Pool are part of the long list, too.

MC Wellness for Life’s vision for employees, students and the Clinton community to enjoy healthier lives received a powerful boost from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation grants.

“MC Wellness for Life has grown tremendously over the past two years thanks to the wonderful support from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation,” says wellness coordinator Piper Walters.

“This health and wellness initiative has enabled the addition of several opportunities for physical activity on campus,” Walters added. MC employees, students, and Clintonians all see the benefits.

The 2017 opening of the disc golf course attracted dozens of MC supporters for ribbon-cutting ceremonies. President Lee Royce, Kinesiology Department Chairman Chris Washam, and Walters joined Mayor Phil Fisher and Clinton Chamber of Commerce leaders for the event in late March.

Players signed up for the inaugural Clock Tower Disc Golf Tournament drawing 20 teams on a windy day. The disc golf course is located on green space near the University Place residence halls. It’s another major step as MC wellness programs get bigger.

There’s more to come. Mississippi College officials are making plans to host the second Clock Tower Disc Golf Tournament on April 12, 2018. Players toss a plastic disc off a tee, and eventually try to land it in a chain-catching metal basket. Disc golf mirrors traditional golf as far as rules go. Courses are popping up across Mississippi cities like Jackson, Pearl, Starkville and Hattiesburg as well as communities across the nation.

Mississippi College wellness programs don’t take a vacation during the summer. The Clinton campus hosted a recent Farmer’s Market featuring fresh fruits and vegetables on sale for faculty and staff. In June and July, hundreds of MC campers in the cafeteria will be given free bracelets in a promotion of healthy food choices and drinking water.

In 2016, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation grants created MC’s walking track and fitness course near the Longabaugh soccer field.

Since day one, Piper Walters has trumpeted Blue Cross & Blue Shield Foundation of Mississippi grants that make a difference for so many people.

MC Wellness initiatives enable folks of all ages to “make healthy choices in their daily lives by providing information, resources, programs and more,” says Walters, a kinesiology instructor from Clinton. The Mississippi foundation’s generous financial support “has allowed us to do just that.”

Yoga classes, kickboxing, a rigorous bootcamp, individual fitness testing equipment, and nutrition awareness programs are pieces of a strong package to benefit the Mississippi College family year-round.

Washam is thankful to the Blue Cross & Blue Shield Foundation of Mississippi for making campus wellness programs click. He’s happy to have Walters serving as wellness director. “I have been very impressed with the variety and scope of the activities Piper instituted on campus and in the community.”

This Fall, the 2017 Hap Hudson Homecoming Road Race on Saturday October 21 remains one of the key dates in Clinton as MC supporters step up their fitness levels.

For more information, contact MC Wellness Coordinator Piper Walters at 601-925-7752 or pwalters@mc.edu