Enriching Activities Provide Opportunities for Community Support During MC’s Spring Semester

Grammy Award-winning recording artist Amy Grant will headline the Spring Scholarship Banquet at Mississippi College, one of many noteworthy events planned at the Christian University this spring.

The last shimmering light of the festive Christmas season has barely faded, but Mississippi College is already preparing to host one of the most spectacular spring event seasons in the Christian University’s 198-year history.

From Founder’s Day in January to Spring Commencement in May, MC faculty, staff, students, and central Mississippi residents can choose from a host of enriching activities that only a university community can provide.

“Mississippi College prides itself on recruiting a diversified student body,” said Lori Bobo, director of university events in MC’s Office of Marketing and Communication. “Community members can support our students and become an important part of their cultural enrichment by attending these events.

“We enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship with the city of Clinton and encourage local residents to become involved in everything MC offers.”

Visitors to MC can get to know world-class performers and broadcasters at banquets that support the University’s athletic and scholarship programs; learn more about MC’s enduring history at traditional anniversary celebrations; delight in the wonder of professional-level theatrical and musical performances; and cheer an exciting array of student-athletes in pursuit of coveted Gulf South Conference laurels in a number of sporting contests.

Among the many activities scheduled for MC’s Clinton campus during the spring semester are:

Founder’s Day, 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, Pedestrian Street

As the oldest institution of higher learning in the state, Mississippi College has a distinguished record of Christian service and academic achievement intertwined with the culture of the local community. Founders Day provides an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the institution’s accomplishments while focusing on its promising future.

“We’ve withstood the test of time standing by our mission, putting Christ first, and emphasizing academic excellence,” Bobo said. “It’s important to share the significance of the University’s birthday each year with our students and guests.”

The celebration will begin during Chapel service that morning and will extend onto Pedestrian Street, where MC faculty, staff, students, and visitors can enjoy a generous slice of cake decorated in blue and gold icing and piping-hot cups of a special MC blend of BeanFruit coffee.

The tasty tradition acknowledges MC’s original charter as Hampstead Academy in 1826. It recognizes how far the University has come from the lean years of wartime and the Great Depression to the more prosperous developments of the modern era.

Surprises will abound during the celebration, which will include social media photo opportunities, MC trivia, giveaways, and other activities to keep the Mississippi College family engaged with the University’s history and stay attuned to its upcoming bicentennial in 2026.

Dr. Don Phillips Mississippi College Athletics Dinner, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, Anderson Hall, B.C. Rogers Student Center

One of the most recognizable play-by-play announcers in sports is scheduled to speak at the annual dinner to support Choctaw student-athletes competing in all 18 of the Gulf South Conference-affiliated varsity teams.

Tim Brando, who has called a variety of contests throughout his prolific career, including college football and basketball, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, and golf, and host of the popular radio program “The Tim Brando Show,” will be on campus for MC’s largest fund-raiser solely focused on athletics.

“We’re pleased to have Tim Brando speak at the event,” Bobo said. “His knowledge of athletics is unsurpassed, and we’ve wanted to have him come to MC for some time.

“By coming to this event, local businesses and individuals are supporting MC Athletics and its general fund, which is used to enrich and enhance all of our athletic programs. Coaches and administrators of all our athletic teams do an outstanding job working within a tight budget, and community support is crucial for the success of our athletic programs.”

A silent auction and live auction of sports memorabilia will also take place at the banquet.

Lyric State at MC Performs Wizards of Broadway, 7 p.m. Monday, March 4, Opera Mississippi

Lyric Stage at MC Presents Maltby and Shire’s “Closer Than Ever,” 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, April 11-13, 3 p.m. Sunday, April 14, Aven Fine Arts Building

Mississippi College’s Lyric Stage performers will take to the Opera Mississippi stage for a cabaret performance accompanied by Tyler Kemp, “Wizards of Broadway.” The evening will feature songs of Broadway legends Stephen Sondheim and Stephen Schwartz from such notable musicals as “Pippin,” “West Side Story,” “Sunday in the Park with George,” “Company,” “Into the Woods,” and “Wicked.”

The talented group of MC faculty and students will return to the Clinton campus to explore the everyday struggles of love in the modern world in “Maltby and Shire’s Closer Than Ever.” The musical review in two acts features self-contained songs that deal with diverse topics, such as security, aging, mid-life crises, working couples, and unrequited love.

Bobo said Lyric Stage at MC’s performances are just two of many entertaining musical and theatrical productions planned for the spring semester at MC.

“Not everyone has the opportunity to be exposed to opera, musical theater, drama, or band music,” she said. ”These performances engage and inspire students and visitors to become active, enthusiastic patrons of the performing arts.

“Their support ensures that Mississippi College will continue to offer culturally enriching events in the community for years to come.”

Mississippi College Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet, Saturday, April 20

Some of the most exceptional athletes, coaches, and support staff in Mississippi College history will return to campus to recognize the newest slate of inductees to the MC Athletics Hall of Fame.

Up to eight standout Choctaws nominated by their peers are chosen by a Selection Committee for enshrinement each year. Banquet attendees relish the opportunity to mingle with and honor the latest members of the select group of Mississippi College legends.

Bobo said having the athletic greats back on campus is a delight for any fan of the Blue and Gold.

“It’s important for our former athletes to be recognized for their mark on MC Athletics’ history,” she said. “The amazing inductees receive a medal and a plaque, and their accomplishments are shared with the audience. We also recognize MC’s outstanding senior student-athletes from each sport as well.

“Our greatest student-athletes received a lot of notoriety and recognition when they were here, but it’s great to show them that the University still values them as fine contributors to society and living examples for our current students.”

Spring Scholarship Banquet, Tuesday, April 30, Anderson Hall, B.C. Rogers Student Center

An iconic American pop star, songwriter, television personality, and philanthropist will discuss her career of more than 40 years at the largest fundraising event at Mississippi College.

Amy Grant, whose roots in Gospel music led to three multi-platinum albums, six platinum albums, and four gold albums, with sales exceeding 30 million and another billion global streams, will entertain guests with “behind the scenes” stories and heartfelt accounts of her legendary career.

“If you have listened to Christian music at any point in your life, you have probably heard Amy Grant perform,” Bobo said. “She is a Christian music artist icon and a strong Christian woman whose message will be very sweet and right on mission with what Mississippi College stands for. She’ll be a treat to have at the podium.

“The dinner attracts people from all over who love Mississippi College and are interested in supporting the University while hearing from a nationally known celebrity. We’ve had quite a variety of celebrity guests through the years, and this year’s dinner will be a crowd-pleasing event that will include something for everyone.”

A donor reception featuring Grant will precede the dinner, and the musical artist will engage the audience in a question-and-answer session during the evening.

Central Ceremony, Thursday, May 2, the Quad

Spring Commencement, Friday, May 3, A.E. Wood Coliseum

The 2024 graduates will celebrate their achievements together by participating in the processional through MC’s iconic gates, gathering on the College Street steps for the traditional class photo, and hearing from a standout alum during the Central Ceremony. The following day, the new graduates will receive their degrees during three graduation ceremonies divided by schools.

“Commencement is the most important event at Mississippi College,” Bobo said. “Every facet of the University comes together to celebrate our students and their academic accomplishments.”

Bobo said many other activities scheduled throughout the spring season – including art exhibits at the Gore Galleries and the Gore Arts Complex, senior recitals for budding professional pianists and vocalists, a full slate of Gulf South Conference athletic contests, and several other events – showcase the tremendous talent being nurtured at Mississippi College.

“All of these demonstrate that MC is a multifaceted academic and athletic institution,” she said. “Our students are musically inclined, artistically inclined, and athletically gifted, and we enjoy offering numerous opportunities for members of the community to engage with our campus and participate in what we have to offer.”

For more information about upcoming events at Mississippi College, visit www.mc.edu.