Kyle Hamrick Shines as Collegian Editor

"Mississippi Collegian'' editor Kyle Hamrick

Never straying far from his roots in rural North Alabama, Kyle Hamrick will soon wrap up two outstanding years as the “Mississippi Collegian” editor.

From the grand opening of Chick-fil-A at Mississippi College to the university’s effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hamrick and the newspaper staff stayed on top of campus developments.

A history major and journalism minor, the MC senior, is mapping his next stage in life. He’s eager to begin graduate studies to build his journalism and communication skills at the University of Alabama. His acceptance letter from UA officials arrived in late February.

The 22-year-old should easily make the transition to grad school, just like he did at Mississippi College. He will enroll in Alabama’s College of Communication & Information Sciences. Beginning this fall, Kyle will pursue a master's in community journalism on the Tuscaloosa campus. The Alabama native knows the territory. 

His unincorporated hometown in Jefferson County, Corner, Alabama, has a few thousand residents. “Corner is complete with a Dollar General, a few stoplights, and gas stations,” Kyle says.

Kyle leads an award-winning MC publication that keeps getting better.

After a year’s stint as editor of the “Collegian” arts and entertainment section, Hamrick became the Publication Council’s choice to succeed newspaper editor Joelle Youngblood.

“It was one of the happiest days of my college experience,” Hamrick says. “At that moment, I knew that I was doing what God wanted me to do.”

During two years as the newspaper’s editor, Kyle penned “the real stories of real people.”

In that role, he joined classmates covering President Blake Thompson’s administration. Stories were written on Alumni Hall’s transformation to make way for Chick-fil-A and Einstein Bros. Bagels as well as create a comfortable meeting place for students. The paper has showcased every MC Choctaws sports team, a plethora of music events, and featured student opinion pieces. In February, the “Collegian” trumpeted the filming of a new Lifetime movie at Mississippi College and Clinton’s historic Olde Towne.

“I’ve enjoyed telling this college’s story through the personalities that make it what it is,” Kyle Hamrick says. “The Collegian is turning into a 21^st Century publication. We have a top-notch website and print edition in a tabloid format that is much easier to read than a broadsheet.”

Kyle has produced profiles of people and places in Mississippi’s capital city for “The Jackson Free Press” since September 2020.

Hamrick has done “a tremendous job in leading the Collegian staff,” says newspaper advisor Reid Vance. “The quality of our paper has improved, and a fresh approach to online journalism is underway,” adds the Communication Department chair.

His future shines bright. “Kyle possesses an intellectual curiosity and writing ability that will serve him well in graduate school,” says Patrick Connelly, chair of the History & Political Science Department.

Kyle excelled in history professor Otis Pickett’s classes, often leading discussions. “Mr. Hamrick is going to be phenomenal at whatever he chooses to do and is a true testament to the kind of young scholars we are producing at Mississippi College.”

Mississippi College staffer Taylor Hathorn joins Kyle on the team of “Jackson Free Press” writers. “I think he’s an excellent writer who isn’t afraid to take on a variety of stories.”

Hamrick arrived as an MC freshman in August 2017 and felt it was the right place since day one. “MC had a beautiful campus, lined up with the things I valued as a believer in Christ and had an excellent history curriculum.”

His approach to writing is closely linked to his Christian faith. “I pray that every word I write brings glory to God and helps a reader think differently about the world around them.”