MC Welcomes Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee who ran a strong race for the White House in 2008 and hosts a popular weekend show on the Fox News Channel, will headline Mississippi College’s spring scholarship banquet on March 28, 2011.

The author of seven books, the most recent being the best-selling “A Simple Christmas,” the Republican finished second behind John McCain in his quest for his party’s presidential nomination two years ago.

Much in demand as a speaker at churches and other venues nationwide, Huckabee served as Arkansas governor from 1996-2007. A significant part of his adult life was spent as a pastor and denominational leader. He became the youngest president ever of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. As a Baptist pastor, he led rapidly growing congregations in Pine Bluff and Texarkana.

“Governing” magazine named Huckabee one of its “Public Officials of the Year” for 2005 and “Time” magazine named him one of the five best governors in America.

Mississippi College leaders say they are delighted to welcome Huckabee as the keynote speaker at the Christian university’s fourth annual spring banquet series.

“We consider Gov. Huckabee, who attended Baptist colleges at the undergraduate and graduate level and served as president of the Arkansas Baptist Convention, to be fully supportive of institutions like ours,” MC President Lee Royce said. “We look forward to his remarks about America’s political scene and other timely topics.”

Huckabee served as chairman of the National Governors Association as well as the Education Commission of the States. The former governor and his wife, Janet, live in Florida. They have three grown children: John Mark, David and Sarah.

Millions of viewers of his Fox TV show called “Huckabee” also get to watch the 55-year-old do one of his favorite things: play the guitar with the famous bands appearing on his program. In addition, he’s heard three times daily across the nation on the “Huckabee Report” syndicated by the Citadel Media Network in recent years.

Huckabee is the latest in a strong lineup of spring scholarship banquet speakers at Mississippi College. In March 2010, businessman Steve Forbes, the astute editor-in-chief of ”Forbes” magazine, spoke about the nation’s troubled economy and other topics. The event produced a record $312,500 for scholarships on the Clinton campus.

The annual banquets are a vital component of the university’s $80 million “Growing the Vision” campaign to raise support for scholarships, academic programs, the MC endowment and capital improvements.

Mississippi College offers several sponsorship opportunities through which you can meet former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and help support the “Growing the Vision” campaign. Sponsorships begin at $1,000. Individual tickets to the scholarship banquet are $150. For more information, please contact Amy Rowan at 601.925.3257 or rowan@mc.edu.