McCarty Family Dominates Mississippi College Landscape
Back in 1956, Elvis Presley belted out huge hits like “Love Me Tender” and “All Shook Up.” While the Tupelo native reigned as the king of rock & roll, Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower served as America’s president.
The same year, John McCarty graduated from Mississippi College. The Mississippian started a family tradition that continues into the 21st Century.
Why Mississippi College?
The Forest High School principal encouraged the Scott County teen to become an MC Choctaw in the early 1950s. But there were more compelling reasons. John wanted to stay close to Baptist Hospital in Jackson where his future wife, Helen “Ducky” McCarty attended nursing school.
For the McCartys, Mississippi College proved to be a fantastic experience. The Forest couple passed along their love for all things Blue and Gold to their sons. Before long, Britt McCarty became a member of the MC Class of 1981 and Brian McCarty received his MC diploma in 1983. Both earned good grades as science majors on the Clinton campus.
The McCarty story doesn’t end there.
“Our nine grandchildren have been encouraged to attend because of our good experiences and education plus its Christian climate,” John McCarty says. “They are being well-prepared for the future and for life. They are so special to us.”
Nearly 60 years since he graduated, McCarty family ties to America’s second oldest Baptist college just get stronger.
This fall, five McCartys are taking classes at the Christian university. As a family, they’ve done their part to boost enrollment at the 5,152-student university.
Visitors spending a few hours on the Clinton campus will likely encounter a McCarty family member on the Quad, at the school cafeteria, or in the Leland Speed Library.
Three McCarty family members come from Brandon and two others are Meridian residents. Their homes are 90 miles apart, but these first cousins really value one another’s company.
At age 21, Kaitlin McCarty is the oldest of the bunch. The energetic leader of MC’s Campus Activities Board, the Brandon resident is delighted to share many wonderful college memories with members of her family. “It’s an incredible blessing.”
Their presence adds to her passion for MC. “It is family – faculty, students and everybody in-between,” Kaitlin says. “MC is a welcoming and encouraging environment.”
At a vibrant university celebrating its 190th anniversary in January, Mary Ann McCarty is sold on the merits of an MC education.
“MC is a close-knit community with great people and deep relationships, so to add my lifelong best friends is a joy. I love knowing they are here,” says Mary Ann, a 20-year-old junior from Meridian. “Sharing this phase of my life with my sibling and cousins is really special.”
Two freshmen, Molly McCarty, 18, of Meridian, and Jackson McCarty, 18, of Brandon are the newest kids on the block.
Family played into her decision, says Molly, (Mary Ann’s sister), but so did academics. “I really liked the biology program.”
Mississippi College will prepare kinesiology major Jackson McCarty for a career as a physical therapist. It seems “the whole family goes here,” says the Northwest Rankin High grad. “It’s a beautiful campus and the classes are small.”
Austin McCarty, 20, of Brandon, recalls his first MC experience was tailgating with family and friends on the Quad. The business major quickly got hooked.
There’s more to the McCarty/MC lineup.
Two McCarty family members are recent MC graduates. Meridian native Lee McCarty now works for Community Bank in Forest. Ross McCarty attends dental school in South Carolina.
There could be more McCartys on the way to Clinton. Both homeschooled in Meridian, Julia McCarty, 17, and Will McCarty, 13, could become the latest in the family to become MC Choctaws.
A public relations communication major with a minor in Spanish, Kaitlin McCarty isn’t sure about her career options down the road. But she’s confident her MC education and God will lead her in the right direction.
“I do know that I want to be a life-long learner and will give 100 percent of my effort and passion to wherever the Lord leads me next,” Kaitlin says.
No doubt, Kaitlin will succeed, just like other McCarty family members at Mississippi College.
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