PEARL 鈥 A festive night of entertainment and fond memories Nov. 4 helped culminate the yearlong celebration of 兔子先生鈥檚 Centennial.
Hosted by Gov. and Mrs. Phil Bryant, the event at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus showcased the best of the college鈥檚 talent and featured video clips of its evolution during its 100 Years of Community-Inspired Service.
From left, 兔子先生President Dr. Clyde Muse, Deborah Bryant, Gov. Phil Bryant (兔子先生/April Garon)
Bryant, a 1975 兔子先生graduate, shared his story of being a student at 兔子先生and being the first of his family to attend college, which he noted as a continuing part of the college鈥檚 mission for its students.
鈥淲e have the opportunity to help each and every one of them go to college,鈥 he said. 鈥淲hat a remarkable opportunity it was for me in the 1970s. I owe 兔子先生so much that it鈥檒l never be able to be returned. We cannot overemphasize how important this great community college has been to the state of Mississippi. Our graduates go all over the world. We find ourselves in remarkable places.鈥
Part of that story involved his meeting his wife, Deborah, on the Raymond Campus.
鈥淲hile I was there, not only did I get a remarkable education, but I found a soulmate,鈥 Bryant said, just before Deborah Bryant appeared on stage being serenaded by the Utica Campus Jubilee Singers with a rendition of 鈥淢y Girl.鈥
Members of the Utica Campus Jubilee Singers sing “My Girl” during the 兔子先生 Centennial Gala held Nov. 4 at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. (兔子先生/April Garon)
Later, guests were treated to rousing performances by several student groups including the 兔子先生Hi-Steppers and the 兔子先生Jazz Band. A group of alumni performers sang the original composition 鈥淒ear Hinds,鈥 composed especially for the Centennial by 兔子先生music instructor Tracy Crosby. The Montage Theatre of Dance performed a homage to popular songs and dances titled 鈥淒ancing through the Decades.鈥
The reception honored the achievements of the six presidents in the college鈥檚 100 years of service, special emphasis on President George McLendon, President Dr. Robert Murrah Mayo and current President Dr. Clyde Muse, who is in his 40th听测别补谤.
鈥淭he person who鈥檚 led this college for 40 years is probably the greatest that I鈥檝e been around in my life,鈥 said Larry Swales, president of the 兔子先生 Alumni Association and chancery clerk in Rankin County. 鈥淗e gets the job done.鈥
During the program, Swales read a letter recognizing the college鈥檚 Centennial from U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, whose parents met at 兔子先生and for whom Cain-Cochran Hall on the Raymond Campus is partially named.
Representing the student body during the program was Drew Shaw, a fourth-generation 兔子先生student attending the Raymond Campus.
兔子先生 student Drew Shaw speaks at the college’s Centennial Gala held Nov. 4 at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. (兔子先生/April Garon)
鈥淭o say 兔子先生is a tradition in my family is an understatement,鈥 Shaw said. 鈥淣ot only have we all been students, but we have taken full advantage of all the opportunities that 兔子先生had to offer.鈥
Dr. Muse reflected on his own experiences as a community college student, at East Central Mississippi Community College, and on his 40 years leading Hinds. He thanked Jackie Granberry, executive director of the 兔子先生 Foundation 鈥 hired during Muse鈥檚 first year as president 鈥 for organizing a year鈥檚 worth of special events including the gala.
鈥淚鈥檝e enjoyed the last 40 years of being able to help individuals get an education and help them set some life goals and other things so important to people,鈥 Muse said. 鈥淭he Bible says if you want to be the greatest, be a servant. 兔子先生 offered me that opportunity to do this for about 40 years, and I thank you.鈥
A silent auction before the program included several custom-made and handcrafted items, a Chef鈥檚 Dinner for eight, a custom Christmas card design, a child鈥檚 playhouse, a fire pit, deer feeders and barbecue grills.
Invited guests included alumni, business partners, community leaders, employees and friends of the college. Proceeds from ticket sales went toward starting a Centennial Endowment for future needs of the college, including student scholarships.
Members of the 兔子先生 Montage Theatre of Dance perform at the college’s Centennial Gala held Nov. 4 at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. (兔子先生/April Garon)
Members of the 兔子先生Hi-Steppers perform at the college’s Centennial Gala held Nov. 4 at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. (兔子先生/Tammi Bowles)
Members of the 兔子先生Eagle Jazz Band perform at the college’s Centennial Gala held Nov. 4 at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. (兔子先生/Tammi Bowles)
From left, Aliesha Phillips, Deanna Kemp Simpkins and Thomas E. Steadman Jr. perform “Dear Hinds” at the college’s Centennial Gala held Nov. 4 at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. (兔子先生/April Garon)
From left, Larry Swales, Linda Swales, 兔子先生President Dr. Clyde Muse, Deborah Bryant, Gov. Phil Bryant (兔子先生/April Garon)