MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – Meridian Community College honored several distinguished alumni and supporters Wednesday afternoon during its 2026 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the McCain Theater on campus.
The ceremony began at 2 p.m., with a reception held afterward in the Phi Theta Kappa Courtyard.
Leia Hill, Ed.D., MCC chief of staff, vice president for institutional advancement and operations, and executive director of the MCC Foundation, opened the event with welcoming remarks.
Nick Lewis, MCC Ivy League recruiter, led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the national anthem performed by Sarah Elizabeth Warren of the MCC Concert Choir with accompaniment by Daniel Boles.
The program also included a tolling of bells to honor members of the MCC community who died during the past year. The tribute was led by Michael Thompson, vice president for academic affairs, with accompaniment by Boles.
Those remembered included Don Boles, Frances Hardy, Betty Henry, Ronnie Miller, Tracy Rader Mitchell and Diane Wells.
MCC President Dr. Thomas Huebner Jr. led the induction of the 2026 Hall of Fame class. This year’s honorees included Lane Burroughs(American college baseball coach, currently serving as head coach of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs baseball program), who delivered remarks through a recorded video message; Marion Mayor Larry Gill; William “Skip” Scaggs, whose father served as the first president of Meridian Community College; and award-winning actress, producer and author Sela Ward, who also shared remarks through a video message.
The ceremony also included an induction into the college’s Talon Club, which recognizes individuals who have served MCC for 30 years. Joseph Knight led that portion of the program, honoring inductee Sandy Clark.
The event concluded with the singing of the MCC alma mater, led by Warren with accompaniment by Boles.
