M.G.C.C.C. Employees Win Awards, Elected to Office

M.G.C.C.C.’s Christen Duhè named 2014 Young Careerist of the Year
Christen Duhè, director of Business Development at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Hospitality and Resort Management Center, was named 2014 Young Careerist of the Year by Lighthouse Business Professional Women (B.P.W.) She received her award at the Women of Achievement Awards Ceremony held in Biloxi on October 15th.

“I am beyond honored to received this award,” Duhè said. “Being recognized for doing things I love is a gift, and to be surrounded by so many accomplished women at the event was inspiring.”

The Young Careerist Award is one of two prestigious awards that have been given annually by Lighthouse B.P.W. for almost 50 years. A panel of independent judges makes their decisions based on each nominee’s career experience, personal achievements, education and contributions to the community.

Lighthouse B.P.W. is the largest, most active chapter in the state. Its members represent successful women in every sector of the Mississippi Gulf Coast business community.

Finalists for the award were featured in the September/October edition of Woman Magazine.

M.G.C.C.C. Comptroller Chosen 2014 Outstanding Business Officer
Shelly Ford, comptroller at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, was selected as the 2014 Outstanding Business Officer Award by the Community College Business Officers (C.C.B.O.) Association. Ford, who has worked at M.G.C.C.C. for two and a half years, is an M.G.C.C.C alumna and a former Alumni Hall of Fame recipient (2011).

“I was so surprised and honored to receive this award,” Ford said. “There are so many incredible, talented, worthy individuals in the C.C.B.O. organization. That my peers selected me for this recognition has been both an exhilarating and humbling experience.” 

C.C.B.O. provides educational and professional support, networking opportunities, and timely trend and demographic information for business officers representing community colleges and community college system offices in the U.S. and Canada. C.C.B.O. recognizes that excellence in the profession sets the standard for the future and strives to acknowledge those professionals who have excelled in the field. To that end, the Outstanding Business Officer Award is given annually to those individuals with distinguished service to their institution and community. Award winners are nominated and chosen by their peers.

M.G.C.C.C.’s Dr. Madelon Gruich Named Outstanding Community College Business Educator
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College instructor Dr. Madelon Gruich was named the 2014 Outstanding Community College Business Educator by the Mississippi Business Education Association (M.B.E.A.) during its annual conference in September. The M.B.E.A. is a professional organization of business educators that began in 1950. It is affiliated with the Southern Business Education Association and the National Business Education Association.

Gruich, who teaches Medical Office Technology courses at the Jefferson Davis Campus, has taught at M.G.C.C.C. for 15 years, three as an adjunct instructor and 12 full time. She has her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business education from Mississippi College and a doctorate from The University of Southern Mississippi in instructional technology and design.

M.G.C.C.C. Instructor Named 2014 Outstanding Career and Office Technology Educator
Lisa Courtney, Career-Tech Department chair at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Perkinston Campus and Business and Office Technology instructor, was named the 2014 Outstanding Career and Technical Business Educator by the Mississippi Business Education Association in September. The M.B.E.A. is a professional organization of business educators that began in 1950. It is affiliated with the Southern Business Education Association and the National Business Education Association.

Courtney has worked at the college since 1977, when she began working part time in the summer as a secretary typing the Perkinston Campus Self-Study for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (S.A.C.S.) She began working in a full-time capacity at the college in 1985. She will retire this year.

M.G.C.C.C. Instructor Chosen as State Representative for T.Y.C.A. Southeast
Dr. Gaye Winter, Language Arts instructor at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Perkinston Campus, was chosen as the Mississippi State Representative for the Two Year College Association (T.Y.C.A.) Southeast Chapter. She will serve in this capacity until 2017. T.Y.C.A. is affiliated with the National Council Teachers of English (N.C.T.E.) and T.Y.C.A. National.

The Southeast Chapter of T.Y.C.A. consists of the following states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The mission and goals of the Two Year College Association include defining and exploring issues relevant to the improvement of the teaching of English in all community colleges in the region and encouraging studies and research in the teaching of English in the two-year college.

Mississippi will host the 50th Anniversary Conference of T.Y.C.A. in Jackson February 19th – 21st, 2015.