Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College held its annual Spring Reception on March 23 at the Hospitality and Resort Management Center in Biloxi in honor of the 2017 L. N. Dantzler Difference Maker Award recipients. Each year since 2003, four employees have been recognized with this award for demonstrating an exceptional work ethic, a deep sense of college and community involvement, and a tremendous commitment to students.
Gloria Young, of Gautier, was chosen as the 2017 Difference Maker for the Jackson County Campus. Young has been a custodian at the campus for 24 years. Her family is tightknit and have remained in the area and her three children are all college alumni. Her two daughters work at the Jackson County Campus – Sarah is the administrative assistant in the Maintenance Department, and Amy works at the campus childcare center. Her son works for the Jackson County road department. She also has one of her two grandchildren on campus. Her granddaughter is a student in the Radiologic Technology program.
“So many things have changed at the college over the years,” she said. “The campus has grown and it is really such a beautiful campus. One thing that is the same as it always has been is the people. The people, from students to faculty to all employees, are just great here.”
Gloria is an outstanding ambassador for the campus, as she greets everyone who passes her in the hallways with a smile. “I’ve found that if you help people when you can and always treat them with kindness that you most likely get the same attitude in return. And when you don’t, it is probably because they are having a bad day, and your smile might make the difference for them and brighten things up a bit.”
