MGCCC is one of 286 organizations to receive a donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, as announced in her Medium blog post earlier today, “Seeding by Ceding.” The donation of $20 million is the largest gift in the college’s history.
“This generous gift from MacKenzie Scott will have a transformational impact on our college and community,” said Dr. Mary S. Graham, MGCCC president. “Ms. Scott believes ‘higher education is a proven pathway to opportunity.’ At Gulf Coast, we work hard to provide every student with hope for a rich and fulfilling life. It makes me proud that Ms. Scott and other generous Gulf Coast donors and supporters recognize the good work we do, and they trust us to continue that work.”
The college fosters an innovative spirit, which has led to a variety of successful endeavors to promote student learning and success. In 2020, MGCCC’s Process Operations Technology program was one of only eight programs in the country to win the Excellence and Equity in Community College STEM Award by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program and the Siemens Foundation.
Earlier this year, the college was named the No. 1 Community College in the state, and the Associate Degree Nursing program was ranked as the No. 1 program in the state for the second year in a row. MGCCC was also recognized as the No. 1 Military Friendly School in the large community college category in the nation.
In support of the college’s new Strategic Plan, Excelerate 2030, MGCCC plans to use the generous donation to support its mission and initiatives related to their four institutional commitments: Teaching and Learning, Student Experience, Engagement & Partnerships, and Institutional Excellence.
*Editor’s Note: In February, Scott also donated a combined $31 million to Alcorn State and Tougaloo College.
