Dennis Swanberg Entertains Students and Parents

Christian comedian Dennis Swanberg hauled his best impressions of former presidents and movie stars across state lines to delight new Mississippi College students and parents.

His impersonation of ex-President Bill Clinton evoked lots of laughter at First Baptist Church Clinton. “If I had met Sarah Palin in college, I’d be a Republican today,” joked “The Swan,” as he imitated the former commander-in-chief from Hope, Arkansas.

The former pastor at First Baptist Church in West Monroe, La., Swanberg also scored points with the crowd as he imitated everyone from former boxing champ Muhammed Ali to TV deputy sheriff Barney Fife and movie icon Jimmy Stewart. He shared some insights from his days as a Mississippi College parent, the proud father of MC graduates, Chad and Dusty Swanberg.

Folks packing the air conditioned sanctuary needed to relax a bit as they escaped the mid-90s summer temperatures after a busy move-in Saturday morning on the Clinton campus.  A motivational speaker and author dubbed “America’s Minister of Encouragement,” Dennis Swanberg supplied the right prescription to ease any moving pains.

Whether they made the trip from Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana or came from other distant points, Swanberg made students and parents feel they were blessed to be at the Christian university.

“MC is an awesome place,” the Louisiana-based “Swan” told the audience. “You will make friends here for life,” he said. “I’m so glad you are a Choctaw.”

Although the Texas native recalled his youngest son, Dusty, had a “good time” at MC before he graduated in December 2008, Swanberg noted there are far more important reasons to be part of the family at the Baptist-affiliated school. “Your greatest relationship is your friendship with Jesus Christ.”

Earlier in the day, nearly 300 MC students plus teams of staffers were on the go to guarantee another successful move-in for newcomers to the Clinton campus.

“We got everybody in and it was in record time,” said Joseph Odenwald, coordinator of student life, as he took a brief lunch break in the cafeteria. The work that began early Saturday morning ended minutes before noon after student volunteers unloaded the last caravan of cars and moved the belongings into MC residence halls.

“It went really smooth,” said MC parent Bob Burks. The director of new media at WLBT-TV 3, Burks and his wife, Linda, got plenty of help to move their youngest daughter, Yolanda, into her dorm room. Her large TV and refrigerator took up the most space in her new quarters as the 18-year-old Murrah High graduate got settled in. The family has been there before for MC move-in day. Their oldest daughter, Maggie, is an August 2008 Mississippi College graduate now living in Chattanooga.

MC freshman Kayla Fuentes, 18, of Starkville says her mom, dad, brother and best friend joined her on the trip to Clinton and now is eager to begin her studies as a music major. She considered other schools, “but this one came through with everything I needed,” Kayla said.

MC graduates Scott and Missy Lyle of Dallas helped their son, Patrick Lyle, 18, move into Chrestman Hall. The moving process at Mississippi College “has been good – I’m not even sweating,” said parent Scott Lyle.

Now that the new students have arrived, their fun continues with a slew of MC Welcome Week activities through next weekend. The schedule includes trips to a Clinton bowling alley and a Mississippi Braves baseball game at Trustmark Park. Fall classes will begin Wednesday.