Mississippi College Awards First Hollis and Julia Todd Scholarship
Communication Department Chair Cliff Fortenberry and Joyce Marie Harris
The scholarship is named for the late Drs. Hollis and Julia Todd of Clinton, both architects of what was the MC speech department in 1949. The MC campus radio station WHJT, also known as STAR 93.5, bears their initials. It's a tribute to the dedicated communication professors whose extraordinary influence as educators is still impacting the Clinton campus.
An MC junior, Joyce Harris serves as vice president of the Swannanoa Social Tribe and a member of the university's Campus Activities Board.
"I am very honored to be the recipient of this scholarship," says the 20-year-old MC communication major. Harris plans to attend graduate school to receive a master's in marriage and family therapy at a seminary.
Her MC professors teach her much more than the many facets of the communication world. They also instruct her, Harris said, "how to apply what I do in the classroom to the real world."
Harris is a 2007 Quitman High graduate. Her mother, Donnis Harris, is a school nurse for the Quitman public schools. Her father, Jim Harris, is the pastor at Shubuta Baptist Church and a teacher at Russell Christian Academy in Meridian. Both parents are Mississippi College graduates.
MC Department of Communication Chairman Cliff Fortenberry says he's pleased to announce the selection of Harris for the award.
"Joyce Marie a fine example of the kind of person which the Todd's envisioned when they set aside finances to fund this scholarship," Fortenberry said. "Joyce Marie is a dedicated Christian, an excellent student and an involved student in the activities of the Communication Department."
It is only fitting that the award be announced during the department's 60th anniversary year, the communication professor said. "Drs. Hollis and Julia Todd poured themselves into their students and as a result, their influence is currently felt throughout the speech/communication academic world," Fortenberry said. "Their vision still lives through this planned gift."
Hollis and Julia Todd came to Mississippi College from Ouachita College, now Ouachita University in Arkadelphia, Ark. six decades ago.
Harris is clearly deserving of becoming the scholarship's first recipient, say MC officials, who will begin the process to award another scholarship next year. "We hope all future students will live up to her standards," Fortenberry said.
Funds to award the first scholarship came from the Todd family estate. The funds were first awarded to MC in 2007, and it represents the largest gift in the history of the Christian university's Department of Communication.
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