Mississippi College celebrates newest 50-Year Club members during Homecoming

Members of the Class of 1975 wear the medallions they received for being the newest members of MC's 50-Year Club.

The newest members of Mississippi College’s 50-Year Club – the MC Class of 1975 – gathered at Homecoming Oct. 24 to reminisce about their college days, exchange stories and photos of their loved ones, and reignite friendships that have lasted for decades.

The MC Office of Alumni and Family Engagement hosted the annual dinner, which celebrates the 50-year alumni’s graduation anniversary. MC President Blake Thompson spoke at the event, explained how important the legacy of MC alumni is to the university, and presented each class member with a medallion signifying their induction into MC’s 50-Year Club. Like Olympic medalists, some of the recipients playfully bit their medallions while posing for photographs.

“The 50-Year Club reminds us that every class leaves a legacy, and together, those legacies continue to tell the MC story over and over again,” said Jake Donald, MC director of alumni and family engagement.

Susan Dawkins Tappan, who received her degree in elementary education from MC, addressed her classmates during the dinner and spoke about many memories from her time at MC.

The fun wasn’t limited to the 50-Year Club banquet. Tappan and some of her classmates, who had been part of an informal musical group in college, gathered around a piano and sang some of their old tunes and told stories until the wee hours of the morning. Class of 1975 members also rode in MC’s Homecoming Parade and threw moon pies to the crowd along College Street.

“We loved walking around campus and reminiscing about memories made in each spot,” Tappan said. “We enjoyed talking with old friends at the dinner and at the Decade of the Seventies. It was an incredibly fun weekend and I loved every minute of it.”

Her classmate, Linda H. Tolliver, said being a member of the 50-Year Club brings back memories of friendships, growth and life lessons that still matter today.

“Whenever I attend reunions with the Class of 1975, it feels like stepping back into a familiar place filled with people who shared an important part of my journey,” Tolliver said. “Maintaining a relationship with MC has always been deeply personal for me.

“As a Black woman graduating from a prestigious, predominantly white college at a time when integration was still new, I understood the significance of what I accomplished. Returning to MC reminds me of the pride I felt then – and still feel now.”

One of her most memorable moments of Homecoming 2025 was reconnecting with her social tribe.

“Being the first African American female to join a tribe at MC was a significant milestone in my life,” she said. “Meeting former tribe members and their daughters, who are now members themselves, felt like a full-circle moment. It showed me how traditions continue, evolve and open doors for new generations.”

While some things have changed since Tolliver was a student, she remarked that much of the campus looked just as it did in 1975. She found the sense of continuity to be grounding and familiar.

“One of the greatest joys of the weekend was speaking with current MC students,” she said. “They were thoughtful, confident and unafraid to express themselves. Race was not a barrier to conversation: they openly shared their experiences, their hopes and their reflections on campus life. I was inspired by their honesty and encouraged by their openness.

“This year’s Homecoming reminded me why returning matters. It connects the past to the present and keeps our shared history alive. I am grateful that I was able to be a part of it once again. I sincerely believe every alumnus should return at least once, if only to see how far we’ve all come.”