Martin honored at Mississippi College
Special to The Clinton Courier
Many current and prospective students and their families consider Mandy Martin as the “face” of Mississippi College.
Stationed in the lobby of Alumni Hall, the admissions receptionist is literally front and center to welcome guests to the Christian university, share words of encouragement with young scholars, and lend an ear to faculty and staff.
“A lot of what I do is seen, because I’m right out front here,” Martin said. “Students come in, and I love to help. I love to mentor them. It does turn into a counseling desk sometimes.”
A 2002 graduate of MC, Martin’s unparalleled devotion to her alma mater and her willingness to go “above and beyond” in service to students and her peers recently earned her Dr. Blake Thompson’s Most Valuable Person Award.
“How many of you have heard me say, ‘Mandy, you’re the most valuable person on our campus?’” asked MC’s president, while presenting Martin with the honor in front of several admissions staff members. “Now it’s official. You’ve been the busiest person on this campus the last three months, so this award is well deserved.”
Martin has been busy for a great reason: the new Leland Speed Scholarship, announced last fall, has expanded higher education opportunities available to undergraduate students in Mississippi. The scholarship provides full undergraduate tuition for high school seniors and transfer students who are residents of the Magnolia State.
“The announcement of the Speed Scholarship really amped things up,” Martin said. “Admissions has been hitting the ground running, so it’s nice to be recognized for all the things we’ve been doing. I don’t feel underappreciated by any stretch of the imagination, but this award means a lot to me. It feels good to be seen and recognized.”
She and her husband of twenty years, Josh, a 2001 graduate of MC, have two children. Their daughter, Laura Claire, is a ninth grader at Clinton Christian Academy, while their son, Drew, is a senior planning to enroll at MC – giving Martin an entirely different perspective on admissions.
“From the lens of a parent, there have been a lot of tears – happy, proud, and bittersweet,” she said. “Admissions is quite different from this angle, but we’re about done with the process, and I couldn’t be more excited to welcome him to MC this fall.”
Michael Wright, right, dean of enrollment management, praises the welcoming environment Mandy Martin of Clinton creates in Alumni Hall, which led Mississippi College President Blake Thompson to present her with an MVP Award.
