MC becomes first university in the world to be inducted into FCA’s Ring of Honor

By Clinton Courier | January 23, 2026 |

Special to The Clinton Courier

Pictured (l to r) are MC President Blake Thompson; Cooper Gadman, MC alum and FCA staff member; Shane Bennett, MC FCA director; and Shane Williamson, president and CEO of FCA.

Mississippi College (MC) was welcomed into the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ (FCA) Ring of Honor during a recent induction ceremony at FCA’s National Support Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

MC is the first university to be so honored by the non-denominational Christian sports ministry that unites faith and athletics to impact the world for Jesus Christ.

Just one hundred twenty Ring of Honor recipients have demonstrated a significant commitment to Jesus Christ through the ministry of FCA and upheld its core values of integrity, serving, teamwork and excellence.

MC President Blake Thompson accepted the award on behalf of the university from FCA President and CEO Shane Williamson.

“It is an honor to be the first university recognized by FCA with this distinction,” Thompson said. “Our partnership with FCA — spanning the past sixty years — is essential to the culture of our athletic programs and our entire campus. MC and FCA could not be more closely aligned in our work to see this world transformed by Jesus.”

Mississippi College’s association with FCA goes back more than sixty years. MC Baseball Coach John Smith started the FCA chapter on the Clinton campus in 1964. Former MC Athletic Director Mike Jones further enhanced the relationship in the 1990s through dedicated fundraising and programmatic efforts.

Current MC Athletic Director Kenny Bizot said that the long-running association has been a great benefit to the athletic department.

“We are thankful for our MC leaders over the years who recognized the importance of the relationship with FCA. We are extremely proud to be part of an organization that encourages our student-athletes to be servant leaders and to lead through their faith,” Bizot said. “I am very grateful for our FCA director, Shane Bennett. He has done great things for our student-athletes through FCA.

Part of the Tom Landry Associates Program, the Ring of Honor is awarded to those who have contributed $1 million or more to FCA. Shane Bennett, MC FCA director, said the University reached that giving mark in 2024.

“MC’s coaches, student-athletes and alumni benefit from FCA, an organization that helps them grow in their relationship with Jesus,” Bennett said. “In turn, they go out into the world, sharing the Word of God.”