Partnering to help others
College, Wesley House celebrate years of service

From left MCC President Dr. Scott Elliott, Twin Districts Workforce Area Board President David Stephens, Wesley House Director Ginger Stevens, Wesley House Director Emeritus Nell Grissom, former GED instructor Barbara Grissom Schneider and current GED instructor Richard Smith celebrate the partnership in the Wesley House classroom.

Serving needs in the community has been the driving force behind a longstanding partnership between the College and Wesley House Community Center. Beginning in 1967, Wesley House and MCC, offered for the first time a GED class to assist those preparing to take the GED test and attain their high school diploma.
The partnership was born by chance. Wesley House founder Nell Grissom, was presenting at a service club attended by Jack Shank, then dean of continuing education for Meridian Junior College. She spoke of the need for continuing adult education, meeting literacy needs and helping prepare residents for the GED exam. Shank knew the college could help meet those needs and approached Grissom about forming the partnership.
“The GED Program was one of the first programs we added. We started out in our old building and in a very small classroom, but it got the job done. Now we are in this classroom with wonderful new furnishings and technology that provides such a positive atmosphere for our students,” said Grissom.
Meridian Community College, through the funding support of the Twin Districts Workforce Area, donated new classroom furnishings and equipment to the Wesley House as a token of appreciation for the years of service the partnership has provided to the community.
“Our missions are one in the same and that is to serve our community,” said Dr. Scott Elliott, president of Meridian Community College. “The partnership and program has a great history of success. For 43 years, MCC and Wesley House has served many hundreds of people and helped them achieve their dream of a high school education.”
“I cannot think of a better example of community service than the Wesley House,” continued Elliott. “The Bible teaches us to build our treasures in heaven; this (Wesley House) is a consummate example of that - serving those in need means the most.”
Over the years the GED class offered at Wesley House and administered by MCC, has served many of those who come for help with literacy issues. “We have people come in and ask us to read the Bible to them but through this program we teach them to read the Bible for themselves,” said Grissom. “It’s also an opportunity to reach out to troubled or challenged youth who need a hand-up not a hand-out. They can complete their education here.”
Building confidence along with offering tutoring is part of it, too. “It’s about helping them build their confidence, caring for them, nurturing them, then they excel. They feel better about themselves and are able to learn,” said Barbara Grissom Schneider, a former instructor who taught the class for more than 15 years.
The MCC Adult Basic Education/ GED program, not only offers educational opportunities at Wesley House but also in other locations as well. And the track record of success is something to be noted. “We graduated 304 students from our GED program last year and that’s just the number we graduated. We have so many more in our classes that are working toward their goals,” said Elliott. “In fact, if you take a look at the enrollment numbers, we’re the largest high school in Lauderdale County in addition to being a community college.”
Both Grissom and Elliott agree the relationship and GED program is uplifting for many in the community. “It’s been a true blessing to work with the college. I rarely go into a business or go shopping nowadays where I don’t see someone I know we’ve been able to help,” said Grissom. “What better union for Wesley House than with MCC who is so invested in our community and in helping others achieve their dreams?”