Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce Awards $26,000 in Scholarships

The Gazebo Gazette

MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST (GG) — Biloxi, Gulfport, Long Beach, and Pass Christian Chambers of Commerce hosted a joint Excellence in Education Awards Ceremony where $26,000 in scholarships were awarded to high school seniors and educators received special recognition. The ceremony was emceed by Dr. Christen Duhe’ President & Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

Biloxi Chamber of Commerce’s scholarship recipients include Nicholas Arguelles, Isabel Speegle, Lillieann Bentz, Lily Kavanagh, Logan Spain, Catherine “Nicole” Miles, Cole Burke, Leyton Gunter, Caroline Snyder, Elizabeth Meyers, and Carly Bankston.

Gulfport Chamber of Commerce’s scholarship recipients include Christopher Austin, Isaac Johnson, Riley Dedeaux, Zayla Leonard Griffin, Ava Benefield and Sean Brown.  Gulfport Chamber and the Gulfport School District also recognized Regina Bishop Stewart as the 2026 John Harral Memorial Spirit of Education Award recipient for her leadership and ongoing support of Gulfport High School.

Long Beach Chamber of Commerce’s scholarship recipients include Markham Mauffray, Sophia Ward, Kinsey Allen, Kayla Van Note, Cassandra Olson, and Braiden Bonds.

Pass Christian Chamber of Commerce’s scholarship recipients include Roderick Lowell Jr., Kayleb Munsch, Kalina Godlewski, and Kole Baber.

Partners included Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College-Harrison County Campus, which hosted the breakfast program. Scholarship sponsors included, Biloxi Chamber of Commerce, Gulfport Chamber of Commerce, Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, Pass Christian Chamber of Commerce, Mississippi Power, Cadance Insurance, Hancock Whitney, Ingalls Shipbuilding, Eley Guild Hardy Architects, Angela Bowell Memorial Scholarship, State Farm-Ollie Baileys, Pam Sanders, Dr. Sara “Penny” Cobb Scholarship, and Joe Holloway Memorial Scholarship.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Inc.’s mission is to CONNECT, INFORM, ADVOCATE and DEVELOP. The mission is accomplished through a partnership with the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce, Gulfport Chamber of Commerce, Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, and Pass Christian Chamber of Commerce. Additional divisions of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce include Coast Young Professionals, Leadership Gulf Coast, Military One Coast and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

(Photo submitted by MGCCC)