MGCCC will open new Athletic/Education Complex

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College will open its new Athletic/Education Complex on Aug. 17.

The ribbon cutting, which will begin at 1:30 p.m. on the Perkinston Campus, will unveil the state-of-the-art facility. It's the largest renovation of A.L. May Memorial Stadium since it was built in 1948.

"Our athletic department produces the finest student-athletes, and we think this will bring greater success in the classroom and on the field," MGCCC President Dr. Mary S. Graham. "The college's football program has a great history of success which we think will continue to new heights."

Gulf Coast produced 35 NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Award winners last year, and 42 members of the Academic All-MACJC team. No other school in the state has as many honorees by the MACJC.

In the last 10 years, 169 football players have gone on to play at four-year schools. There are seven former Bulldogs who are on NFL rosters right now.

The three-story building includes classrooms, locker rooms, athletic training facilities, and team and position-group meeting rooms, plus a press box and suites. A new concession stand, bookstore outlet and fan restrooms have already opened. There were 60 new chairback seats added where the old press box was.

The stadium, which has a capacity of 5,000, was last renovated in 2000.

The program will include remarks by Perkinston Campus Vice President Dr. Ladd Taylor, MGCCC Board of Trustees Chairperson Jimmy Estes, Dr. Graham, and football coach Chad Huff. Tours of the facility will follow the ceremony.

For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCAthletics on Twitter and BulldogLIVE on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.