Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College received a generous donation from The Sunray Companies to support students in the college’s Massage Therapy Technology program during a check presentation ceremony held at the Perkinston Campus on November 11. Representatives from The Sunray Companies presented a check to the MGCCC Foundation, contributing $200 per student to help cover uniforms and program fees associated with the intensive one-year course. This support comes in addition to the tuition-free education students already receive through a BP Gulf Coast Work Ready Grant.

Dianna Frattle, Massage Envy Manager and Beverly Parker, Massage Envy District Manager, both Sunray representatives, were present for the event.

“Sunray and Massage Envy are proud to partner with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College on their massage therapy program,” said Amber Sukhbaatar, VP of Culture & Marketing with The Sunray Companies. “There is significant demand for massage therapists across the state. We deeply appreciate the ongoing investment by Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, and we are delighted enhance the lives of students in their massage therapy program with these scholarships.”

Cydnee Merritt, program director/instructor for the Massage Therapy program, praised the donation that helps students continue their education. “I’m very thankful to Sunray for their continued support of our Massage Therapy students and program. This scholarship fund will be extremely helpful in offsetting some of the out-of-pocket expenses for our students and this growing partnership will continue to benefit students in the future.”

This academic year, MGCCC’s Massage Therapy program moved from the West Harrison County Center to a new, dedicated space on the Perkinston Campus, further enhancing the learning experience for students and expanding opportunities for those interested in a career in massage therapy.

“This generous gift from The Sunray Companies exemplifies a commitment to student success and community workforce development,” said Dr. Suzi Brown, vice president of Institutional Advancement at the college. “By offsetting essential costs for students, The Sunray Companies is empowering them to focus fully on their training and career aspirations. We are incredibly grateful for this partnership and their dedication to helping MGCCC students thrive in a growing industry.”

For more information about the program, visit mgccc.edu/massage-therapy.