b'Mission, Vision and Values Mission The mission of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is to meet the educational and community needs in George, Harrison, Jackson, and Stone counties by providing superior instruction through traditional and technological formats to offer workforce pathways, certificates, diplomas, and associate transfer and applied degrees. The college embraces lifelong learning, productive citizenship, service learning, and leadership development in a dynamic and innovative learning environment. Making a positive difference Vision Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College will be a globally competitive learning community with an entrepreneurial spirit that inspires excellence and accelerates achievement. Values Accountability: An acceptance of responsibility for appropriate actions, obligations and duties. Collaboration: A process that facilitates transfer of knowledge, skills and attainment of common goals. Excellence: A motivation where the highest standards are viewed as benchmarks to surpass. Integrity: A commitment to honesty and ethical behavior in all situations. Leadership: A process of directing groups of people toward a common goal. Respect: A feeling of esteem or regard for the unique qualities of all individuals. Service: An action performed for others without the desire for personal gain. Social Responsibility: An ethical, inclusive approach to serve and engage our community. History On September 5, 1911, the Harrison County School Board established the Harrison County Agricultural High School, an action that marked the beginning of the present-day Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. As an inducement to locate the school at the little town of Perkinston, a number of prominent citizens donated 566 acres of land and $626. Their efforts were successful and, with one building, Huff Hall, the institution began operation on September 17, 1912. On June 5, 1916, Stone County was formed from the northern part of Harrison County, and the school continued under the dual support of both counties.Realizing that a new educational concept, the junior college, was ideally suited to the needs of Mississippi, the Legislature in 1924 enabled the counties to cooperate with the state in offering education beyond the high school level to all who could profit from it and in their home community. One of the first junior colleges to be organized was founded in conjunction with the Harrison-Stone Agricultural High School.Jackson County added its support to the coming institution in the summer of 1925, and the new institution opened on September 14, 1925, as the Harrison-Stone-Jackson Agricultural High School and Junior College offering the first year of junior college work. Sophomore 5'