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Each year, Holmes Community College faculty and staff members select the winners for the prestigious Hall of Fame. This year, the Hall of Fame inductees from the Grenada Campus included: Baker Avant of Carrollton, Ashlyn Gillespie of Greenwood, Meredith Meriwether of Holcomb and Radleigh Woods of Winona.
Baker Avant
Avant, son of Alyssa and Greg Avant, is an accounting major on the Grenada Campus. He was voted Mr. Holmes 2024 for the Grenada Campus and chosen as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa All-Mississippi Academic Team, as well. Avant is very active on campus at Holmes. He serves as an Ambassador, vice president of scholarship for the Alpha Mu Beta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, vice president of Student Government Association and as a member of Baptist Student Union. Avant is a President’s List Scholar, President’s ACT Scholarship recipient, 2023 Business Administration Award recipient and a 2023 Grenada Campus Favorite, as well.
Avant also volunteered as audio/visuals director for Providence Baptist Church in Carrollton his freshman year and serves as youth director for Holcomb Baptist Church as a sophomore. Additionally, he has served as a 911 dispatcher for Carroll County E-911 since 2022. Avant is skilled in graphic design and photo/video editing, so he often assists family and friends with projects, as well.
“After Holmes, I plan on attending Mississippi State University and continuing to work toward a Bachelor of Accountancy degree,” Avant said. My career plans for the near future include working with a local bank, which will further my experience in the business world. At Mississippi State, I also plan to minor in pre-law studies and take the Law School Admissions Test sometime during my junior year. After I graduate from Mississippi State, I plan to attend law school at the University of Mississippi School of Law. There, I plan to earn my J.D. degree with a concentration in business law. My future career plans focus on being an attorney for small businesses and local governments, playing a key role in their day-to-day legal operations. My experience in business, along with a career as an attorney, would help lead to a fulfilling and prosperous career.”
Ashlyn Gillespie
Gillespie, daughter of Velvet and George Gillespie, is a pre-veterinary major. She is an Ambassador, Phi Theta Kappa vice president of leadership, Student Government Association secretary/treasurer and a member of Baptist Student Union. Gillespie is also a President’s List Scholar, Dean’s Scholarship recipient, English Composition Award recipient and a member of the Honors Social Science class. She was a 2022 Freshman Homecoming Maid, and named a Grenada Campus Favorite as both a freshman and sophomore. Outside of Holmes, Gillespie is a member of First Baptist Church of Greenwood and works at Webster’s Food and Drink.
“Upon completion of my studies at Holmes, I intend to transfer to Mississippi State University to further pursue my academic endeavors,” Gillespie said. “There, I will continue studying and enroll in pre-vet classes for my junior and senior years. Upon graduation, I will apply to various vet schools and hopefully be accepted into Mississippi State’s program. If all goes according to plan, I will graduate from the vet program with honors. Later on, I hope to serve my hometown community by becoming a very successful vet with my own clinic specializing in emergency and shelter medicine. For the time being that is my main plan, but you never know what the future will bring!”
Meredith Meriwether
Meriwether, daughter of Ginger and Al Meriwether, is an engineering major. On the Grenada Campus, she serves as an Ambassador, president of Phi Theta Kappa and is a member of Baptist Student Union and Student Government Association. Additionally, she is a President’s List Scholar who was named a Beauty in the 2024 Holmes Parade of Beauties pageant and voted a Freshman Homecoming Maid. She is also a competitive dance instructor/studio manager for Prestige Dance Company and a local math tutor for high school students.
“After leaving Holmes, I plan to attend Mississippi State University to obtain a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering,” Meriwether said. “I plan to work for a privately-owned engineering firm while I am in the process of taking the required certification tests to become a certified engineer. After I complete the certifications, I will continue to work and possibly pursue a master’s degree in engineering. My ultimate plan is to one day become a partner for a major engineering firm, and own a competitive dance studio.”
Radleigh Woods
Woods, daughter of Tina and John Garrett, is a pre-dental hygiene major. She is involved on campus as a Holmes Ambassador, member of the Student Government Association and the Baptist Student Union. Woods is also vice president of service for Phi Theta Kappa, a President’s List Scholar and a Grenada Campus Class Favorite. Additionally, she is a member of First Baptist Winona, an aftercare worker for First Baptist Church Preschool, an assistant at Hoover Dental Office and a Mission Hope volunteer. After Holmes, Woods plans to attend a dental hygiene program.
“After Holmes, I plan to apply to a dental hygiene program,” Woods said. “Upon completion, I hope to become a dental hygienist and work for a local dentist.”
For more information about the Grenada Campus Hall of Fame honor, contact Cynthia Abel at cabel@holmescc.edu.
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IN THIS PHOTO: Pictured are the 2024 Grenada Campus Hall of Fame inductees. They are (left to right) Radleigh Woods of Winona, Meredith Meriwether of Holcomb, Ashlyn Gillespie of Greenwood and Baker Avant of Carrollton.
