Chevron presents $150,000 to MGCCC, MSU

A new joint bachelor's degree program in engineering through Mississippi State University and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College received $150,000 from Chevron on Monday.

The two schools will collaborate to offer engineering courses taught by MSU faculty on MGCCC's Jackson County campus. Students can complete a two-years associate degree from MGCCC before enrolling in electrical or mechanical engineering courses through Mississippi State.

The $150,000 was presented by Bruce Chinn, the general manager of Chevron's Pascagoula Refinery, and Mike Illanne, the vice president of the Gulf of Mexico Business Unit, to MSU President Mark E. Keenum and MGCCC President Mary S. Graham at the Jackson County campus.

The money will be used to purchase lab equipment.

The electrical engineering program will launch in January and mechanical engineering will follow in August.

A recent orientation session drew almost 50 interested students, officials said.

This story was originally published November 2, 2015 at 2:44 PM with the headline "Chevron presents $150,000 to MGCCC, MSU ."