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Special to The Canton News
When Ezekiel Harris of Canton stepped onto the Utica Campus of Hinds Community College, he described himself as “sheltered.” But through the support of faculty, staff and peers, Harris said he found the confidence to lead — and to shine.
Harris, a 2023 graduate of Hinds with an associate degree in mass communications, returned to the Utica campus this summer to speak to high school students attending the inaugural Thurgood Marshall College Fund S.O.A.R. (Seeking, Observing and Achieving Results) Summer Camp. During a panel discussion on July 16, Harris reflected on how the college helped him grow into a confident student leader.
“The faculty and staff helped. They are not just teachers and administrators,” Harris told the audience of about fifty campers. “You’ve got mom and dad and cousins — it’s a family. It shaped me.”
He credited his transformation to the strong sense of community in the campus residence halls and the encouragement he received to get involved. Harris was voted both Mr. Freshman and Mr. Utica during his time at Hinds.
“We motivate each other,” Harris said of campus life. “Living in the residence halls, we’re all we’ve got, so we supported each other.”
The S.O.A.R. Summer Camp was held July 13-18 and gave approximately one hundred rising high school seniors a chance to experience life on a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) campus. The program included exposure to academic programs, career paths, financial aid guidance and panel discussions with Hinds alumni like Harris.
Other panelists included Jaylan Blount of Jackson, who is now studying psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi, and Zoe Griffin of Raymond, currently pursuing an early childhood education degree at Alcorn State University.
The event was hosted at Hinds’ Utica Campus, a site with deep historical roots as an HBCU and a longstanding commitment to empowering students academically and personally.
Harris’ journey from a quiet freshman to a campus leader continues to inspire students from Canton and beyond.
“I love to be the center of attention now,” he said with a laugh, crediting his growth to the opportunities and support he found at Hinds.
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