Anna Hays was honored as the 2018 Distinguished Young Alumna of the Year by the Art Department at Mississippi College during the annual Alumni Association Meeting and Awards Dinner held on Oct. 26 at Anderson Hall on the MC campus.
Hays is the daughter of J. B. Hays Jr., former pastor of First Baptist Church of Tutwiler. She grew up in Tutwiler where her father was pastor for 18 years. Hays attended Mississippi Delta Community College from 2005-’07. She was active with the MDCC Ambassadors Show Choir under the leadership of Semonne Harper Strawbridge. While at MDCC, Hays placed in the top 10 with the Beauty Review pageant and was first runner-up in the Miss MDCC pageant. She was active with the Baptist Student Union and the Student Government Association. She was inducted into the MDCC Hall of Fame and received the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning HEADWAE Award.
Hays graduated magna cum laude from Mississippi College in 2009 with a degree in graphic design. While at MC, she received numerous awards, including Graphic Design Major of the Year and the Art Department Rising Star Award. While at MC, Hays was inducted into the Mortar Board Honor Society.
As the Art Department Young Alumna of the Year, Hays is a featured exhibit artist at the Samuel Marshall Gore Art Galleries at Mississippi College. Hays was honored with a reception gathering on October 27th to celebrate the 2018 Department of Art Distinguished Alumni. Her graphic design and photography work was displayed at the gallery through November.
The Mississippi College Alumni Association recognizes outstanding service and dedication to MC, professional achievement, and leadership through their recognition programs. Working with each academic department on campus, graduates are selected for the Departmental Alumnus of the Year.
“I am humbled and honored to accept this award from the Mississippi College Art Department. The education that I received at Mississippi College as a graphic design student has been truly rewarding, and I consider my time at Mississippi College very special with memories that I will never forget. I would like to recognize the outstanding faculty and staff for their support,” Hays said.
Hays worked with Ergon Inc. as a graphic designer before joining the Omega Group in 2010. Hays is currently the chief operating officer and director of graphic design with the Omega Group Advertising Agency, a full-service marketing firm in Ridgeland.
"We are absolutely thrilled for Anna that she is being recognized as the Distinguished Young Alumna of the Year by the Mississippi College Art Department,” said Brent Johnson, president of Omega Group. “Anna is extremely deserving of recognition like this in light of the humility she possesses. She has the professional respect of everyone who knows her, and her artistic talent is certainly validated by this honor.
“Anna has guided numerous Mississippi College graphic design students through the Omega Group internship program. Through this mentoring role and in her advisory role at MC, she is helping prepare future Mississippi College alums for successful careers. We are extremely proud of Anna’s achievement and recognition as the Distinguished Young Alumna of the Year.”
Hays has developed national brands and designs for businesses, and her work consists of designing and developing creative services including print, website design, commercial production, digital mediums and photography.
She enjoys speaking to university and high school classes and has been a keynote speaker for marketing and media seminars. Hays currently serves on the Mississippi College Graphic Design Advisory Board. She is a member of First Baptist Jackson and is active with charitable organizations.
