JTC 26: A Mother and Daughter Support Team

Melanie Bonnett Tapp has made a career of serving others. After graduating from Tishomingo County High School in 1997, the Iuka resident attended Northeast Mississippi Community College, earned her registered nursing degree and began working in the medical surgery department of Magnolia Regional Health Center in Corinth. 

She has worked as a nurse at MRHC for the past 19 years in various roles, most recently as a pre-surgical coordinator for the hospital. 

“I wondered what the next step could be in my career,” she said. “I knew I enjoyed helping connect people with the resources and tools to get their health where they wanted it to be.” 

Melanie Tapp graduates this spring from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor's degree in allied health studies. She will be accompanied by her daughter, Avery Tapp, who has earned a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in sociology. 

In early 2024, Melanie was thinking about ways that she could advance her career in health care through clinical outreach. That same spring, Avery shared with her mother that she was considering transferring to the University of Mississippi at Booneville to complete her bachelor’s degree.  

That’s when Melanie began researching more about the academic programs available on the Booneville campus. The Bachelor of Allied Health Studies program with an emphasis in health care administration seemed like a great fit for her experience and goals. 

“It was daunting to think about going back to school at my age, but the staff and professors at the Ole Miss-Booneville campus were helpful and encouraging throughout the process," she said. "That made the decision a lot easier. 

“It was a great program for adult learners. We had access to Ole Miss classes and degrees, but we had a support system close by at the Booneville campus.” 

Melanie had to lean on that support system even more just a few weeks into her junior year at UM when she was hit by a car in a parking lot and suffered from a brain injury. She had a concussion, which meant she had to take  a period of medical leave, avoid screen time and follow up with physical therapy.  

“Avery was so helpful during this time by reading me my emails, as well as corresponding with my professors,” Melanie said. 

Melanie was able to catch up in her courses and even used information that she was studying to help her through the healing process. 

She recalled learning more about post-traumatic stress disorder in her Abnormal Psychology course at UM. That helped her realize that she might be experiencing this situation herself and instituted learning methods for working through the experience. 

“I actually attribute my approved cognitive processing after the accident to being in school,” Melanie said. “It helped me to focus, work on retaining information and prioritizing my time so that I could keep going in my classes. 

“Avery and I had a goal of walking in graduation together and that became my striving force to keep working toward healing after the accident. Being able to push through and complete this degree has taught me to believe in myself and my capabilities, even in the face of adversity."  

Avery Tapp is a 2022 graduate of Tishomingo County High School. She also attended NEMCC, where she was active in several campus organizations, cheered with the Northeast Tigers cheerleading squad and was named Miss Northeast Community College in 2024. 

Avery decided to attend the UM-Booneville campus so that she could continue serving in her community as a coach for the Tishomingo County High School cheerleading squad, a substitute teacher at local middle school and an assistant in a local boutique. 

“I was doing so many different things in the area and enjoying the opportunity to make a difference,” Avery said. “So, when I found out Ole Miss-Booneville would allow me to continue working in those areas while finishing my bachelor’s degree, I knew it would be a perfect fit for me.” 

Avery said she chose to study psychology and sociology because, like her mother, she feels a calling to help others. Throughout her studies a career in the legal field was something she continued to consider. 

“Last summer on vacation, I told my mom, ‘What if I went to law school?’" 

Avery said her mom encouraged her with a quick response: “What if you did?” 

“And that was all the push I needed to begin studying for the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test),” Avery said. 

Avery recently was admitted to the UM School of Law for the fall 2026 semester. She wants to study sports law and how it affects professionals and NCAA players. 

“I’ve enjoyed watching athletes grow in their sport over the years in my roles as a teammate, coach and mentor,” Avery said. “I think I could use the legal knowledge I obtain to continue helping them excel as they navigate NIL (name, image and likeness) rules and professional sports. 

“I know I could be an encouraging anchor for my clients.” 

Melanie and Avery were asked to speak about their journeys to graduation during the annual UM-Booneville graduation celebration in April on the Northeast campus. 

“One sentence in and I started crying,” Avery said. “I couldn’t even read my speech because of my eyes were so blurry.  

“It just meant so much for us to be there graduating together after everything that has happened.” 

During the speech, Melanie recalled one of her favorite quotes spoken by a storybook favorite, Christopher Robin, Winnie the Pooh’s best friend in the children’s books by A.A. Milne. The quote embodied her educational journey over the past few years at Ole Miss, she said.  

“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”  

Top: Melanie Tapp and Avery Tapp, a mother and daughter from Booneville, graduate together in May from the University of Mississippi after supporting each other through adversity, including Melanie's recovery from a brain injury sustained during her junior year. Melanie earned a degree in allied health studies and Avery earned a degree in psychology. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services

 See more photos from Melanie and Avery Tapp's Journey to Commencement