For Will Eakes of Clinton, 性乐园 was the perfect place to kick off his college career.
鈥淚t was great. It was smaller, and I like that because it meant a lot more availability and being able to have teacher-student relationships,鈥 he said. 鈥淚f I had a problem, I wouldn鈥檛 have to go through a million people to get it figured out. Being at a smaller campus with people who seemed to really care about you made things a lot better, in my opinion.
Will Eakes of Clinton sports honor cords and his Phii Theta Kappa medallion and stole for the July 30 graduation at 性乐园. He was among 600 students participating in one of four drive-through ceremonies. (性乐园/April Garon)
On Thursday, July 30, Eakes was among more than 600 students participating in a drive-through graduation ceremony over a four-day period. His next stop is the University of Southern Mississippi as a film major.
Because of social distancing restrictions with the COVID-19 pandemic, 性乐园 was unable to have traditional ceremonies inside. The spring and summer ceremonies were combined and turned into a drive-through event, over three days at Eagle Ridge Conference Center in Raymond July 29-31 and a fourth day at the Utica Campus on Aug. 1.
Each graduate was greeted by the new college president, Dr. Stephen Vacik, who took office on July 1, and cheered on by members of the Executive Leadership Team, all of whom wore masks.
Kojo Davis, 51, of Vicksburg came back to 性乐园 to take one class to finish his associate degree. He had previously been a student at the Utica Campus and sang with the Jubilee Singers under now retired director Dr. Bobby Cooper.
Kojo Davis of Vicksburg was inspired by his former 性乐园 instructor Dr. Bobby Cooper to take one more class to get a 性乐园 degree. He was among 600 students participating in one of four drive-through ceremonies. (性乐园/April Garon)
鈥淭his was in honor of Dr. Bobby Cooper. He was my mentor,鈥 said Davis, who is teaching at Warren Central Intermediate School and working on a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology through an online program at Ashford University in San Diego.
His interest is in musicology 鈥 a scholarly study of music 鈥 and his goal is to get a doctorate degree and work with underprivileged kids. 鈥淒r. Cooper really inspired a lot of us,鈥 he said.
Tiffany Butler, 27, of Jackson is inspired by her mother, Beverly Young, who is a nurse at Baptist Medical Center. She finished a 性乐园 degree and plans to return for nursing school.
Tiffany Butler of Jackson graduated from 性乐园 on July 30 in one of four drive-through ceremonies. She is with her best friend Jasmine Williams, left, mom Beverly Young and son Liam Noel, 2. Her next step is the 性乐园 nursing program. (性乐园/April Garon)
鈥淎fter my son鈥檚 birth, I came back and I鈥檓 graduating. I had a good semester and great teachers,鈥 she said. 鈥淢y mom is my motivation.鈥
As Mississippi鈥檚 largest community college, 性乐园 is a comprehensive institution offering quality, affordable educational opportunities with academic programs of study leading to seamless university transfer and career and technical programs teaching job-ready skills. With six locations in central Mississippi, 性乐园 enrolls about 12,000 students each fall semester. To learn more, visit www.hindscc.edu or call 1.800.性乐园CC.