PEARL – About 170 students graduated at with career or technical certificates and associate degrees in academic or career-technical programs in the first of three ceremonies on May 11.
has five graduation ceremonies spanning May 10, 11 and 13. Over the five ceremonies, is awarding 1,839 degrees and certificates to 1,319 people, with some people receiving multiple credentials in academic, career or technical programs. This is the largest number of credentials has ever awarded for one graduation season.
Over the academic year including summer 2017 and fall 2017 ceremonies, the college will have awarded more than 3,900 credentials, a 12 percent increase over last year and an 85 percent increase over five years ago.
Of the 1,319 spring graduates, 265 achieved cum laude, 3.2 to 3.59 grade point average; 204 achieved magna cum laude, 3.6 to 3.99 GPA and 137 achieved summa cum laude, 4.0 grade point average. Nearly 900 are expected to participate in one of the five ceremonies.
On Thursday, May 10, Phyllis Polk Johnson, executive director for the Mississippi Board of Nursing, spoke to nursing and allied health graduates.
Other speakers at the Muse Center at the Rankin Campus on Friday, May 11 were state Sen. Josh Harkins, of Flowood, at 11 a.m. and Dr. Andrea Mayfield, executive director of the Mississippi Community College Board, at 3 p.m.
Tom Joyner, a nationally syndicated radio and television show host, will speak to graduates at the Utica Campus during a ceremony 2 p.m. Sunday, May 13.
As Mississippi’s largest community college, 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, enrolled nearly 12,000 credit students in fall 2016. To learn more, visit or call 1.800.CC.
Dr. Norman Session, left, vice president for the Rankin Campus and Jackson Campus-Academic/Technical Center, and Marvin Moak, vice president for the Vicksburg-Warren Campus, help hand out honor cords for the May 11 graduation ceremony at ’s Rankin Campus. (April Garon/)
Michael Davis, center, celebrates his May 11 graduation from with County administrator Carmen Davis, County Board of Supervisors President Mike Morgan, President Dr. Clyde Muse and Al Davis. (April Garon/)
The Evans family of Flowood is a family with Sherman Evans Sr., left, a alumnus with a degree in biomedical technology, Betty Evans with a degree in early childhood education as of May 11 and son Sherman “S.J.” Evans Jr. planning to major in kinesiology in the fall. (April Garon/)
Shane Frye of Vicksburg, foreground, received a communications degree from on May 11. His next step is Alcorn State University in Lorman. (April Garon/)
Anna Hite of Raymond graduated from on May 11. Hite, whose next step is the University of Mississippi, won numerous awards at including representing the college as the student HEADWAE honoree at the annual legislative luncheon in February. (April Garon/)
Receiving credentials in medical data technology from on May 11 were, from left, Jessica Fields of Pearl, Melinda Dunn of Pearl and Kailyn Duncan of Terry. (April Garon/)
Graduating from on May 11 with degrees in early childhood education are, from left, Betty Evans of Flowood, Madison Easterling of Brandon and Jillyssa Davis of Pearl.(April Garon/)
Charmaine Andrews-Grant of Ridgeland, left, received a degree in accounting, Anna Bongfen of Ridgeland received a degree in medical data technology and Fredrick Blackmon of Canton received a degree in logistics at on May 11. (April Garon/)
Twins Aliyah Atkins and Eliyah Atkins of Terry graduated from on May 11. (April Garon/)
Colleen Hartfield of Raymond, executive assistant to the president, reads the names of the graduates at the May 11 graduation ceremony at . (April Garon/)