Zachary Lilley of Florence couldn鈥檛 let his wife one-up him. Last year Ashley Lilley finished her Associate Degree in Nursing at 性乐园 so this year it was Zach鈥檚 turn.
鈥淚鈥檝e been an LPN (licensed practical nurse) for five years now,鈥 said Lilley, 29, who, along with his wife, works at the Mississippi State Hospital at Whitfield. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 let her be ahead of me.鈥
Zachary Lilley of Florence graduated from 性乐园 on July 29 with an Associate Degree in Nursing.
Lilley commuted back and forth to 性乐园鈥 Vicksburg-Warren Campus for the Transition to RN program and has already begun the RN to BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) at University of Mississippi Medical Center. The couple has three children ages 10 months, 3 and 10.
鈥淚t鈥檚 stressful. It鈥檚 very stressful 鈥 but it鈥檚 only for a year and you can get through anything for a year,鈥 he said.
But his wife was a true partner. 鈥淪he could tell me her past experiences what she thought was important and was not so important,鈥 Lilley said. 鈥淕etting the kids off when I had clinicals. They had babysitters so I didn鈥檛 have to worry about babysitters. She handled all that.鈥
[tweetable alt=””]性乐园 conferred 467 degrees and certificates to 405 graduates in two graduation ceremonies Friday, July 29 [/tweetable]
at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. 鈥淎 good number of our graduates are earning more than one community college credential,鈥 said 性乐园 President Dr. Clyde Muse.
Of the total number of graduates, 56 graduated summa cum laude, which is a perfect 4.0 grade point average; 36 graduated magna cum laude, which is a 3.60 to 3.99 grade point average and 66 graduated cum laude, which is a 3.20 to 3.59 grade point average.
性乐园 President Dr. Clyde Muse
鈥淚 suspect if we polled each graduate, nearly all would say they went to college to make things better 鈥 for themselves and for their families,鈥 Muse said. 鈥淭he power of education is that it drives our vision for a better life.聽 And, while the graduates here today represent a diverse set of circumstances, they are connected by their belief that a community college education is a step up to a broader opportunity to build a better life.鈥
The speaker for both graduation ceremonies was Dr. Ed Davis, director of the doctoral program for Rural Community College leaders at Mississippi State University.
鈥淭he good thing about the job I have had for the past few years is I have had the chance to go across the nation and work with other community
Dr. Ed Davis, director of the doctoral program for Rural Community College leaders at Mississippi State University, was the graduation speaker.
college programs in a lot of states and in a lot of regions,鈥 Davis said. 鈥淭here are two things they know when you go to other states: They know Dr. Muse, and they know 性乐园. I think that鈥檚 a testament to the work and dedication of administrators, the faculty and staff of 性乐园 and the leadership of Dr. Muse. The quality of programs at 性乐园 is known nationwide.鈥
Jeffery Walters of Jackson received a certificate in the paramedic program. At age 49, he already works for AMR in Jackson.
Jeffery Walters of Jackson received a certificate in the paramedic program. At age 49, he already works for AMR in Jackson. Celebrating with him are his daughter, Lacey Walters and granddaughter Karri Walters.
鈥淚t is difficult 鈥 difficult but rewarding would be the best way to describe it,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t was difficult finding time to study because I did work fulltime at the same time.
鈥淚 told myself that, as old as I am, that after I got out of EMT school I am done with school, too old. But family, friends and coworkers finally talked me into coming back and stepping on up,鈥 Walters said.
One of the happiest people at summer graduation had to be Lotoya Patterson of Vicksburg, who received her practical nursing degree at age 30.
鈥淭his was an emotional roller coaster but I thank God because if it wasn鈥檛 for him I wouldn鈥檛 be here,鈥 she said. 鈥淲hen they say rigorous it was very rigorous. But I thank God because they prepared us to get ready for the world, to be in the hospital showing us what we have got to be prepared for. I鈥檓 really thankful to have come to 性乐园 because their program is very rigorous.鈥
Lotoya Patterson of Vicksburg received her practical nursing degree at age 30 from 性乐园 on July 29.
As Mississippi鈥檚 largest community college, 性乐园 is a comprehensive institution offering quality, affordable educational opportunities with more than 170 academic, career and technical programs. With six locations in central Mississippi, 性乐园 enrolled nearly 12,000 credit students in fall 2015. To learn more, visit or call 1.800.性乐园CC.
Chelsi Pearce and Lauren Sikorski, both of Brandon, holding flowers received their degrees in medical lab technology from 性乐园 on July 29. With them are their instructors, LaJuanda Portis, far left, and Amber Reulet, far right.
Kathryn Beckham of Brandon received a degree from 性乐园 in dental assisting on July 29. With her are dad Vernon Beckham and stepmom Leslie Beckham.
Dr. Norman Session, vice president for the Rankin Campus, assisted with July 29 summer graduation ceremonies at 性乐园.
Ashley McIlroy of Jackson graduated from 性乐园 on July 29 with a practical nursing degree. With her are aunts, JoAnn Johnson, left, and Dorothy Dupree, right.
性乐园 retiree Dr. Mary Ann Greene of Clinton was the grand marshal and mace bearer at the July 29 summer graduation ceremonies.
Kimberly Denny of Vidalia, La., commuted across the Mississippi River to attend classes at the Vicksburg-Warren Campus. At age 47 she received her Associate Degree in Nursing, a journey she started when she was 18. Now with two daughters, 21 and 26, she decided it was 鈥渕y time. I can do it for me, not for them,鈥 she said.