PEARL – About 130 nursing and allied health graduates received credentials at a 2 p.m. ceremony May 10 at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus.
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.
Speakers for Friday ceremonies at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus are
Mike Morgan, president of the County Board of Supervisors, at 8 a.m. May 11; 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 www.hindscc.edu or call 1.800.CC.
Ridge Rochelle of Canton received a degree in physical therapy assisting on May 10 at . He is with is son Easton Rochelle, 9 ½ months. (April Garon/)
Nickeysha Nathaniel of McComb received the Associate Degree in Nursing from on May 10. (April Garon/)
Leanna Long of Pelahatchie and Emily Nicholson-Zetterholm of Clinton received the Associate Degree in Nursing from on May 10. (April Garon/)
Brooke Barnes of Brandon with her son Jaxon Epperly, 3. Barnes received the Associate Degree in Nursing from on May 10. (April Garon/)
President Dr. Clyde Muse with Dr. Bobby Cooper, the grand marshal and mace bearer for the May 10 graduation at . The long-time director of the Jubilee Singers on the Utica Campus, Cooper is retiring with 45 years of service to the college. (April Garon/)
Graduation speaker Phyllis Polk Johnson with Dr. Libby Mahaffey, dean for nursing and allied health at and Shan Montgomery, CFO for the Mississippi Board of Nursing. Johnson spoke to nursing and allied health graduates on May 10. (April Garon/)
Nicole Vertucci of Richland adjusts the gown for Kayla Atkinson of Carthage. They received the Associate Degree in Nursing from on May 10. (April Garon/)
Morgan Bruff of Jackson and Abby Horner of Ridgeland received the Associate Degree in Nursing from on May 10. (April Garon/)
Sherry Kelley of Jackson, left, and Trenee’ Walton of Ridgeland received the Associate Degree in Nursing from on May 10. (April Garon/)
Jonathan “Win” Winsted of Pelahatchie graduated with a degree in health care assisting on May 10 at . During his career, he attended the Rankin Campus and Jackson Campus-Nursing/Allied Health Center and served as an officer in Phi Theta Kappa honor society. “I had a good experience. Both were really good campuses,” he said. (April Garon/)
Graduating with degrees in health care assisting are, from left, Alex Shoemaker of Terry, Camille Young of Jackson, Courtney Stevens of Jackson, Raushauntriss Brown of Byram, and Bre-Anna Russell of Crystal Springs. (April Garon/)
Stephanie Drake of Pearl received a degree in radiologic technology on May 10 from . (April Garon/)
Patti Carroll employee helps her daughter Shelby Carroll of Clinton get ready for May 10 graduation. Shelby received a degree in radiologic technology.(April Garon/ Community Colege)