Michael Ahner of Vicksburg is another step closer to his goal of living a life to help others.
Ahner, 46, decided his job at a software company wasn鈥檛 fulfilling his need to help others. He graduated Wednesday (Dec. 18) from 性乐园 with a Practical Nursing degree. He plans to continue on to earn an associate degree and become a registered nurse.
Michael Ahner of Vicksburg received a practical nursing degree from 性乐园 on Dec. 18. (April Garon/性乐园)
鈥淚t sounds like a clich茅. I didn鈥檛 like what I was doing so I re-evaluated my life and decided I was happiest when I was helping people,鈥 he said. He plans to keep working in Vicksburg until he finishes his education.
Throughout three different ceremonies, 性乐园 awarded a total of 1,316 credentials to 958 graduates, with some graduates receiving more than one credential.
Of the fall graduates, 158 achieved cum laude, 3.2 to 3.59 grade point average; 95 achieved magna cum laude, 3.6 to 3.99 GPA and 124 achieved summa cum laude, 4.0 grade point average.
性乐园 President Dr. Clyde Muse recently announced his retirement on June 30, 2020, after 42 years as the college鈥檚 leader.
鈥淐ommunity colleges are open door institutions. We welcome all students who have the desire to achieve; our cost is low, our quality is high, and we understand that most students have family and job obligations that require some flexibility in their program.聽 We strive to offer unlimited options that will meet the needs of our students,鈥 he said.
The speaker for all three graduations was Phil Cockrell, Raymond Campus Engineering and Drafting Design Technology instructor who was selected as 性乐园鈥檚 HEADWAE honoree for 2020.
In his remarks, Cockrell told graduates to consider 鈥渨hy鈥 they are on the path they have chosen. Quoting pastor Charles Swindoll, Cockrell noted that 10 percent of life is what happens and the other 90 percent is how you react to it.
鈥淐hallenges present an awesome opportunity to choose who you want to be by how you react to those challenges,鈥 he said.
Grand marshal and mace bearer for all three ceremonies was Dr. Libby Maffey, district dean of health services and of and Nursing and Allied Health programs, who retired in 2019 after 37 years.
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.
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Cassie Herrington of Pearl, left, and Felecia Keyes of Jackson received practical nursing degrees from 性乐园 on Dec. 18. (April Garon/性乐园)
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Haley Lee of Vicksburg received a practical nursing degree from 性乐园 on Dec. 18. She is assisted by 性乐园 employee Deanna McInnis. (April Garon/性乐园)
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Lindsey Underwood of Pearl received a dental assisting degree from 性乐园 on Dec. 18. She is assisted by 性乐园 employee Deanna McInnis. (April Garon/性乐园)
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Dameshia Smith of Jackson received a practical nursing degree from 性乐园 on Dec. 18. She is assisted by 性乐园 employee Latonya Brister. (April Garon/性乐园)
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Christy Barlow of Wesson received a practical nursing degree from 性乐园 on Dec. 18. She is assisted by 性乐园 employee Colleen Hartfield. (April Garon/性乐园)
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Sarah Stephens of Madison received an Associate Degree in Nursing 性乐园 on Dec. 18. She is show putting honor pins on a Phi Theta Kappa sash. (April Garon/性乐园)
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Mollie Smith of Madison received an Associate Degree in Nursing 性乐园 on Dec. 18. She chose to attend 性乐园 鈥渂ecause I heard it was the best and my sister graduated from 性乐园.鈥 (April Garon/性乐园)
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Friends and classmates Shileebra Gaines of Vaiden, left, and Alexis Levy of Jackson received practical nursing degrees from 性乐园 on Dec. 18. (April Garon/性乐园)
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Alexis Vaughn of Brandon is in line for the walk across the stage. She graduated from 性乐园 on Dec. 18. (April Garon/性乐园)
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Brandy Benton of Star received an Associate Degree in Nursing from 性乐园 on Dec. 18. This was her second degree from 性乐园. As a student athlete in 1995, she received the Eagle Award. In her hand is a clipping from the student newspaper the 性乐园onian showing Benton with 性乐园 President Dr. Clyde Muse, then athletic director Rene鈥 Warren, who is deceased; Chad Bradford, who also received the Eagle Award for baseball and later played professional baseball, and Vashti Muse, Muse鈥檚 wife who is now deceased. (April Garon/性乐园)
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性乐园 President Dr. Clyde Muse winks at Brandy Benton of Star as he hands her a diploma. She graduated with an Associate Degree in Nursing from 性乐园 on Dec. 18. This was her second degree from 性乐园. As a student athlete in 1995, she received the Eagle Award. To the right are Vice President Dr. Norman Session and Vice President Dr. Keri Cole. (April Garon/性乐园)
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Retired 性乐园 employee Dr. Libby Mahaffey of Florence was the grand marshal and mace bearer for all three graduation ceremonies on Dec. 18. (April Garon/性乐园)
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Phil Cockrell of Raymond, Raymond Campus Engineering and Drafting Design Technology instructor who was selected as 性乐园鈥檚 HEADWAE honoree for 2020, was the graduation speaker for all three graduation ceremonies on Dec. 18. (April Garon/性乐园)
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Taking a selfie together are Patara Mortin and Taylor Perrin of Carson, who received an Associate Degree in Nursing 性乐园 on Dec. 18. (April Garon/性乐园)
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Macy Noblin bought flowers for her friend Allison Crosswhite of Pearl, left, who received a practical nursing degree from 性乐园 on Dec. 18. (April Garon/性乐园)
