PEARL โ About 170 students graduated at ะยฒสอ๘ with career or technical certificates and associate degrees in academic or career-technical programs in the first of three ceremonies on May 11.
ะยฒสอ๘ has five graduation ceremonies spanning May 10, 11 and 13. Over the five ceremonies, ะยฒสอ๘ 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 ะยฒสอ๘ 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 Mississippiโs largest community college, ะยฒสอ๘ 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, ะยฒสอ๘ enrolled nearly 12,000 credit students in fall 2016. To learn more, visit or call 1.800.ะยฒสอ๘CC.
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 ะยฒสอ๘โs Rankin Campus. (April Garon/ะยฒสอ๘)
Michael Davis, center, celebrates his May 11 graduation from ะยฒสอ๘ with ะยฒสอ๘ County administrator Carmen Davis, ะยฒสอ๘ County Board of Supervisors President Mike Morgan, ะยฒสอ๘ President Dr. Clyde Muse and Al Davis. (April Garon/ะยฒสอ๘)
The Evans family of Flowood is a ะยฒสอ๘ family with Sherman Evans Sr., left, a ะยฒสอ๘ alumnus with a degree in biomedical technology, Betty Evans with a degree in early childhood education as of May 11 and son Sherman โS.J.โ Evans Jr. planning to major in kinesiology in the fall. (April Garon/ะยฒสอ๘)
Shane Frye of Vicksburg, foreground, received a communications degree from ะยฒสอ๘ on May 11. His next step is Alcorn State University in Lorman. (April Garon/ะยฒสอ๘)
Anna Hite of Raymond graduated from ะยฒสอ๘ on May 11. Hite, whose next step is the University of Mississippi, won numerous awards at ะยฒสอ๘ including representing the college as the student HEADWAE honoree at the annual legislative luncheon in February. (April Garon/ะยฒสอ๘)
Receiving credentials in medical data technology from ะยฒสอ๘ on May 11 were, from left, Jessica Fields of Pearl, Melinda Dunn of Pearl and Kailyn Duncan of Terry. (April Garon/ะยฒสอ๘)
Graduating from ะยฒสอ๘ 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/ะยฒสอ๘)
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 ะยฒสอ๘ on May 11. (April Garon/ะยฒสอ๘)
Twins Aliyah Atkins and Eliyah Atkins of Terry graduated from ะยฒสอ๘ on May 11. (April Garon/ะยฒสอ๘)
Colleen Hartfield of Raymond, executive assistant to the president, reads the names of the graduates at the May 11 graduation ceremony at ะยฒสอ๘. (April Garon/ะยฒสอ๘)