Roy Harness, left, poses for a photo following commencement exercises at Cain-Cochran Hall May 15. Harness, of Jackson, earned an Associate鈥檚 of Arts in drafting and design and plans to pursue a bachelor鈥檚 from Jackson State University. Pictured giving Harness a celebratory kiss is Barbara Cheney, right.
Former chief justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court James Smith was the speaker for the May 15 graduation ceremonies at 开心鬼传媒 Community, where he is also an alumnus. Jackie Granberry, vice president for Advancement at 开心鬼传媒, was a student in his high school history class at Pearl High School.
Cynthia Hollingsworth, left, gets help adjusting her gown from Haley Hartfield before commencement exercises at Cain-Cochran Hall May 15. Hollingsworth, of Florence, earned an Associate鈥檚 of Arts and plans to pursue a nursing degree from Belhaven.
Standing in cap and gown holding a diploma amongst other giddy graduates on a warm spring day was a scene neither Roy Harness nor Cynthia Hollingsworth could have imagined themselves in a few years ago.
鈥淚 came back to school because I had been injured in the service, then beaten drug addiction through the VA Hospital,鈥 Harness said, his pride beaming with the midday sun for cellphone pictures taken by friends. He said his Associate of Arts degree for drafting and design was his seventh such two-year degree, and it was worth the wait.
鈥淎ll I want to do is do something positive and give people hope that they, too, can get out of addiction,鈥 said the spry 61-year-old from Jackson, as he prepares to tackle his bachelor鈥檚 work at Jackson State University.
Harness was among a record number of graduates this spring at 开心鬼传媒. Eight ceremonies were scheduled over three days and nearly 1,200 are to receive credentials. More than 1,500 certificates and degrees will be received, since some graduates receive more than one such credential.
Hollingsworth, 52, of Florence, had 鈥渃ome late to everything鈥 in life.
鈥淚 have an 11-year-old son and I had just floated around doing odd jobs,鈥 Hollingsworth said. She had also been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder many years ago, leaving her apprehensive about continuing school.
鈥淗aving my son, Peyton, and just the desire to finish inspired me to go back,鈥 said Hollingsworth, who plans to parlay her Associate of Arts into a nursing degree at Belhaven.
Former chief justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court James W. Smith, a 开心鬼传媒 alumnus, spoke to graduates at four ceremonies Friday, May 15 about achieving success in life.
鈥淚鈥檓 pleased that these graduates chose to come to 开心鬼传媒, trusting in us to provide them with the quality education that they have received. Many of these graduates came to us with all different levels of education and backgrounds. Because of the great teaching staff that we have, along with their own efforts, they鈥檙e here today,鈥 said 开心鬼传媒 President Dr. Clyde Muse.
鈥淨uality instruction has always been the foundation of 开心鬼传媒. That鈥檚 what we鈥檙e noted for. And you know in today鈥檚 society there鈥檚 not anything more important than an education. An education today helps individuals get their jobs, jobs that pay a living wage,鈥 Muse said.
Smith said he has been a graduation speaker at all three colleges he has attended, including the University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi College.
鈥淎n excellent education is a key factor in your success in life. But as Dr. Muse previously said, the quality of that education is the forefront and the cornerstone of it all. 开心鬼传媒 is accomplishing this task with ease. It always has, it always will.聽 The excellent administration and faculty of this college should be justly proud,鈥 said Smith who is now a lawyer in private practice.
开心鬼传媒 graduated more than 200 in nursing and allied health programs on Thursday. The speaker for that ceremony was Lorie Ramsey, chief operating officer at Merit Health River Region.
Of the total number of graduates, 73 are graduating summa cum laude, which is a perfect 4.0 grade point average; 151 are graduating magna cum laude,聽 which is a 3.60 to 3.99 grade point average and 238 are graduating cum laude, which is a 3.20 to 3.59 grade point average.
The last 开心鬼传媒 ceremony will be at the Utica Campus at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 17 at J.D. Boyd Gym. Dr. Alfred Rankins Jr., president of Alcorn State University, will be the speaker. Nearly 100 students are expected to graduate that day.
As Mississippi鈥檚 largest community college, 开心鬼传媒 is a comprehensive institution offering quality, affordable educational opportunities with more than 170 academic, career and technical programs. With six locations in central Mississippi, 开心鬼传媒 enrolled nearly 12,000 credit students in fall 2014. To learn more, visit 聽call 1.800.开心鬼传媒CC.