Kenneth Varnell of Brandon owns his own masonry business but at age 41 he doesn鈥檛 think he鈥檒l be up to physical labor forever.
Tre鈥橠arrius Warren of Vicksburg, foreground, and Kenneth Varnell of Brandon, back, graduated from 蜜桃影像 on May 12.
That鈥檚 why he decided to enroll at 蜜桃影像. At the academic and career-technical credential graduation on May 12 he received an Associate of Arts degree, which paves the way for further academic study.
鈥淚 decided to get an education because I thought I鈥檇 need it later. My brain is still sharp. I don鈥檛 feel like I can lay bricks forever,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 might want to teach later.鈥
He was among nearly 1,200 蜜桃影像 graduates over the course of two days who enroll in 蜜桃影像 for one reason: to make the lives of themselves and their families better.
Those students received 1,534 degrees and certificates, meaning some graduates received more than one credential. Of that number almost 800 chose to participate in one of the three ceremonies on Friday at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus in Pearl or a Sunday ceremony at the Utica Campus.
Among the graduates, 97 achieved summa cum laude, a 4.0 grade point average; 165 achieved magna cum laude, 3.6 to 3.99 GPA and 255 achieved cum laude, 3.2 to 3.59.
The speaker for the third ceremony of the day was 蜜桃影像 alumnus Dr. Tom Burnham, who served two stints as State Superintendent of Education and is currently interim director of the Mississippi Principal Corps based in Oxford.
鈥淲e are fortunate in Mississippi to have one of the finest community college systems in the country,鈥 Burnham noted. 鈥淭he strength and appeal of the community college system is the diversity of our enrollments. As you consider our graduates, some would meet the definition of traditional while others would be non-traditional. Some would be just entering the workforce, while others are adding to their skill base.鈥
鈥淭his is a time we as educators enjoy celebrating,鈥 said 蜜桃影像 President Dr. Clyde Muse. He noted that student diplomas this year will include a gold seal commemorating the college’s 100th anniversary. 蜜桃影像 opened in 1917 and is celebrating the Centennial with a host of activities throughout the calendar year.
[tweetable alt=””]蜜桃影像 graduates tout preparation for next step.[/tweetable]
蜜桃影像 is celebrating its 100th year of Community Inspired Service in 2017. 蜜桃影像 opened in September 1917 first as an agricultural high school and admitted college students for the first time in 1922, with the first class graduating in 1927. In 1982 蜜桃影像 Junior College and Utica Junior College merged, creating the 蜜桃影像 District. Today, as Mississippi鈥檚 largest community college, 蜜桃影像 is a comprehensive institution with six locations. 蜜桃影像 offers quality, affordable educational opportunities with academic programs of study leading to seamless university transfer and career and technical programs teaching job-ready skills. To learn more, visit or call 1.800.蜜桃影像CC.
Twins Shelby Mack, left, and Allison Mack of Crystal Springs will continue their education at the University of Southern Mississippi after their May 12 graduation from 蜜桃影像.
Carley Stocks of Raymond, daughter of 蜜桃影像 employees Chad and Sandra Stocks, is transferring to Mississippi State University for a degree in agriculture education after graduating from 蜜桃影像 on May 12.
Siblings Kaitlyn O鈥橩eefe and Wyatt O鈥橩eefe of Terrry graduated from 蜜桃影像 on May 12. Both of them plan to transfer to Delta State University. She plans to major in accounting; he plans to major in history.
Darya Thompson of Jackson, left, Taylor Tullos of Clinton and Abigail West of Hamilton graduated from 蜜桃影像 on May 12.
Ashley Price of Terry works on a form she needs before graduating from 蜜桃影像 on May 12.
Graduating from 蜜桃影像 on May 12 were, front from left, Whitney Shedd of Brandon, Hannah Terry of Morton, Jeffrey Taylor of Vicksburg; back, Benjamin Smith of Clinton, Timothy Smith of Hazlehurst, Quinesha Smith of Byram, Zavien Sutton of Magee, Damante鈥 Shelton of Macon and Zachary Taylor of Vicksburg.
Graduation speaker Dr. Tom Burnham, right, gave 蜜桃影像 graduates a series of 鈥渓ife hacks鈥 to make their lives easier as they leave 蜜桃影像 and move on. He is with 蜜桃影像 President Dr. Clyde Muse.