East Mississippi Community College held a spring graduation ceremony Saturday on the Scooba campus and was to conduct graduation for the Golden Triangle campus Tuesday.
More than 700 academic and career-technical students who completed their coursework at the Scooba, Golden Triangle, Columbus Air Force Base, Naval Air Station Meridian, Lion Hills, West Point Center and online/eLearning campuses are graduating this term.
Graduation ceremonies for students at the Scooba campus began at 10 a.m. in the Keyes Currie Coliseum.
In-state graduates hail from 49 counties and 97 cities in Mississippi, with additional graduates from eight other U.S. states.
EMCC President Dr. Scott Alsobrooks spoke to the students about the importance of setting goals.
“Goals help keep us focused and pointed in the right direction,” Alsobrooks said. “You have reached one milestone today. Set your sights on another. Determine where you want to be next year, five years, or even 10 years from now and work to make it happen.
“For some of you that may mean continuing your education. For others that may be entering the workforce. Maybe your goal is to become a supervisor, vice president or CEO in your chosen field. Formulate a plan and keep moving forward.”
Alsobrooks recounted how during his early career as an engineer at Stennis Space Center, he took advantage of an opportunity to work at the University of Southern Mississippi helping manufacturers in Mississippi remain competitive.
While at USM, he began work on his master’s degree and later accepted a position of director of workforce development at Pearl River Community College.
“I accepted that challenge and along the way earned my PhD,” Alsobrooks said. “I am here at this great institution because of another opportunity. I planned my career path and worked toward that goal. At the time I thought it was a good plan but here I am in a different field on a new trajectory because of the opportunities that arose.”
“So, set goals and plan for your future but be prepared for new opportunities,” Alsobrooks said. “Keep an open mind and peer through every door that opens.”
Area graduates by county and hometown were:
Attala County
•Ethel: Avery Bouchillon
•Kosciusko: Tanner Kyle, Matraca Townsend
•McCool: Caitlyn Gilbert, Keith Gibbs
•Sallis: Robert Roebuck
Choctaw County
· Ackerman: Robert Campbell, Brady Dempsey, Clayton Forrester, Akeyla Fox, Jaiye Gillon, Michael Miller, Jacob Myers, Emily Parker, Justin Paulk
· French Camp: Anna Hosket, Sara MacKenzie
· Weir: Arkelia Curtis, Brittany Wade, Damian Busby, Laterrious Arterberry
Kemper County
· DeKalb: Rondarius Bennamon, Telicia Bohannon, Chase Cawthorn, Kiandrea Cherry, Dustin Davis, Leejimyiah Grace, Mercedez Jackson , Bryson Jenkins, Dionte Naylor, Jokobey Smart, Ty'landa Tisdale, Destinie White, Jordan White, Markayla Williams
· Porterville: D’Undra Jackson, James Creer, Devon McClendon, Earlvonta McDonald
· Preston: Elizabeth McDonald, Dalton Sanderford
· Scooba: Labrielle Baylor, J.T. McDade, Jada Wooten, Jacquez Cole
Montgomery County
· Stewart: Kurtis Odom
· Winona: Tommiecia Burt, Victoria Bond
Neshoba County
· Philadelphia: Tien Pham, Vanity Payne, Jescie Harris, Allison Payne, Thomas Marshall, Robert Wilson, Meg Martin, Brianna Wells, Brenton Cole
Noxubee County
· Brooksville: Jo'neighja Dora, Desimeyeona Frierson, Satoya Key, Jack King, Treyvon Patton, Nicole Ramsey, Savanah Stapleton, Jadan Tate, Jasmine Williams, Mia Wells
· Macon: Marcellus Hudgins, Teyanna Washington, Jamesia Ruffin, Chelsea Halbert, Stephanie Kauffman, Jaylon Hodges, Wiley Stevenson, Bobby May, Letadreon Mattix, Sha’kambrea May, Cortez Bush, Destiny Orr, Demarcus Henley, Diamond Stevenson, Tyhendreo Wilson, De’rayln Smith, Tyrique Brown, Cody Troyer, Kayla Shanklin, Jataiya Turner, Jaliyah Jackson, Aaron Sloan, Jakerrius Oliver, Lukas Borntrager, Adaquis Graham, Kaniya Grassree, Danny Jones, Jackson Hill, Cardarius Payton, John Allen Clark, Zachary Tate, Evan Clark, Ryquerious Calhoun, Michael Fuller
· Shuqualak: Will Sciple, Ansley Pitts, Antranika Ruffin, Alexis Stewart
Oktibbeha County
· Maben: Luke Crowley, Chad Crowley, Wanda Reid, Katie Hargett, Tate Stallings, Jacob Coker, Roger Jones
· Starkville: Alejandra Torres, Sheila Harris, Tandra McDowell, William Sansing, Joshua Young, Deangelo Coleman, Tatum Barrier, Octavia Stallings, Blake Brooks, Kendle McKinstry, Dustin Smith, Ryan Powe, Kirby Cox, Joivon Tate, Caleb Jordan, Kiana Smith, Mary Aultman, Arlilea Bishop, Alize Thompson, Brandon Shook, Jocitta Buchanan, Kirkland Durr, Terry Glinsey, Jadice Cain, Caitlin Jennings, Shelby Grice, Zach Ashford, Lakedria Tate, William Penn, Samuel Snell, Charlie Armstead, Victoria Harrington, Victoria Sanders, Jared Williams, Jackson Rosinski, Deanna Sanders, Spencer Fong, Malcolm Collins, Charlena Brown, Leah Jackson, Hailey Linley, Jazmyn Douglas, Jaime Pearson, Shaliyah Miles, Joyce Ainsworth, Rebecca Johnson, Paolo Castelo, Harmony Ray, Savannah Jefferson, Erica McGee, Earnest Price, Treasure Heath, Haley Church, Christopher MacRae, William Owen, Mai Tran, Dy’tavia McClellan, Darrious Agnew, Markedric Bell, Nathaniel McNair, Jontay Bunton, Shelbi Roberts, Benjamin Coon, Kyle Pierce, Taylor Huffman, Nia Tate, Elizabeth Sutton, Devon Chandler, Cage Peterson, Nihya Ward, Latravious Cannon, Madison Keller, Tyrek Richardson, Jonathan Brown, Joao Dalomba, Jeffrey Lucas, Coleman Maddox, Jaylon Knight, Abeer Hamoda, Shanise Ramsey, Penny White, Daniel McKay, Tommie Rice, Kaitlyn Decker, Henry Harris, Richard Mercer, Jamireya Grant, Lakeyneshi Townsend
· Sturgis: Chandler McCafferty, Samantha Gillis, Colton Prisock, William Watson, Jared Fitzhugh, Charity Hammond
Webster County
· Eupora: Mary Flemings, Destin Gladney, Laura Hankins, Cameron Hitt, Destinee Meyers, Jerry Russell, Lakeymesh Townsend, Ashley Williams
· Mantee: Maculley Johnson, Anabella Tillie, Travarcus Valentine, Hayden Flemings, Dawanda Owens, Ariel Hernandez
· Mathiston: Patrick Boone, Donald Peterson, Anna Shields, Richie Winfield, Connor Daniel, William Booth, Dawson Keller, Dakota Burton, Chaffin Upchurch
Winston County
· Louisville: Cody Allen, Summer Ashmore, Brooke Baker, Kennedy Castle, Landon Christopher , Kendol Cistrunk, Dylan Copeland, Elizabeth Eaves, Lakedriah Houston, Anthony Howard, Gina Johnson, Nicole Littrell, Sydney Prescott, Joshua Reed, Dakota Roberts, Payson Roberts, Christian Russell, LeBreece Steele, Isaiah Woods
· Noxapater: Cassaundra Dunaway, Jacob Smith, William Brunschon, Braden Estes, D’Mya Rash, Cardale Eichelberger, Jalen Eichelberger
