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PEARL– Brandie Schommer’s degree was a family project, according to her husband.

Brandie Schommer of Madison graduated from �������� on Dec. 13 with a degree in practical nursing. With her are husband Lester, and daughters Leia, 11, left, and Bayleigh, right. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

Schommer, 35, of Madison graduated from �������� on Thursday, Dec. 13 with a degree in practical nursing. She already had a ��������degree from 2006 in surgical technology.

“It was very hard. I cried a lot, and I wanted to give up often. I kept pushing myself. It was well worth it,” she said. “I really love helping people. That’s where my heart is.”

Husband Lester Schommer and children Leia, 11, and Bayleigh,16, were supportive. “My mom said, “When she graduates, y’all all ought to get a degree,’ ” said Lester Schommer, laughing. “If she wasn’t at school studying, she was in a coffee shop or in the extra room turned into a study hall.”

On Dec. 13 during three ceremonies, �������� awarded 1,337 degrees or certificates to 912 graduates, with some graduates receiving more than one credential. Of the 912 fall graduates, 182 achieved cum laude, 3.2 to 3.59 grade point average; 112 achieved magna cum laude, 3.6 to 3.99 GPA and 81 achieved summa cum laude, 4.0 grade point average.

�������� President Dr. Clyde Muse addresses the graduates at the Dec. 13 ceremony at the Clyde Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

��������President Dr. Clyde Muse noted that the college’s goal is essentially the same as when it was founded in 1917. “Our cost is low. Our quality is high,” he said. “Some things do not change.”

Dan Fuller, an English instructor at the Utica Campus who has been named the faculty HEADWAE honoree, was the speaker for all three ceremonies.

Fuller used the story of the 1903 founding of the Utica Institute, an HBCU (Historically Black College and University), by Tuskegee graduate William Holtzclaw as a guideline to talk to graduates on the themes of persisting, finding one’s passion and dealing with pain. The Utica Institute eventually became the Utica Campus of �������� after a federal court order merged two colleges merged in 1982.

�������� Utica Campus English instructor and graduation speaker Dan Fuller delivers his address on Dec. 13 at the ceremonies on the Rankin Campus. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

Fuller noted that Holtzclaw tried three times to found a college for black students in Mississippi before he finally succeeded in Utica in rural ��������County. “He persevered, even when the going wasn’t easy,” Fuller said. “As you continue with your careers, you’ll run into roadblocks, no doubt. And we often say that sometimes life closes doors, but you know something that all doors have is a handle. Sometimes a closed door doesn’t mean quit, but rather, turn the knob and push your way through.”

Holtzclaw was able to expand the college because his board of trustees was willing to take personal risk, he said.

“His board of trustees felt so passionate about the work that they pledged their farms and homes to secure the purchase of the property, even without the promise of outside funding. The personal risk that these men took to risk everything they owned shows the kind of passion that makes life worth living,” Fuller said. “So I ask you, what are you passionate about? What’s the thing that if you can’t do, your heart would break? Do that thing and do it well.”

Holtzclaw founded the group now known as the Utica Jubilee Singers to travel in the North and help raise money for the school. The first year, the group was stranded at a train station in the cold and the choir director later died after falling ill from the experience.

“The tragedy could have broken the fledgling enterprise, but Holtzclaw was able to deal with the pain of this loss by looking to the larger dream, even when life didn’t go according to his plan,” he said. “Some of you have gone through tremendous personal pain to make it here today and all of us will face adversity at some point in the future. The relationships you have built during your time here, along with those of your friends and family, can be a source of strength to you when the road gets difficult.”

Fuller closed his remarks to graduates by reminding them that “education is a lifelong journey.”

“This doesn’t have to be the end of your association with Hinds. We urge you to become involved with your ��������Alumni Association. Come back to the college and share with future students what you’re learning in your future careers,” he said.

As Mississippi’s largest community college, �������� 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, ��������enrolls about 12,000 students each fall semester. To learn more, visit or call 1.800.HindsCC.

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  Latoya Winguard of Jackson graduated from �������� on Dec. 13 with an Associate Degree in Nursing. She is with cousin Tiffany Luckett. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Brandie Schommer of Madison graduated from �������� on Dec. 13 with a degree in practical nursing. With her are husband Lester, and daughters Leia, 11, left, and Bayleigh, right. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Amanda Murray of Madison, center, graduated from �������� on Dec. 13 with a degree in practical nursing. She is with her children, Madison Murray, 9, left, and Logan Murray, 15, right. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Krishunna Sanders of Yazoo City graduated from �������� on Dec. 13 with a degree in practical nursing. She is with her children, Shannon Reed, 7, and Wyatt Haralson, 2. She had their shirts specially made. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Elason Kelly of Raymond, right, graduated from �������� on Dec. 13 with an Associate Degree in Nursing. She is with her mother, Theresa Kelly. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  L’Shay Hayes of Jackson graduated from �������� on Dec. 13 with an Associate Degree in Nursing. She is with her son Landon Hayes. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Lindsey McNeal of Kosciusko graduated with a practical nursing degree from �������� on Dec. 13. ��������employee Colleen Hartfield, right, doublechecks the pronunciation of her name before the ceremony. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Martha Sims, center, celebrated the graduations of two granddaughters from �������� on Dec. 13. Haley Sims of Florence, left, and Ashley McLemore, right, of Pearl, received Associate Degrees in Nursing. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Getting ready for their graduation from �������� on Dec. 13 with degrees in practical nursing are Gabrielle Holloway of Pearl, Lisa Crawford of Florence and India Shanks of Florence. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Adrienne Nelson of Jackson, center, graduated from �������� on Dec. 13 with a degree in practical nursing. She is with her Nyla Heard and Jason Heard. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Dental Assisting instructor Misty Mohr helps Miriam Hernandez of Jackson prepare for graduation. She graduated from �������� on Dec. 13 with a degree in dental assisting. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Former �������� football players Isaiah Hunt of Ackerman, left, Emanuel Dabney of Jackson, Solomon Brooks of Belzoni and Orlando Brown of Gulfport graduated from �������� on Dec. 13. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Jessica Decell of Clinton straightens her mortarboard in preparation for graduation from �������� on Dec. 13 with an Associate Degree in Nursing. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Former �������� football players Idarius Jones of Pelahatchie and Jeremiah Doss of Brandon graduated from �������� on Dec. 13. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Chapman Bell of Jackson puts on the stole as he prepares for graduated from �������� on Dec. 13 with an Associate Degree in Nursing. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Brandi Hughes of Pearl, Chelsey Hicks of Jackson and Sherrie Holmes of Jackson graduated from �������� on Dec. 13. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  �������� employee Latonya Brister helps Charita Kennedy of Carthage prepare for graduation from �������� on Dec. 13 with a degree in practical nursing. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Temple Clements of Jackson, Johnny Coleman of Clinton, �������� employee James Chrestensen of Leland and Danielle Coutts of Pearl graduated from �������� on Dec. 13. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Lisa Crawford of Florence, left, and Adrienne Nelson of Jackson graduated from �������� on Dec. 13 with degrees in practical nursing. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  �������� counselor Jovanna Parker helps Dorothy Coleman of Jackson, who graduated from �������� on Dec. 13. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  �������� employee Wendy Barnes helps Hannah Ladner of Crystal Springs with her robe. Ladner graduated from �������� on Dec. 13 with a degree in dental assisting. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Daija Fells of Raymond, left, Erin Fitts of Brandon, Daz’Jalek Flowers of Port Gibson and Lakesha Flowers of Vicksburg graduated from �������� on Dec. 13. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Taylor Carby of Pearl, left, and Sarah Guthrie of Yazoo City graduated from �������� on Dec. 13 with degrees in dental assisting. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Sylissa Franklin of Terry shows off the honor cords and sashes she wore at her graduation from �������� on Dec. 13. She studied criminology and business and plans to go to Mississippi State University. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Graduating in health care assisting from �������� on Dec. 13 were Tameka Roberson of Byram, left, Judith Walls of Jackson and Danielle Pope of Pearl. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Simon D’Abadie of Jackson poses with his family at his graduation from �������� on Dec. 13. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Participating in the Dec. 13 graduation ceremonies at �������� were, from left, retired ��������employee Dot Murphy, who served as the grand marshal and mace bearer, ��������President Dr. Clyde Muse, Utica Campus English instructor and graduation speaker Dan Fuller and Jordan Broyles, minister of education at the First Baptist Church of Raymond. All are Raymond residents. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Toni Allen of Edwards, far right, graduated from �������� on Dec. 13. She is with Janice Jackson, left, and her godson Patrick Silas. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  �������� President Dr. Clyde Muse addresses the graduates at the Dec. 13 ceremony at the Clyde Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Thuan Huynh of Clinton graduated from �������� on Dec. 13. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  �������� Utica Campus English instructor and graduation speaker Dan Fuller delivers his address on Dec. 13 at the ceremonies on the Rankin Campus. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  �������� aviation employee Jimmy Chrestensen received a degree at the Dec. 13 graduation ceremony. He is with Vice President Dr. Chad Stocks, left, and ��������President Dr. Clyde Muse, right. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Anna-Victoria Greer Turner of Vicksburg received a practical nursing degree from �������� on Dec. 13. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Lotoyia Stephens of Raymond graduated from �������� on Dec. 13 with a paralegal degree. She is with, from left, Bubba Skinner, her son Skyler Boyd, 13, and Mary Skinner. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Lindsey McNeal of Kosciusko graduated from �������� on Dec. 13 with a degree in practical nursing. She is with her mother Renee McNeal and sister Laken Russell. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Miss �������� Derykah Watts of Jackson graduated from �������� on Dec. 13 and plans to transfer to Mississippi State University. Her friend, 2016 ��������alumnus Tia Garland, helps her get ready. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Former �������� football players Kenzerrius Maghett of Belzoni, Brock Thompson of Flora, Jadarius Payne of Magee and Ivin White of Port Gibson graduated from �������� on Dec. 13. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Graduating from �������� on Dec. 13 are Joshua Wesley of Jackson, Morgan Williams of Flowood, Christine Turner of Terry and Jalexus Walker of Prentiss. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Graduating from �������� on Dec. 13 are, from left, Tamara Strong of Vicksburg, Ashley Stevenson of Bude, Sarabian Ross of Jackson and Janette Taylor of Pearl. Taylor, 46, said she returned to school to study billing and coding later in life because “I had to wait until my children graduated before I came back.” (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Desireous Johnson of Yazoo City graduated from �������� on Dec. 13 with a degree in practical nursing. She is with sisters Tyroneia Carter, left, and Tyreuna Carter, right. (Tammi Bowles/��������)

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  Brandi Ransom of Jackson graduated from �������� on Dec. 13 with an Associate Degree in Nursing. She is with her dad Willie Ransom. (Tammi Bowles/��������)