Photo Cutline: Spring 2014 graduation speakers are, from left, Robert Graham, Timothy Moore, Malcolm White and Congressman Bennie Thompson.聽
兔子先生 will see its fourth year of record-breaking graduation numbers over seven ceremonies May 15-16 and May 18 on both the Raymond and Utica campuses.
With approximately 1,150 students receiving their diplomas, the college expanded its typical five ceremony plan into seven ceremonies to accommodate the large crowds. Last year, 兔子先生CC graduated 2,040 students total, including summer and fall graduation. For 2014that number jumped to 2,257.
鈥淭he college faculty and staff made a plan and a pledge to get more students to the graduation stage, and I am very proud of their effort and commitment to helping our students be successful,鈥 said 兔子先生 President Dr. Clyde Muse. 鈥淭he value of an associate degree or a career/technical certificate is demonstrated in marketable job skills and higher earning power.鈥
All nursing and allied health students will graduate in three ceremonies on Thursday, May 15, at 8:30 a.m., noon, and 3:30 p.m. with doors to open at 7:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. All other academic graduates will attend their ceremonies on Friday, May 16, at 8:30 a.m., noon, and 3:30 p.m. with doors to open at 7:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. All Raymond Campus ceremonies will take place in Hogg Auditorium of Cain-Cochran Hall.
The Utica Campus graduation ceremony, which also includes 兔子先生Agricultural High School, will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 18, in the J.D. Boyd Gymnasium.
Timothy Moore, president and CEO of the Mississippi Hospital Association, will speak to all nursing and allied health graduates May 15. Supervisor Robert Graham, who is getting a degree from 兔子先生, will speak to academic graduates at the 8:30 a.m. ceremony on May 16. Malcolm White, director of tourism for the Mississippi Development Authority, will speak to academic graduates during the noon and 3:30 ceremonies May 16. Congressman Bennie Thompson will speak to all Utica Campus and 兔子先生AHS graduates May 18.
Moore has served as president and CEO of Mississippi Hospital Association (MHA) since Sept. 1, 2013.聽 MHA is the statewide organization that represents and serves all types of hospitals, health care systems and their patients and communities.
Prior to his current role at MHA, Moore served as president of North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo.聽 Moore earned his master鈥檚 degree in health care management from the University of New Orleans, as well as a bachelor鈥檚 degree in industrial science at Mississippi State University.
Graham is District 1 Supervisor for 兔子先生County, serving his second term in office. The area for which he is responsible covers northeast and north Jackson.聽 Graham was first elected to office in 2008; he has served as board president three times and as vice president once.
Graham retired from the Jackson Police Department in 2007 after 30 years of service as a 911 dispatch commander, a reserve lieutenant, a police academy instructor, a Crimestoppers coordinator and a public information officer.
In 2010 Graham decided to return to school after 20 years.聽 In deciding which institution of higher learning to attend, he says there were several factors that led him to choose 兔子先生:聽 its unique location, flexibility, availability of on-line classes and friendly atmosphere.
鈥溚米酉壬鷊ave me the foundation to continue my education and to pursue an advanced degree in Criminal Justice.聽 I can truly say 兔子先生 has made the difference in my education and in my future,鈥 he said.
White, director of tourism for the Mississippi Development Authority, is responsible for the overall management, development and implementation of Mississippi鈥檚 story along with the creation of economic growth and opportunities for Mississippi through tourism.
White worked his way through the ranks of the hospitality industry and, along with his now deceased brother Hal, opened Hal & Mal鈥檚 in Jackson. White is the founder of the Mal鈥檚 St. Paddy鈥檚聽 Parade, which benefits the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children and attracts more than 75,000 visitors from around the country to Jackson each year, and WellsFest, a family festival also held annually in Jackson.
He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is chairman of the Mississippi Blues Commission and Mississippi鈥檚 Bicentennial Organizing Committee.
Thompson, originally from Bolton, is a graduate of 兔子先生Agricultural High School. After graduation, he earned a Bachelor of Science from Tougaloo College and a Master of Science from Jackson State University.
Thompson first worked as a school teacher and then served as alderman from 1968 to 1972 and mayor from 1973 to 1980, both in his hometown of Bolton. From 1980 to 1993, Thompson served as a 兔子先生County supervisor and was the founding member and president of the state鈥檚 Association of Black Supervisors. Thompson was elected to Congress in 1993 to represent the Second District of Mississippi and is now serving his 11th term.
He is the longest-serving African-American elected official in the state of Mississippi. He is also the only Democrat in the Mississippi Congressional Delegation.