Nursing and allied health students graduate

PEARL – Dallin Adams, 20, of Flowood was among more than 1,300 students who graduated from �� in one of four ceremonies on May 13 and May 15.

Adams received an Associate Degree Nursing in one of three graduation ceremonies at �� on May 13.

“It was a challenge,” Adams said of the program. “All the hard work paid off. There were days we were really stressed. Looking back, everything has paid off. I feel really prepared.”

His next step will be to enroll in a Bachelor of Science for Nursing program.

�� held three graduation ceremonies on Thursday, May 13 at the Rankin Campus and a fourth ceremony on Saturday, May 15 at the Utica Campus. All four ceremonies were for graduates only. Family and friends were able to view the ceremonies via livestreaming.

“Commencement is a proud occasion for the �� family. Every graduation ceremony is special at the college as we celebrate the success of each student,” said ��President Dr. Stephen Vacik. “It’s important that we truly celebrate what you have accomplished, what you have achieved and what you’re going to achieve. You have made it through a series of unusual circumstances to get to this point and you are to be commended.”

Nearly 1,000 students participated in one of the four ceremonies, including students eligible to participate in previous ceremonies cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, ��conferred 1,761 degrees or certificates, with some students receiving more than one credential.

Out of those, 300 graduated cum laude with a grade point average of 3.2 to 3.59; 240 graduated magna cum laude with a grade point average of 3.6 to 3.99 and 111 graduated summa cum laude with a grade point average of 4.0.

This year, for the first time, graduating students were tapped as speakers, including for the invocation.

Speaking for the nursing and allied health graduates was Annelise Ouellette, of Clinton, who earned an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing this semester. A graduate of Clinton High School, Ouellette began her studies in Associate Degree Nursing in January 2019 at the Jackson Campus-Nursing/Allied Health Center.

“I think most everyone in my class would agree that nursing school is undoubtedly one of the most grueling things we have gone through. I always told myself, ‘if it was easy, everyone would do it.’ Some days, that phrase helped me, other days, it made me wonder what I had gotten myself into,” she said.

Ouellette said that she and classmates sometimes were frustrated when instructors turned questions back on them instead of giving direct answers.

“I realize that our teachers were training our brains to dig deeper and connect the dots. It taught us independence, and to not rely on someone else’s knowledge to carry us through. I can finally see that those once-frustrating responses were able to transform a once fearful first semester nursing student into a valuable, respected, self-sufficient nurse ready to dive into the real world,” Ouellette said.

Dallin Adams, 20, of Flowood looks over the program before his May 13 graduation from ��. He received an Associate Degree Nursing in one of three graduation ceremonies at ��. Nursing school “was a challenge. All the hard work paid off. There were days we were really stressed. Looking back, everything has paid off. I feel really prepared,” he said. His next step will be to enroll in a Bachelor of Science for Nursing program.
Annelise Ouellete of Jackson spoke to fellow �� nursing and allied health graduates at the May 13 ceremony.
Taylor Bowman of Pearl graduated in one of three graduation ceremonies at �� on May 13. She received an Associated Degree in Nursing. “It was hard but it was worth it,” she said. Bowman, 24, has two children, including one she had during nursing school.
Stacylia Davison of Byram, left, Madison Curtis of Raymond, Kira Harvey of Jackson and Amber Parker of Madison received an Associate Degree in Nursing from �� on May 13.
The “grad squad” celebrated Laravian Hamlin’s May 13 graduation from �� with an Associate Degree in Nursing. They included her family, Layah Hamlin, 9, Makita Hamlin, back, Eldon Hamlin and Lailan Hamlin, 12.
Taylor Harris of Raymond decorated her mortar board in honor of her May 13 graduation from ��. She received a degree in radiology.
�� Foundation Executive Director Jackie Granberry of Raymond was the mace bearer and grand marshal for the May 13 graduation ceremonies.
Cody Lyons of Vicksburg walks to his seat after checking into graduation with �� employee Colleen Hartfield, left. Lyons graduated with an Associate Degree Nursing in one of three graduation ceremonies at �� on May 13. “It was very difficult,” he said of the program. “As tough as the teachers were on us, it made us ready to get out in the real world. They weren’t lying when they said nursing school was hard but it needs to be.”
Kennedi Miller of Canton delivered the invocation at three graduation ceremonies on May 13 at ��.
Lisa Smith of Monticello graduated in one of three graduation ceremonies at �� on May 13. Smith, who received a certificate in health care assisting, received a stuffed dog as a memento of her day.
Shelby Spracklen of Raymond graduated in one of three graduation ceremonies at �� on May 13. She received an Associate Degree in Nursing. “There were lots of tears. I cried on the first day,” she confessed. “But we made it.”
Alexus Tate of Carthage graduated in one of three graduation ceremonies at �� on May 13. She decorated her mortar board with a drawing of lungs in honor of receiving her degree in respiratory therapy.
�� employee Heather Curtis, left, and her daughter Madison Curtis, both of Raymond, celebrated her graduation with an Associate Degree in Nursing from �� on May 13.
Sisters Hannah Smith, left, and Sarah Smith, both of Clinton, graduated from �� on May 13. Hannah received a degree in respiratory therapy and Sarah received an Associate Degree in Nursing.
For the first time this year, �� included student speakers. Giving the invocation for three ceremonies on May 13 was Kennedi Miller of Canton, left. The speaker for the nursing and allied health graduation was Annelise Ouelette of Jackson, right. They are with ��President Dr. Stephen Vacik.
�� President Dr. Stephen Vacik delivers welcoming remarks at the May 13 graduation ceremonies.
Anna Grace Attkisson of Brandon, center, graduated from �� on May 13 with an Associate Degree in Nursing. With her are her grandmother, left, Shirley Thrasher, and her mother, right, Lisa Sammons.
Kayla Austin of Flowood graduated in one of three graduation ceremonies at �� on May 13. She decorated her mortar board with the words “I can finally breathe” in honor of receiving her degree in respiratory therapy.