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Fall Commencement at MSU-Meridian celebrates accomplishments

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(MERIDIAN) - Mississippi State University-Meridian hosted fall commencement at MSU Riley Center Friday, December 9 with 105 graduates representing five states and twenty-eight Mississippi towns and cities. Among the graduates were two married couples, Brent and Katie Gough and Alex and Bonnie Khan, and for the first time, three Riley Scholars – Rose Eason Brown, Tammy Boyles Willoughby and Chelsa Michelle Linton. The commencement address was given by Dr. Jerome Gilbert, the Provost and Executive Vice President of Mississippi State University.

Mother of two earns degree
When she was 16-years-old, Sherri Fairchild knew she wanted to be a teacher someday. Friday the 50-year-old mother of two realized her dream when she walked across the stage at MSU Riley Center and received her secondary education degree in English from Mississippi State University.

Fairchild began pursuing her degree in 2006 at age 45.

“I knew I wasn’t ready for college when I graduated from high school,” said Fairchild. “But I never stopped thinking about going back to school and becoming a teacher.”

It wasn’t until after one child was in college, a hard fought battle with cancer, and a second child soon to graduate, that Fairchild told her husband she wanted to go back to school.

“I’m really close to my kids and I knew it was going to be hard for me to let go and fill the time while they were pursuing their education, so I thought it was time I pursue mine,” she said.

She began taking classes at MCC and shared a few classes with her son, Alex. He is also at MSU-Meridian where he is working towards a degree in History.

“It was difficult going back to school and being older than most of the students, but I discovered I had a lot to contribute because of my age and life experiences,” she noted. “And although I struggled in some classes, I found I was more disciplined and focused than I was in high school which certainly helped.”

Fairchild spent her last semester of college as a student intern at Clarkdale Attendance Center in Shanna McDonald’s English class.

“Mrs. McDonald was a great role model for me and I loved being in her classroom and working with the students. Although the classes I had at MSU-Meridian really prepared me for my internship,” said Fairchild, “there is nothing like hands-on learning that lets you know whether you are ready to go out on your own. And I’m ready.”

First in the family to earn four-year degree
Erica Pickens-Husband was excited about earning a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies at MSU-Meridian’s fall commencement.

“I’m happy because I’ve completed the journey,” said the 28-year-old Newton resident. “It wasn’t easy working two jobs and going to school. But I guess what I’m most excited about is I am the first one in my family to receive a bachelor degree!”

Pickens-Husband attended East Mississippi Community College after graduating from Philadelphia High School. She left EMCC to get married, and then went to work at Walmart.

“One day about three years ago I decided this was not what I wanted to do with my life,” recalled Pickens-Husband. “So I re-enrolled at EMCC and then transferred to MSU-Meridian in the fall of 2008.”

Now that graduation is behind her, she is preparing to take the Praxis exam in January with plans to become a history teacher.

“I am also going to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) because I would like to continue my education at MSU-Meridian and obtain a Master’s degree.”  

Pickens-Husband urges anyone who has the desire to go back to school – to do it.

“Look inside yourself and discover what you want to do with your life, what your passion is,” she advised. “I mean, if you are unhappy where you are or with what you are doing, then make a change. That’s what I did, and if I can do it – anybody can do it. The sky’s the limit!”

 (Please see list of graduates below)

 

 

 

Mississippi State University-Meridian

2011 Summer Graduates and Fall Degree Candidates

(105 Total Graduates)

The levels of honor recognition are: (1)Summa Cum Laude 3.80; (2) Magna Cum Laude 3.60; (3) Cum Laude 3.40 Q.P.A. (Riley Scholar – students that received the Riley Next Step Scholarship)

AL, Cuba
Meagan Fleming McElroy, M.B.A - Business Administration

LA, River Ridge
Jenecy Demitrias Griffin, Ed.S. - Secondary Education

TX, Mansfield
Kelly Lynn Taylor, B.S. - Interdisciplinary Studies

TX, Arlington
Lauren Elizabeth Smith (1), B.S. - Interdisciplinary Studies

WA, Oak Harbor
Heather Michelle Allen, M.A.T.S. - STAR

MISSISSIPPI
Brandon
Lisa Renee Mason, B.S. - Elementary Education

Carthage
Olaf Keith Moss, M.S. - School Administration
Teresa Diane Savell, B.S. - Secondary Education

Choctaw
Alison Hillary Lozares, B.B.A. - Management

Chunky
William Christopher Malone, B.B.A. - Business Administration

Collinsville
Brent Ponds Gough, B.B.A. - Healthcare Management
Katie Mishelle Thornton Gough, B.B.A. – Accounting
Marsha L. Gressett, B.S. - Elementary Education
Daniel Shane Hegwood, B.S. - Interdisciplinary Studies
Stacy Kaye Massey, B.S. - Interdisciplinary Studies
Lindsey Burks Nicholson, Ed.S. - Elementary Education
Anastasia Elise Shuler, M.S. - Elementary Education
Ronda L. Smith, B.B.A. – Marketing
Joshua Daniel Sonak, B.A. – Psychology
Joseph Brennon Williams, M.B.A - Business Administration

Daleville
Wendy Lynn Wilson, B.S. - Elementary Education

Decatur
Heather Brittany Garrison, B.A. – Psychology
R. Michael Gipson, B.B.A. - Technology Management
Kimberly Dawn Blackburn Lampton, M.S. - School Administration
Kathy Moulds Peoples, M.S. - School Administration

Forest
Karen J Bloodsaw, M.A.T.S. - Community College Education
Shawanda Latrice Matheny (2), B.S. - Elementary Education
Michael Chadwick Smith, B.B.A. - Healthcare Management

Hattiesburg
Laura Nicole Meyer, B.S. - Elementary Education

Hickory
April Dawn Evans, B.S. - Interdisciplinary Studies
Laketa Annette Frazier, B.S. - Interdisciplinary Studies

Lake
Rebecca L. Monk, M.S. - Elementary Education
Markis Antion Pinkston, B.B.A. – Management
Kimberly Diane Savell, B.S. - Elementary Education

Lauderdale
Jasmine Leigh Harris (2), B.S. - Secondary Education

Lawrence
Jessica Le'Ann Anderson, B.B.A. – Accounting

Little Rock
Zachary Blake Harrison, B.S. - Secondary Education

Louin
Sandra Lacole McMillian, B.S. - Interdisciplinary Studies
Jessica Maranna Robinson, Ed.S. - Counselor Education

Marion
Danielle M. Hopson, B.S. - Interdisciplinary Studies

Meridian
Rose Eason Brown (1) Riley Scholar, B.S. - Interdisciplinary Studies
Shamicka Latrice Burrage, B.A. – Psychology
Allison Claire Carroll (2), B.A. – Psychology
John Calvin Clay Jr., M.S. - Counselor Education
Jackie Marie Crowell, M.S. - Counselor Education
Elise Michelle Dickerson, M.S. - Elementary Education
Tathiane Antunes Flint, B.B.A. – Management
Erin Anderson Honeycutt, Ed.S. - School Administration
Jordan Denson Kemp, M.S. - School Administration
Alex I. Khan, B.B.A. - Information Systems
Bonnie Hasselle Khan, B.S. - Elementary Education
Jacquelin Danielle King, M.B.A – Accounting
Jennifer Renee Knox, M.S. - Counselor Education
Melissa Ledbetter, B.B.A. - Healthcare Management
Chelsea Michelle Linton (Riley Scholar), B.S. - Elementary Education
Carolyn Annette Logan, Ed.S. - Elementary Education
Dustin L. Odom, M.B.A - Business Administration
Richard Samuel Parnell, M.A.T.S. - Secondary Education
Kristina J. Patrick, B.S. - Interdisciplinary Studies
Paul T. Peterson, B.B.A. - Healthcare Management
Zachary K. Polk, B.A. – Psychology
Jessica Price, B.S. - Interdisciplinary Studies
Jessica Leigh Richardson, M.S. - Counselor Education
Vonda Thornton Rivers, B.B.A. – Marketing
Wesley Todd Roy, M.S. - Secondary Education
Abbey Lynn Rush, B.B.A. - Business Administration
Eric Cornelius Sanders, B.B.A. - Business Administration
Tamela Sloan Scott, Ed.S. - School Administration
Vashondra Devotee Sterdivant, B.B.A. – Accounting
Lasonja Thomas Stevens, Ed.S. - Elementary Education
William Shawn Stewart, M.B.A - Business Administration
Lacy Lee Thomas, B.B.A. - Business Administration
Chelsea Nicole Wade, B.B.A. – Accounting
Kristin Leigh Warren, B.S. - Secondary Education

Newton
Betsy Ballou, Ed.S. – School Administration
Gina Denise Hollingsworth Hall, M.S. - Elementary Education
Erica S. Pickens-Husband, B.S. - Interdisciplinary Studies
Erin Copeland Tramill, B.A. – Psychology
Ashley Lyniece Walker, M.A.T.S. - Community College Education

Noxapater
Myrna Ellis Hancock, M.B.A - Business Administration

Philadelphia
Gary Steven Allen, B.S. - Secondary Education
Maranda Lynn Burks, M.S. - Counselor Education
Clark L. Calvery, B.S.W - Social Work
Lacey Marie Commer (3), B.S. - Interdisciplinary Studies
Jonathan Andrew Crabtree (2), B.S. - Interdisciplinary Studies
Cathy M. Deason, B.B.A. – Management
Barbara Jean Griffin, B.B.A. – Management
Delanie A. Henry, B.S. - Elementary Education
Frances Dobbs Jordan, M.S. - Elementary Education
Kimberly Fitzhugh Wooten (3), B.B.A. - Accounting

Porterville
Charles Oscar Parks Jr, B.B.A. - Business Administration

Preston
Travis Brantley Creel, M.S. - School Administration

Quitman
Melissa Ann Dearman, M.S. - School Administration
Sherri Knight Fairchild, B.S. - Secondary Education
Ashley Cherie Hagwood, M.S. - Elementary Education
Nikki Renee Reeves (3), B.S. - Elementary Education
Stephanie Lynn Swogetinsky, B.B.A. - Healthcare Management
Emma Kate Williams, B.S. - Elementary Education

Sebastopol
Kimberly Jean Shannon, B.B.A. - Accounting

Shubuta
Tiffany Nicole Greene, B.A. – Psychology
Debra Gail Herring, M.A.T.S. - Community College Education

Shuqualak
Latonya Ann Taylor, B.S. - Interdisciplinary Studies

Union
Rebecca Lou Love Burkes, Ed.S. - School Administration
Joan Alawine Grimes, M.A.T.S. - Community College Education

Waynesboro
Richard William Davis, M.S. - School Administration
Tammy Boyles Willoughby (2) Riley Scholar, B.A. – Psychology

Last Updated: 12/14/11