By Linda Way / contributing writer
MERIDIAN — During the graduation ceremony at Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus on Friday, MSU President Dr. Robert Foglesong announced the creation of the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Appalachian Regional Leadership Honors Program.
The mood turned bittersweet.
Foglesong remembered the former U.S. representative, who died early Friday morning.
“Sonny Montgomery was a personal friend of mine, a statesman, diplomat, patriot and mentor,” Foglesong said.
“He was always here for me, the state of Mississippi and the nation. Integrity first, and service before self, were what he was all about, and I miss him already.”
In December, Montgomery donated $100,000 to MSU — $25,000 for the library at the Starkville campus and $75,000 for an addition to the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Endowed Scholarship, established at the Meridian campus in 2001. The first recipient of the award, Christian H. Eason, received a full-tuition scholarship as she pursued a bachelor’s degree in education.
Class of 2006
Friday, May 12, was a somber day for the nation, but it also marked a milestone of achievement for the graduating class at MSU-Meridian Campus.
One hundred and twenty-two students filled Kahlmas Auditorium with their hopes, tears and dreams as they awaited their diplomas. With 58 percent of the class between the ages of 25 and 58, many obstacles had to be overcome.
“I always knew I wanted to be a teacher,” 36-year-old Carolyn Lewis of Meridian said. “But first I lived out my parents’ dream for me to become a nurse.”
Now, after 22 years of marriage and five children, including a set of twins, Lewis’ dream of becoming a teacher is finally on its way to becoming a reality.
As Lewis struggled with her 8-year-old twins, another set of twins, business majors Nakisha and Nichole Woods of Preston, graduated magna cum laude with the same grade point average and honors.
“The greatest thing about being a twin has been the ability to help each other study and knowing each other’s thoughts,” Nichole said.
Dohkhul Kim, who teaches economics and finance at MSU-Meridian Campus, said the students have worked hard.
“I admire them because many work full-time jobs, have children, and yet they push themselves to earn a degree,” Kim said.
The message
The guest speaker Friday was Mississippi Supreme Court Justice James Graves Jr., who downplayed his importance.
“I’m sure no one showed up here today just to hear me speak,” he said.
Once he started, however, he had everyone’s attention, telling students what it really means to be successful.
“A person’s success is not measured by how many servants they have, but rather by the number of people they serve,” Graves said.
“Education is not filling a pail, but rather lighting a fire. Reach out with an act of kindness and light a fire for someone else. You can make the difference between someone being a criminal or a dentist, a derelict or a doctor.
“Expect that the world owes you nothing, take responsibility when things go wrong, and don’t look for who made the mess, but rather what you can do to clean it up.”
