Margaret Hobson, left, Memory Farrow and Gloria Adams share a laugh before Friday’s MCC’s graduation ceremonies get under way.

    Grateful and honored were two words LaPorsche Jones used before walking across the Temple Theater stage Friday afternoon to receive her diploma from Meridian Community College.

    Jones and six other classmates were members of the charter class College’s Medical Assisting Technology Program and Friday’s commencement marked the first graduation of that career and technical education program.

    The four-semester program is under the direction of coordinator Gloria Adams and this was a first for her as well; she began teaching this program August 2013.

    “It was an adjustment to come out of the clinical setting to the classroom.” she said. She credits her students, too, adding, “they were patient with me.” The students, in turn, were appreciative. “We had a lot of hands-on training and we had a great instructor,” said Memory Farrow.

    MCC Associate Vice President for Workforce Education Dr. Richie McAlister said the program was developed from requests by acute care hospital officials to fill the need in the community.

    Because of the varied multi-skilled tasks a medical assistant must handle, the students said they liked the variety the field has to offer. The new graduates will be sitting for their certifying exams in the next few days and already two students have received job opportunities before Friday’s graduation began.

    Also during Friday’s commencement, 13 MCC graduates were tapped for inclusion in the College’s with Circle of Excellence class.

    These graduates, Henton Dean, Cecily Herrington, Sheila Kiger, Anthony McOlgan, Lydia Cook, Maggie Wingard Jackson, Melissa Washburn, Nicholas Becton, Meagan Humphries, Cathanna Steiner, Samantha McIntosh, Tashari Ruffin and Marilyn Knowles, were chosen on the basis of scholarship, leadership, spirit and service.

    • Dean, of Chunky, is a graduate of the University Transfer Program. He plans to attend Meridian campus of Mississippi State University to pursue a career in business management.

    • Herrington, of Little Rock, is a graduate of the University Transfer Program. She plans to enter the nursing program at MCC and then attend Mississippi University for Women to obtain her bachelor’s degree.  Herrington is a member of the community college academic honor society, Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), and MCC’s student recruiting team, Ivy League.  She is on the Dean’s List and serves as the drama leader at her church.

    • Kiger of Johnson City, Texas, is a graduate of the University Transfer Program.  She plans to further her education at the Corpus Christi campus of Texas A&M and pursue a degree in nursing. Sheila is a Navy veteran and has been on the Dean’s List throughout her academic studies.

    • McOlgan, of Meridian, is a graduate of the Hotel and Restaurant Management Technology (HRT) Program.  He plans to further his education at MSU-Meridian and remain in the hospitality industry. McOlgan is vice president of Collegiate Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), a member of PTK, and HRT’s Student of the Year.  He is an assistant Scoutmaster, Poplar Springs Elementary School’s “Parent of the Year,” and a member of West Lauderdale Parent Teacher Organization.  Throughout his academic career, he has maintained a 4.0 grade point average, based on a 4.0 scale.

    • Cook, of Meridian, is a graduate of the Dental Assisting Program and has been admitted into the College’s Dental Hygiene Program for the fall.  Cook is a member of Health Occupation Students of America, (HOSA), American Dental Assistants Association, and is on the Dean’s and President’s Lists.  She is active in her church and has participated in Operation Christmas Shoe Box ministry.

    • Jackson, of Butler, Ala., is a graduate of the Dental Assisting Program.  She has already secured a job as a dental assistant with Dr. Britt McCarty and Dr. Shelly Ellis.  Jackson is on the Dean’s List and a member of HOSA and American Dental Assisting Association.

    • Washburn, of Meridian, is graduating from the Dental Assisting Program.  Throughout her academic career, Washburn has maintained a 4.0 grade point average.  She is a member of HOSA and the American Dental Assistants Association.  Washburn served as the election campaign manager for Roger Gerrard’s bid for U.S. House of Representatives.  

    • Becton, of Philadelphia, is a graduate of the Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) Program.  He plans to work as a medical lab technologist and eventually pursue a degree as a medical laboratory scientist.  Becton is a member of PTK, HOSA, MLT student organization, American Society for Clinical Pathologists and the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.  He was selected as a member of Who’s Who Among American Community and Junior Colleges.  He has been a volunteer with Operation Christmas Child, MCC food pantry, MCC Helping Hands, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and scholarship fundraisers.

    • Humphries, of DeKalb, is a graduate from the Practical Nursing Program.  She plans to further her education and become a nurse practitioner. Humphries has been on the Dean’s and President’s Lists and has received scholarships. She attends Pleasant Ridge Methodist church and has helped with Bible school at Blackwater Baptist Church.

    • Steiner, of Meridian, is a graduate from the Medical Laboratory Technology Program.  She is a member of PTK, HOSA, the MLT student organization, the American Society for Clinical Pathologists and was selected as a member of Who’s Who Among American Community and Junior Colleges.  Steiner is active in campus and community activities, including Operation Christmas Child, MCC Annual Street Strut for Breast Cancer, MCC food pantry and MCC Helping Hands, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and scholarship fundraisers.

    • McIntosh, of DeKalb, is a graduate of the Dental Assisting Program.  She hopes to further her education and enter dental school.  McIntosh is on the Dean’s List, a member of HOSA and American Dental Assistants Association, an MCC recruiter and Supporter of Cystic Fibrosis Research.  She is also a Kemper County Relay for Life supporter and serves as minister of music in her church.

    • Ruffin, of Lisman, Ala., is a graduate from the Practical Nursing Program.  She plans to continue her education at MCC. In addition, she hopes to further her education by obtaining a master’s degree in nursing. Ruffin is on the Dean’s and President’s Lists and was selected as the Practical Nursing Student of the Year.  Her community activities include Hope Village Thrift Shop, Salvation Army and a local elementary school volunteer.

    • Knowles, of Louisville, is a graduate of the Medical Laboratory Technology Program.  She plans to further her education and obtain a degree as a medical laboratory scientist. Knowles is a member of PTK, HOSA, the MLT student organization, the American Society for Clinical Pathologists, the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, and  was selected as a member of Who’s Who Among American Community and Junior Colleges.  She has been active on campus and in the community as a HOSA competitions judge, Operation Christmas Child, Annual Street Strut for Breast Cancer; Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, MCC’s food pantry and Helping Hands.

    • Candidates for MCC Summer 2014 graduation include Ashton Herrington, Brierra Smith, Megan Melton, all of Bailey; Lorie McMullan and Michael C. Phipps, both of Bay Springs; Benjamin T. Gann and William Paul Angel, both of Birmingham, Ala.; Maggie Jackson of Butler, Ala.; Kristi Lewis of Choctaw; Henton Dean and Nikki Elizabeth Graham, both of Chunky; Tierra Ladisha Henry of Clinton; Charles Kellon Hibbard of Collierville, Tenn.;

    Gabrielle Lanae Kelly, Haley Covert, Janice Michelle Johnson, Mallory Marenko, Michael Trent Mathis and William Mallette, all of Collinsville; Tamra Jeanne Smith of Columbus; Samantha T. McIntosh, Meagan Humphries, Kimberly McCallum and

Rachel Harford, all of DeKalb; Alicia Lynn Peavy, Brice Johnson Smith, Chelsea Marie Sinclair, Erica A. Mosley, Joshua Heathcock and Robin K. Reynolds, all of Enterprise;

    Bianca Spivey and Lisa Danielle Parker, both of Forest; Demetra S. Miller and Tiara Sharday Simon, both of Gilbertown, Ala.; Sunny Davis of Heidelberg; Chaesity Shauntai Grace, Laura Payne and Tawanda Hopson, all of Lauderdale; Alan Robert Harvey of Lawrence; Leslie Ann Keeton and Tashari Ruffin, both of Lisman, Ala.; Cecily Herrington and Kayla Walton, both of Little Rock; Jessica Jewell and Marilyn D. Knowles, both of Louisville; Hailey Nicole Barrett of Marion;

    Abby E. Agerton, Alexis Claudia Kercheval, Anne E. Smith, Anthony McOlgan, Aracely Gomez, Ashley Marie Allen, Austin Hicks, Caprisha D. Moore, Cathanna Love Steiner, Chanta Kelly, Daleenna Mack, DeJon Miller, Eboni Wright, Elvia Devora, Heather R. Winstead, Hunter Brady, James Joseph, Jennifer Laws, Jordan Lenton, Joshua B. Cole, K’Shaytrias McDonald, Kandice Melanee Sims, Kimber Smith, Kristi R. Richardson, Lanita S. Griffin, Lauren Michelle Barfield, Lisbeth Perez Mata, Lydia Cook, Lyndsey Langston, Lynn Renea Rushing, Magan Humphreys, Maquan Johnson, Margaret S. Hobson, Mark Hartman, Marquita Cooper, Melissa Rae Washburn, Nandi Franklin, Ollie Brown, Phillip Mosley, Phillip Varela, Raven Nicole Oltremari, Richard S. Parnell, Sabrina Terrell, Samuel H. Upchurch, ShaTasha Collins, Shabriona Tisdale, Shaterika Burrage, Sheila Kiger, Sheila Patricia Ann Wiley, Stacey L. Wiggins, Taquita C. Hudson, Tashia Mosley, Travis E. Clatterbuck, Victoria Clark, Wilbur Sims and William Joshua Denning, all of Meridian;

    Colt M. Collins and Robin Coker, both of Newton, William Matthew Anglin of Ovett, Brianna R. Jones of Pachuta; Scarlet L. Adams of Pennington, Ala.; Abby Conn, Brandi C. Wyatt, Christen Juan Boler, Christopher Fairchild, Kristie Mitch, Memory Brooke Farrow and Nicholas A. Becton, all of Philadelphia; Jacob Vandevender of Preston; Ameshia Adrianne Adams, Hope Himel, LaPorsche Jones, Sara K. Rodgers and William Chancelor, all of Quitman; Courtney Taylor of Rose Hill; Keith Shields of Scooba;  Jessica Risher of Stonewall; Heaven Aleis Brewster, Vance Miller and Zachary Gaines, all of Toomsuba; Ashley B. Sims of Toxey, Ala.;

    Stephanie Moore and Taylor Truhitt, both of Union; Catherine C. McMurry of Walnut Grove; and Dana N. Sellers, Latrisha Powe, Ronesheona Powe; Shinetha C. Everett, all of Waynesboro.