It was afternoon of excitement as students from Meridian Community College gathered to receive their diplomas and certificates at the Summer Commencement Program held in the Temple Theater Friday.

MCC stages three commencements each school year in December, May and August. For the whole of the school year, MCC will have graduated 851 students. MCC President Dr. Scott Elliott called commencement programs, “the pinnacle of any school year because it allows us to publicly celebrate student achievement.”

During the ceremony, dight graduates also shared the spotlight as they were installed in the Circle of Excellence where they were recognized for their leadership, spirit, service and scholarship.

Tapped were Shelby Dean Proaps of Collinsville; Mariam Khmaladze from the Republic of Georgia; Kristen E. Holmes of Scooba; Jamaal Rashad Barksdale of Meridian; Katheryn Rani Bunkley of Meridian; Regina Rose Vinzant of Pulaski; Alysia Shaw of Livingston, Ala.; and Chariae Shrelle Harbin of Meridian.

Candidates for graduation included: Courtney Michelle Drury and McKenzi Nicole Wright, both of Bailey;

Kathryn White, Hayden Hall Tharpe and Jeyde Y. Fitzgerald, all of Brandon; Kiara Shavon Brooks of Brooksville; Dylan Scott Todd of Butler, Ala.; Ashley Nicole Fedrick of Carthage; Rakisha Ann Anderson of Choctaw; Ardeshia Lowery of Clinton;

Caitlin Abigail Roe, Candace Gabrielle Davis, Danielle Leah Creighton, Dynasty Michelle Avery and Shelby Dean Proaps, all of Collinsville; Myah Janay Aaron of Columbia; Jamaine MeShee’ Danielle Sanders and Jamia Gabrielle Miller of Columbus; Danielle Coleman of Cuba, Ala.; Keith Cordarius Hudson of Daleville; Cayla Danielle Engle and Jody Golubeff Sorrells, both of Decatur; April Patrese Steele, Kennith Ryan Mason and Lakia Shyrel Jones, all of DeKalb; Joanna Marie Brunet of Ellisville;

Candice Delayne White, Ouida Evangeline Townsend and Shalonda S. Hayes, all of Forest; Kristen Latoya Bolton of Hattiesburg; of Ramona Shantel Durr of Heidleburg; Rachael M. Alexander of Hickory; Luther Thompson II and Tonya Danielle Lofton, both of Jackson; DeVantre Stan-Morris Young of Kennesaw, Ga.; Amber Danielle Jordanof Lake; Jameka Dorice Hairston, Kalan Wayne Mason and Sara Kelli Dodd, all of Lauderdale; Dana K. Padilla and Michael Edward Turner, both of Laurel; Thresa Marie Jones of Little Rock;

Alysia K. Shaw and Charde’ R. Ridgeway, both of Livingston, Ala.; Byron Jawon Hathorn, Elena S. Gilbert and Rebecca Gwendolyn Estes, all of Louisville; Scott M. Mitchell of Macon; Ariel Janis Ludgood and Ashley Nicole Kai Germany of Marion; K’Lan Q’Ron Harris of McDonough, Ga.; Melissa Dianne Doyal of Mendenhall;

Abigail Christine Tucker, Accuisha S. Dubose, Alliejah A. Echols, Angela Uriegas, Ashley Janesa Davis, Brandie Shaniqua Culpepper, Brenda Marion Moss, Chandler Marquis Boston, Chariae Shrelle Harbin, Charles R. Rushing, Christie Lynn McCafferty, Courtney Elizabeth Relinski, Darekus Butler, Derek Charles Hoffman, Diamond A. Brooks, Donnaise Rachelle Cole, Elizabeth Grace, Emily A. Singley, Heather Thrash, Jaimarcus Randle, Jamaal Rashad Barksdale, Jasmine Shatae Williams, Jerrica D. Hinton, Jessica L. Wilson, Jessica Michelle Hopkins, Jonathan D. McCall, Jordan Leigh Jones, Joshua Dale Vanetten, Juliana Rose Davis, Katelyn Paige Coffman, Katherine Denise Crosby, Katheryn Rani Bunkley, Kayla Celeste Grayson, Kayle LaShay Boman, Kelly A. Klutz, Kiana Shondriel Gale, Kierra Shanese Barrett, Kimberly Diane Simpson, Lashanda Jawanna Kennedy, Lauren M. Jackson, Lensuella Kidd, Mariam Khmaladze, Michael Tavorris Murray, Morgan Elizabeth Wilson, Nina Lynette Lewis, Patrick Cole Logan, Paul Jeffrey Robinson , Phyllis Michelle Naylor, Rachel Selena Johnson, Sandra Maria Lewis, Sarah Elizabeth Tabb, Shannon Leigh Moore, Sharika Renea Newell, Shavontae Allyncia Warren, Shawn Everette Smith, Shayla Aliece Green, Simone L. Sanders, Tashayla L. Davis, Tiffany Russell Collins, Tyler Hill, Tyler James Bye, Vidal Hubbard, William Donald Deason and William S. Griffin, all of Meridian;

Kelli Rebecca Turner of Moselle; Rubin Tatum of Newton; Tiara M. Williams of Noxapater; Eric L. Durham of Phenix City, Ala.; Betsy Dawn Thomas, Carnesha Shaniece Riley and Meloni Denell Johnson of Philadelphia; Helena L. McClendon of Preston; Regina Rose Vinzant of Pulaski; Destini M. Taylor, Jalonda Mike’lia Jones,

Kalee Morgan Hunter and Wesley Stephens Donald, all of Quitman;

Tammie Sheron Lee of Ridgeland; Kristen E. Holmes of Scooba; Kraterria Shaquel Blakley of Shubuta; Megan Noel Picard of Starkville; Leslie Jordan Shepherd of Starkville; April May McIlwain, Baleigh Nichole Germany, Jessica Amanda Mosley

Kaneisha N. Hubbard and Megan Elizabeth Gressett, all of Toomsuba;

Breanna Marie Morgan of Union; Jada KaSheara McCarty of Walnut Grove;

Dorothy E. Stewart, Lizzie M. Anderson and Rima J. Saunders, all of Waynesboro; and Pamela Shields Pritchett of York, Ala.