Submitted photoClinton resident Lakendra Elliott checks out her mortar board in preparation of Meridian Community College graduation ceremonies on Friday. Elliott, 35, is getting her associate degree in nursing in the ceremony that is to begin at 11:30. Elliott has been commuting back and forth for two years in her studies at MCC. "I was never late," she said in getting to class and estimates she put 30,000 miles on her car. "I did it by the grace of God and family and I couldn't have done it by myself."

 

 

An all-time record spring term graduating class will receive their diplomas and certificates when Meridian Community Colleges holds commencement exercises Friday at Evangel Temple, according to Soraya Welden, MCC dean of student services.

Welden reported that some 556 students have applied to graduate – the highest number ever for an MCC spring commencement program. The college will split that number into two commencement services, one for nursing programs at 11:30 a.m., and another for all other graduates at 4 p.m.

MCC holds three commencements each school year in August, December and May. For the year, the college will have graduated some 923 students, which is also a record number.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the all-time number of students this year at MCC who finished what they started and graduated,” said Dr. Scott Elliott, college president. “For a college MCC’s size to have over 900 graduates for the year is remarkable, and it speaks volumes about the team effort we muster at our college. That team consists of talented faculty and caring support personnel partnering with a lot of serious students to reach important goals.”

Since the inception of the White House College Report Card, MCC has each year recorded the state’s highest graduation rate among all of its 15 community colleges. According to the most recent report, MCC’s rate was eight percentage points higher than the state average.

Welden noted that the separate commencement programs will “hopefully make the events more manageable from both a seating and parking standpoint.” She added, “MCC is just very fortunate to have the support of Brother Mike Boles and the Evangel Temple congregation. Evangel Temple is the only climate-controlled facility in Lauderdale County that could accommodate the size audiences MCC’s spring commencement programs attract. A huge thank you goes out to them.”

One of the highlights of the commencement programs will be the announcement of MCC’s “Circle of Excellence” honorees, who are students nominated by faculty members for their achievements in the classroom and in their community service activities. Seven students will be recognized during the nursing commencement and 47 will be honored in the regular program later in the day.

Special music for the commencements will be provided by choral student Olivia Vaughn at the 11:30 program and by the MCC Dimensions Show Choir, under the direction of Tammy Miles, at 4 p.m.