Submitted photoGraduates and guests file out of the Temple Theater as MCC's graduation concludes Friday.

An all-time record number of summer graduates were awarded their degrees and certificates when Meridian Community College held its August commencement ceremony at the Temple Theater Friday afternoon, according to MCC Dean of Student Services Soraya Welden.

Some 156 students were honored during the ceremony which also spotlighted nine outstanding graduates for their inclusion in the College’s Circle of Excellence. These graduates were chosen on the basis of scholarship, leadership, spirit and service.

Circle of Excellence honorees were Ana Emilia Calderon, Alena Maria Calderon, Kaylah Alexandria Roberts, Jacob Eli Brand and Hannah Corrine Thaggard, all of Meridian; Anna Elizabeth Holmes and Ivy Danielle Cumberland, both of Preston; Morgan Leanne Williams of Waynesboro and Samantha Paige Sellers of Gilbertown, Ala.

Emilia Calderon is a graduate of the University Transfer Program. She plans to continue her studies at the AVEDA Institute in Birmingham, Ala. Alena Calderon is a graduate of the University Transfer Program with emphasis on kinesiology. She plans to attend Mississippi State University to pursue a career as a physical or occupational therapist. Roberts is a graduate of the University Transfer Program and she plans to continue her education in marketing at Mississippi State University with a career goal of international marketing management. Brand is a graduate of the University Transfer Program. He plans to attend the University of Southern Mississippi with a career goal of performing on Broadway. Thaggard is graduating from the University Transfer Program. She plans to further her education at USM and pursue a career in software architecture.

Sellers is graduating from the Medical Laboratory Technology Program. Her career goal is to work in a clinical laboratory. Williams is a graduate of the Surgical Technology Program. She plans to further her career as a Surgical Technologist at Laurel Surgery Center.

Holmes is a graduate of the Practical Nursing Program and plans to further her education and obtain an Associate Degree Nursing and bachelor of science degree in nursing and work in home health. Cumberland is a graduate of the Surgical Technology Program. Her career goal is to work as a surgical technologist and further her education as a Surgical First Assistant. Williams is a graduate of the Surgical Technology Program. She plans to further her career as a surgical technologist at Laurel Surgery Center.

Graduates included: Chelsea Leshay Bebley and Jacob Eli Brand, both of Bailey; Anna V. Lloyd of Batesville; Cheyenne LeVette Ponder of Birmingham, Ala.; Morgan Elizabeth Coody of Butler, Ala.; Alexsis Aviyon Dortch of Canton; Mayra Selene Sanchez-Ruiz of Carthage; Brooke Ashley Allen of Collinsville; Kelsie Shanice Dixon and Joshua Sherrod, both of Columbus; Vanetta Teresa Horn of Cuba, Ala.; Kenneth Earl Garner and Thomas Smith, both of Daleville; Austin Tyler Spears of Decatur; Toni Denise Jenkins, Heidi M. Kellogg and Chasity S. Scott, all of DeKalb; Sheldon Joshua Cross and Sarah E. Tucker, both of Enterprise; Ashanti Louise Perkins of Fulton, Ala.; Dontarian Romello Evans of Gainesville, Fla.; Corey Daniel Brunner, Megan Elizabeth Carlisle and Samantha Paige Sellers, all of Gilbertown, Ala,; Ashley Janay Henderson of Hattiesburg; Grace Joy Turcal Byrd and Maria Balona Turcal, both of Jackson; Rogelio Alonso Araiza of Kissimmee, Fla.; Shawna Lynne Kirkland of Lauderdale; Joshua Michael Lewis of Laurel; Melinda Danyelle Horne of Little Rock; DaLamon Wanya Harris and Erica Jerie Houston, both of Louisville; Ivey Paige Brewer of Lucedale; Noah David Smith of Luckey, Ohio; Marteshia Kenyatta Bush and La’Quacious LaShawn Rupert, both of Macon; Billie Jo Williams of Marion; Kandler Nicole Flora of Mathiston; Justin C. Alexander, Elizabeth Michelle Barfield, Marcie Danean Barrett, Jacob Conner Baysinger, Nicholas Lloyd Blake, Brittney Ann Boswell, De’Neitha Thee-ying Boyd, Lepoleon Rashard Bray, Ashley Nichole Breier, Alena Maria Calderon, Ana Emilia Calderon, Stephanie Patrice Campbell, Shelby Elizabeth Carlisle, Makayla Nichelle Christian, Kristen Gayle Covington, Joshua Lee Dienhart, JD Doss, Jr., Nandi Ayanna Dove, Jodie Nicole Dykes, Brandon D. Ewings, Aleshia Jaynell Farrow, Clarence William Garrett, Shiriki G. Gully, Rodney James Hall, Sr., Sarah Danielle Hardy, Mark Dwight Hawkins, Katie Mixon Hembree, Alex Hernandez, Kyisha D. Houston, Lacy L. Howington, Arthur Calissin Hyacinthe, Latresea L. Jackson, Shannon Denise Jackson, Antoneus Marquale Johnson, Anna Marie Kanellos, Chercarreo V. Knox, Caleb Darnell Landrum, Aaliyahpaige Tyler Lee, Valisha Ann Lee, Allison Michelle Lewis, ShaBreonna Turesha Martin, Christie L. McCafferty, Tori J. McIntosh, Jhakiyhai La’Rae McKenzie, Derrick Lavon Miller, Darrin Lee Mitchell, Emily B. Partridge, Princess Pineda, Ernest Pippins, Stephanie L. Puckett, Armando Ramirez, Kaylah Alexandria Roberts, Andrea N. Romero, Purvis W. Shelton, Kayla E. Skinner, Matthew Kyle Smith, Melissa Annette Smith, Aliyah Staten, Anthony Wayne Taylor, Hannah Corinne Thaggard, Jimesha Germonique Walker, Ashley Janshia Wilder, Carly J. Williams and Nancy Coleen Woodruff, all of Meridian; Misti Nichole Yarrington of Morton; Brittany Lynn Anderson of Needham, Ala.; Akeriyon Rachel Barard of Pachuta; Timothy Michael Hoodlebrink of Pemberville, Ohio; Leah Kathryn Becton, Jonathan Deshay Billie, Shanteeze Antonette Carter, Janairamie Tomika Chickaway, Leslie Nicole Collins, Shreese Cykeitha Daniels, Tammie Terrell Easley, Jashayla Antwanett Evans, Jessica Nichole Garrison, Bailey Kathleen Goforth, Kyendal A. McKinney, Keauna Shenya Monroe, Kimberly Nicole Sanders and Taja Chantrice Sanders, all of Philadelphia; Melanie Lynn Frierson of Picayune; Sarah Christina Moore of Porterville; Ivy Danielle Cumberland, Virginia Easley, Anna Elizabeth Holmes and Andrea Grace Sciple, all of Preston; D’Nay’La K. Z. Fuller, Brenden O’Neil, Blakely Faye Riley and Katelyn Anne Weir, all of Quitman; Gabriel G. Hairston, Jr. of Ridgeland; Alexis Keyanna Davis of Selma, Ala.; Latoya S. Coleman, Dawn Renee Early, Zachary L. Early and Susan Lola Graham, all of Shubuta; Keonte McGrew of Silas, Ala.; Sarah Elizabeth Lippincott of Sumrall; Karolyn Armani Chivers of Temple, Ga.; Daleisha Naqay Brown, Kimberly Latrece Jenkins, Alyssa Danielle Rickles, Erin N Shaw, Edashia Thompson and Charneka R. Young, all of Toomsuba; Jeremisa Purnella Scott of Tupelo; DeVonna Simone Gilmer, John C. Jenkins and Wamon Scott Monk, all of Union; Elizabeth Gabriel Tatum of Walnut Grove; Esia Breontrynee Blakney, Rejanah D. Powe and Morgan Leanne Williams, all of Waynesboro; Taijah Moore of West Point.