Graduates from the Arts and Sciences division of MSU-Meridian eagerly await their turn to walk across the stage at the 2011 fall commencement ceremony held at the MSU Riley Center Friday. The graduates are wearing a red cord in recognition of donating blood at the university's blood drive sponsored annually by the Psychology Club.

    Mississippi State University-Meridian hosted fall commencement at MSU Riley Center Friday, Dec. 9 with 105 graduates representing five states and 28 Mississippi towns and cities. Among the graduates were two married couples, Brent and Katie Gough and Alex and Bonnie Khan, and for the first time, three Riley Scholars – Rose Eason Brown, Tammy Boyles Willoughby and Chelsa Michelle Linton. The commencement address was given by Dr. Jerome Gilbert, the Provost and Executive Vice President of Mississippi State University.

Mother of two earns degree

    When she was 16-years-old, Sherri Fairchild knew she wanted to be a teacher someday.  Friday the 50-year-old mother of two realized her dream when she walked across the stage at MSU Riley Center and received her secondary education degree in English from Mississippi State University.

    Fairchild began pursuing her degree in 2006 at age 45.

    “I knew I wasn’t ready for college when I graduated from high school,” said Fairchild.  “But I never stopped thinking about going back to school and becoming a teacher.” 

    It wasn’t until after one child was in college, a hard fought battle with cancer, and a second child soon to graduate, that Fairchild told her husband she wanted to go back to school.

    “I’m really close to my kids and I knew it was going to be hard for me to let go and fill the time while they were pursuing their education, so I thought it was time I pursue mine,” she said.

    She began taking classes at MCC and shared a few classes with her son, Alex. He is also at MSU-Meridian where he is working towards a degree in History.

    “It was difficult going back to school and being older than most of the students, but I discovered I had a lot to contribute because of my age and life experiences,” she noted. “And although I struggled in some classes, I found I was more disciplined and focused than I was in high school which certainly helped.”

    Fairchild spent her last semester of college as a student intern at Clarkdale Attendance Center in Shanna McDonald’s English class.

    “Mrs. McDonald was a great role model for me and I loved being in her classroom and working with the students. Although the classes I had at MSU-Meridian really prepared me for my internship,” said Fairchild, “there is nothing like hands-on learning that lets you know whether you are ready to go out on your own. And I’m ready.”

    

First in the family to earn four-year degree

    Erica Pickens-Husband was excited about earning a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies at MSU-Meridian’s fall commencement. 

    “I’m happy because I’ve completed the journey,” said the 28-year-old Newton resident. “It wasn’t easy working two jobs and going to school. But I guess what I’m most excited about is I am the first one in my family to receive a bachelor degree!”

    Pickens-Husband attended East Mississippi Community College after graduating from Philadelphia High School. She left EMCC to get married, and then went to work at Walmart.

    “One day about three years ago I decided this was not what I wanted to do with my life,” recalled Pickens-Husband. “So I re-enrolled at EMCC and then transferred to MSU-Meridian in the fall of 2008.”

    Now that graduation is behind her, she is preparing to take the Praxis exam in January with plans to become a history teacher. 

    “I am also going to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) because I would like to continue my education at MSU-Meridian and obtain a Master’s degree.”  

    Pickens-Husband urges anyone who has the desire to go back to school – to do it.

    “Look inside yourself and discover what you want to do with your life, what your passion is,” she advised. “I mean, if you are unhappy where you are or with what you are doing, then make a change. That’s what I did, and if I can do it – anybody can do it. The sky’s the limit!”

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Mississippi State University-Meridian 2011 Summer Graduates and Fall Degree Candidates

    The levels of honor recognition are: (1)Summa Cum Laude 3.80; (2) Magna Cum Laude 3.60; (3) Cum Laude 3.40 Q.P.A. (Riley Scholar – students that received the Riley Next Step Scholarship)

Alabama, Cuba

    Meagan Fleming McElroy, M.B.A – Business Administration

Louisiana, River Ridge

    Jenecy Demitrias Griffin, Ed.S. – Secondary Education

Texas, Mansfield

    Kelly Lynn Taylor, B.S. – Interdisciplinary Studies

Texas, Arlington

    Lauren Elizabeth Smith (1), B.S. – Interdisciplinary Studies

Washington, Oak Harbor

    Heather Michelle Allen, M.A.T.S. – STAR

Mississippi, Brandon

    Lisa Renee Mason, B.S. – Elementary Education

Carthage

    Olaf Keith Moss, M.S. – School Administration

    Teresa Diane Savell, B.S. – Secondary Education

Choctaw

    Alison Hillary Lozares, B.B.A. – Management

Chunky

    William Christopher Malone, B.B.A. – Business Administration

Collinsville

    Brent Ponds Gough, B.B.A. – Healthcare Management

    Katie Mishelle Thornton Gough, B.B.A. – Accounting

    Marsha L. Gressett, B.S. – Elementary Education

    Daniel Shane Hegwood, B.S. – Interdisciplinary Studies

    Stacy Kaye Massey, B.S. – Interdisciplinary Studies

    Lindsey Burks Nicholson, Ed.S. – Elementary Education

    Anastasia Elise Shuler, M.S. – Elementary Education

    Ronda L. Smith, B.B.A. – Marketing

    Joshua Daniel Sonak, B.A. – Psychology

    Joseph Brennon Williams, M.B.A – Business Administration

Daleville

    Wendy Lynn Wilson, B.S. – Elementary Education

Decatur

    Heather Brittany Garrison, B.A. – Psychology

    R. Michael Gipson, B.B.A. – Technology Management

    Kimberly Dawn Blackburn Lampton, M.S. – School Administration

    Kathy Moulds Peoples, M.S. – School Administration

Forest

    Karen J Bloodsaw, M.A.T.S. – Community College Education

    Shawanda Latrice Matheny (2), B.S. – Elementary Education

    Michael Chadwick Smith, B.B.A. – Healthcare Management

Hattiesburg

    Laura Nicole Meyer, B.S. – Elementary Education

Hickory

    April Dawn Evans, B.S. – Interdisciplinary Studies

    Laketa Annette Frazier, B.S. – Interdisciplinary Studies

Lake

    Rebecca L. Monk, M.S. – Elementary Education

    Markis Antion Pinkston, B.B.A. – Management

    Kimberly Diane Savell, B.S. – Elementary Education

Lauderdale

    Jasmine Leigh Harris (2), B.S. – Secondary Education

Lawrence

    Jessica Le’Ann Anderson, B.B.A. – Accounting

Little Rock

    Zachary Blake Harrison, B.S. – Secondary Education

Louin

    Sandra Lacole McMillian, B.S. – Interdisciplinary Studies

    Jessica Maranna Robinson, Ed.S. – Counselor Education

Marion

    Danielle M. Hopson, B.S. – Interdisciplinary Studies

Meridian

    Rose Eason Brown (1) Riley Scholar, B.S. – Interdisciplinary Studies

    Shamicka Latrice Burrage, B.A. – Psychology

    Allison Claire Carroll (2), B.A. – Psychology

    John Calvin Clay Jr., M.S. – Counselor Education

    Jackie Marie Crowell, M.S. – Counselor Education

    Elise Michelle Dickerson, M.S. – Elementary Education

    Tathiane Antunes Flint, B.B.A. – Management

    Erin Anderson Honeycutt, Ed.S. – School Administration

    Jordan Denson Kemp, M.S. – School Administration

    Alex I. Khan, B.B.A. – Information Systems

    Bonnie Hasselle Khan, B.S. – Elementary Education

    Jacquelin Danielle King, M.B.A – Accounting

    Jennifer Renee Knox, M.S. – Counselor Education

    Melissa  Ledbetter, B.B.A. – Healthcare Management

    Chelsea Michelle Linton (Riley Scholar), B.S. – Elementary Education

    Carolyn Annette Logan, Ed.S. – Elementary Education

    Dustin L. Odom, M.B.A – Business Administration

    Richard Samuel Parnell, M.A.T.S. – Secondary Education

    Kristina J. Patrick, B.S. – Interdisciplinary Studies

    Paul T. Peterson, B.B.A. – Healthcare Management

    Zachary K. Polk, B.A. – Psychology

    Jessica  Price, B.S. – Interdisciplinary Studies

    Jessica Leigh Richardson, M.S. – Counselor Education

    Vonda Thornton Rivers, B.B.A. – Marketing

    Wesley Todd Roy, M.S. – Secondary Education

    Abbey Lynn Rush, B.B.A. – Business Administration

    Eric Cornelius Sanders, B.B.A. – Business Administration

    Tamela Sloan Scott, Ed.S. – School Administration

    Vashondra Devotee Sterdivant, B.B.A. – Accounting

    Lasonja Thomas Stevens, Ed.S. – Elementary Education

    William Shawn Stewart, M.B.A – Business Administration

    Lacy Lee Thomas, B.B.A. – Business Administration

    Chelsea Nicole Wade, B.B.A. – Accounting

    Kristin Leigh Warren, B.S. – Secondary Education

Newton

    Betsy Ballou, Ed.S. – School Administration

    Gina Denise Hollingsworth Hall, M.S. – Elementary Education

    Erica S. Pickens-Husband, B.S. – Interdisciplinary Studies

    Erin Copeland Tramill, B.A. – Psychology

    Ashley Lyniece Walker, M.A.T.S. – Community College Education

Noxapater

    Myrna Ellis Hancock, M.B.A – Business Administration

Philadelphia

    Gary Steven Allen, B.S. – Secondary Education

    Maranda Lynn Burks, M.S. – Counselor Education

    Clark L. Calvery, B.S.W – Social Work

    Lacey Marie Commer (3), B.S. – Interdisciplinary Studies

    Jonathan Andrew Crabtree (2), B.S. – Interdisciplinary Studies

    Cathy M. Deason, B.B.A. – Management

    Barbara Jean Griffin, B.B.A. – Management

    Delanie A. Henry, B.S. – Elementary Education

    Frances Dobbs Jordan, M.S. – Elementary Education

    Kimberly Fitzhugh Wooten (3), B.B.A. – Accounting

Porterville

    Charles Oscar Parks Jr, B.B.A. – Business Administration

Preston

    Travis Brantley Creel, M.S. – School Administration

Quitman

    Melissa Ann Dearman, M.S. – School Administration

    Sherri Knight Fairchild, B.S. – Secondary Education

    Ashley Cherie Hagwood, M.S. – Elementary Education

    Nikki Renee Reeves (3), B.S. – Elementary Education

    Stephanie Lynn Swogetinsky, B.B.A. – Healthcare Management

    Emma Kate Williams, B.S. – Elementary Education

Sebastopol

    Kimberly Jean Shannon, B.B.A. – Accounting

Shubuta

    Tiffany Nicole Greene, B.A. – Psychology

    Debra Gail Herring, M.A.T.S. – Community College Education

Shuqualak

    Latonya Ann Taylor, B.S. – Interdisciplinary Studies

Union

    Rebecca Lou Love Burkes, Ed.S. – School Administration

    Joan Alawine Grimes, M.A.T.S. – Community College Education

Waynesboro

    Richard William Davis, M.S. – School Administration

    Tammy Boyles Willoughby (2) Riley Scholar, B.A. – Psychology