December 8, 2023
Forty-five graduates of East Mississippi Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing program participated in a pinning ceremony Thursday, Dec. 7, in the Lyceum Auditorium on the college’s Golden Triangle campus.
This is believed to be EMCC’s largest Associate Degree Nursing graduating class to date. The number of Associate Degree Nursing students doubled in March with the addition of a second cohort of students. In August, those students merged with the ADN cohort that began in January to form a single class.
“There is a shortage of nurses, and we are excited to be able to help address that problem locally by expanding our Associate Degree Nursing program,” EMCC Director of Nursing Programs/Associate Dean of Health Sciences Jamonicia Johnson said.
Associate Degree Nursing faculty presented several awards to students, with the highest honor going to Hartley Files who garnered the Florence Nightingale Award, which is presented to the student who most embodies the spirit of nursing.
Tyra Blevins was presented with a Scholastic Achievement Award and a Clinical Excellence Award. Other Clinical Excellence Award winners are o McKensie Ellis, Lexi Wittke, Chelsea Berry, McKinley Graham and Devean Turner.
The class of 2023 Association Degree Nursing graduates are:
Abigail Falkner Ables of West Point
Jameika K. Agnew of Holly Springs
Shaelie Mae Aumada of Eagle River, Alaska
Evelyn Monee’ Bell of West Point
Lauren Bell of Starkville
Andrea Bishop of Columbus
Tyra Blevins of Columbus
Chelsea Marie Caldwell of Grenada
MichaelAnn Chandler of Woodland
Katherine Bain Davis of Starkville
Mattie Chante’ Edwards of West Point
Morgan McKenzie Edwards of Ackerman
McKenzie Danyell Ellis of Columbus
Hartley Files of Mathiston
Marsha Friesen of Macon
Margaret Anne Gall of West Point
McKinley Graham of Madison
Kaitlyn Alise Gray of Columbus
Mya Suzanne Guyness of Columbus
Miller Hancock of Starkville
Nakiejah S Hickman of Yazoo City
Tia Arlesia Hunt
Tailer "Lindsey" Johnson of Steens
Anazjai Brykelle Jones of Gallman
Kia L. Jones of Columbus
Melanie Crystina Jones of Amory
Shelby Kugel of Columbus
Crimson Lea Lanthrip of Huntsville
Daria Anna Latham of Steens
Blair RaeAnn Lathem of Sebastopol
Latia Teiara Little of Scooba
Amanda Linn Mcknight of Ackerman
Diamond M. Mundy of Columbus
Dallas Niswonger of Caledonia
Rachel King Reese of Starkville
Angelia D. Rice of Columbus
MaKayla Robertson of Amory
Laura James Sanders of Caledonia
DuWanda Rene Singleton of Okolona
Amber Sha’tia Sisk of Oxford
Shavonne Townsend of Starkville
Devean Alexander Turner of Eupora
Heather Miller Usry of West Point
Trenton Wheeler of Vernon, Alabama
Alexis Sierra Wittke of Columbus
"Being a first-generation student at EMCC is not a limitation, it's an opportunity to rewrite my family's story. Every class I attend, every assignment I complete, is a step towards a brighter future. I am a pioneer, and my determination will light the way for those who follow."
“I chose EMCC because it gave me the best opportunities coming out of high school. I got plenty of scholarships because the school offered so many. I would not have been able to do half of the things that I have done if i didn’t come here. First generation students are already at a disadvantage. If you are able to you should get an education to break the generational curse and create generational wealth for your family. Education is the most powerful tool.”
“As a first gen student, I feel that it is important to obtain a college education because it gives me the opportunity to break barriers for the next generation of my family. I choose EMCC because of the opportunity to get a great education and to make a difference on campus, in the community, and in my family.”
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