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Michael Ahner of Vicksburg is another step closer to his goal of living a life to help others.

Ahner, 46, decided his job at a software company wasn’t fulfilling his need to help others. He graduated Wednesday (Dec. 18) from ��«Ӱҵ with a Practical Nursing degree. He plans to continue on to earn an associate degree and become a registered nurse.

Michael Ahner of Vicksburg received a practical nursing degree from ��«Ӱҵ on Dec. 18. (April Garon/��«Ӱҵ)

“It sounds like a cliché. I didn’t like what I was doing so I re-evaluated my life and decided I was happiest when I was helping people,” he said. He plans to keep working in Vicksburg until he finishes his education.

Throughout three different ceremonies, ��«Ӱҵ awarded a total of 1,316 credentials to 958 graduates, with some graduates receiving more than one credential.

Of the fall graduates, 158 achieved cum laude, 3.2 to 3.59 grade point average; 95 achieved magna cum laude, 3.6 to 3.99 GPA and 124 achieved summa cum laude, 4.0 grade point average.

��«Ӱҵ President Dr. Clyde Muse recently announced his retirement on June 30, 2020, after 42 years as the college’s leader.

“Community colleges are open door institutions. We welcome all students who have the desire to achieve; our cost is low, our quality is high, and we understand that most students have family and job obligations that require some flexibility in their program.  We strive to offer unlimited options that will meet the needs of our students,” he said.

The speaker for all three graduations was Phil Cockrell, Raymond Campus Engineering and Drafting Design Technology instructor who was selected as ��«Ӱҵ’s HEADWAE honoree for 2020.

In his remarks, Cockrell told graduates to consider “why” they are on the path they have chosen. Quoting pastor Charles Swindoll, Cockrell noted that 10 percent of life is what happens and the other 90 percent is how you react to it.

“Challenges present an awesome opportunity to choose who you want to be by how you react to those challenges,” he said.

Grand marshal and mace bearer for all three ceremonies was Dr. Libby Maffey, district dean of health services and of and Nursing and Allied Health programs, who retired in 2019 after 37 years.

As Mississippi’s largest community college, ��«Ӱҵ is a comprehensive institution offering quality, affordable educational opportunities with academic programs of study leading to seamless university transfer and career and technical programs teaching job-ready skills. With six locations in central Mississippi, ��«Ӱҵ enrolls about 12,000 students each fall semester. To learn more, visit www.hindscc.edu or call 1.800.��«ӰҵCC.

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  Cassie Herrington of Pearl, left, and Felecia Keyes of Jackson received practical nursing degrees from ��«Ӱҵ on Dec. 18. (April Garon/��«Ӱҵ)

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  Haley Lee of Vicksburg received a practical nursing degree from ��«Ӱҵ on Dec. 18. She is assisted by ��«Ӱҵ employee Deanna McInnis. (April Garon/��«Ӱҵ)

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  Lindsey Underwood of Pearl received a dental assisting degree from ��«Ӱҵ on Dec. 18. She is assisted by ��«Ӱҵ employee Deanna McInnis. (April Garon/��«Ӱҵ)

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  Dameshia Smith of Jackson received a practical nursing degree from ��«Ӱҵ on Dec. 18. She is assisted by ��«Ӱҵ employee Latonya Brister. (April Garon/��«Ӱҵ)

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  Christy Barlow of Wesson received a practical nursing degree from ��«Ӱҵ on Dec. 18. She is assisted by ��«Ӱҵ employee Colleen Hartfield. (April Garon/��«Ӱҵ)

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  Sarah Stephens of Madison received an Associate Degree in Nursing ��«Ӱҵ on Dec. 18. She is show putting honor pins on a Phi Theta Kappa sash. (April Garon/��«Ӱҵ)

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  Mollie Smith of Madison received an Associate Degree in Nursing ��«Ӱҵ on Dec. 18. She chose to attend ��«Ӱҵ “because I heard it was the best and my sister graduated from ��«Ӱҵ.” (April Garon/��«Ӱҵ)

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  Friends and classmates Shileebra Gaines of Vaiden, left, and Alexis Levy of Jackson received practical nursing degrees from ��«Ӱҵ on Dec. 18. (April Garon/��«Ӱҵ)

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  Alexis Vaughn of Brandon is in line for the walk across the stage. She graduated from ��«Ӱҵ on Dec. 18. (April Garon/��«Ӱҵ)

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  Brandy Benton of Star received an Associate Degree in Nursing from ��«Ӱҵ on Dec. 18. This was her second degree from ��«Ӱҵ. As a student athlete in 1995, she received the Eagle Award. In her hand is a clipping from the student newspaper the ��«Ӱҵonian showing Benton with ��«Ӱҵ President Dr. Clyde Muse, then athletic director Rene’ Warren, who is deceased; Chad Bradford, who also received the Eagle Award for baseball and later played professional baseball, and Vashti Muse, Muse’s wife who is now deceased. (April Garon/��«Ӱҵ)

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  ��«Ӱҵ President Dr. Clyde Muse winks at Brandy Benton of Star as he hands her a diploma. She graduated with an Associate Degree in Nursing from ��«Ӱҵ on Dec. 18. This was her second degree from ��«Ӱҵ. As a student athlete in 1995, she received the Eagle Award. To the right are Vice President Dr. Norman Session and Vice President Dr. Keri Cole. (April Garon/��«Ӱҵ)

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  Retired ��«Ӱҵ employee Dr. Libby Mahaffey of Florence was the grand marshal and mace bearer for all three graduation ceremonies on Dec. 18. (April Garon/��«Ӱҵ)

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  Phil Cockrell of Raymond, Raymond Campus Engineering and Drafting Design Technology instructor who was selected as ��«Ӱҵ’s HEADWAE honoree for 2020, was the graduation speaker for all three graduation ceremonies on Dec. 18. (April Garon/��«Ӱҵ)

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  Taking a selfie together are Patara Mortin and Taylor Perrin of Carson, who received an Associate Degree in Nursing ��«Ӱҵ on Dec. 18. (April Garon/��«Ӱҵ)

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  Macy Noblin bought flowers for her friend Allison Crosswhite of Pearl, left, who received a practical nursing degree from ��«Ӱҵ on Dec. 18. (April Garon/��«Ӱҵ)