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UTICA – Desharra Stamps of Edwards said she came to ��������’s Utica Campus as a “shy and timid young lady” with a high school equivalency certificate.

She left May 15 as one of two student graduation speakers, with an associate degree in Business Office Technology and a plan to become an administrative assistant while pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

“Over the past two years the ‘U’ has brought out the best in all of us,” said Stamps, who represented career-technical graduates. “Since coming to the ‘U’ I have grown into this outspoken, outgoing young lady, who overcame the challenges and beat the odds. I have shed some tears and stayed up many nights to get where I am today. If I can do it, you can too.”

�������� held three graduation ceremonies on Thursday, May 13 at the Rankin Campus and a fourth ceremony on Saturday, May 15 at the Utica Campus. All four ceremonies were for graduates only. Family and friends were able to view the ceremonies via livestreaming.

Jermall Germon of Canton, speaking on behalf of academic graduates, recalled Tuskegee graduate William H. Holtzclaw who founded the Utica Negro School in 1902. The school became the Utica Campus of �������� in 1982 through a federal court order.

“It was not always easy; however, he persevered and had a vision that one day his dream would come true,” Germon said of Holtzclaw. “Today, we stand with a common goal. We stand with the goal of seeing not only ourselves become more educated, but we stand with the goal of somebody becoming a leader. Through our accomplishments we continue to uphold the legacy of William Holtzclaw.”

�������� President Dr. Stephen Vacik told students not to try to avoid the “valley of the shadow of death.”

“Try not to avoid those valleys when they come. Instead walk confidently through them. I will tell you that won’t be easy,” Dr. Vacik said. “I’m sure that many of those of us with life experience will tell you that we’ve gone through some valleys in our lives but that’s what’s made us the people we are today. I encourage you – walk proudly, walk strongly through those valleys. They’re going to help you become the people you should be.

Vice President Sherry Franklin said graduates had been through unique hardships with the pandemic but persevered.

“It’s your choice to choose to change the world,” Franklin said. “We need you all to make the choice today to change the world as you make those next steps into your future.”

Nearly 1,000 students participated in one of the four ceremonies, including students eligible to participate in previous ceremonies cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, �������� conferred 1,761 degrees or certificates, with some students receiving more than one credential.

Out of those, 300 graduated cum laude with a grade point average of 3.2 to 3.59; 240 graduated magna cum laude with a grade point average of 3.6 to 3.99 and 111 graduated summa cum laude with a grade point average of 4.0.

This year, for the first time, graduating students were tapped as speakers, including for the invocation.

Among them was Harry Watson of Madison, a music instructor on campus who had transferred to Tougaloo College without graduating from ��������. After learning he qualified for a diploma from ��������, he decided to formally graduate on May 15. “It’s finishing what I started,” he said.

Three others were Eric Reed of Jackson, Mycaila McWilliams of Utica and Ken Davis of Hazlehurst. Reed plans to major in biology at the University of Mississippi. He wants to become a pediatric orthodontist. McWilliams plans to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham and major in social work. “It was awesome,” she said of her �������� experience. Davis studied entertainment media and plans to work on his music career.

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  Desharra Stamps of Edwards represented career-technical education graduates at the May 15 �������� graduation ceremony on the Utica Campus.

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  Jermall Germon of Canton represented academic graduates at the May 15 �������� graduation ceremony on the Utica Campus.

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  �������� President Dr. Stephen Vacik, left, and Vice President Sherry Franklin prepared to hand out diplomas to graduates at the May 15 �������� graduation ceremony on the Utica Campus.

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  Graduation speaker and graduate Jermall Germon of Canton, left, graduate Miss Utica Daisha Golden of Utica, instructor Apryl Trimble and graduate Mr. Utica Perry Florence Jr. of Clinton participated in the May 15 �������� graduation ceremony at the Utica Campus.

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  Stamps, of Edwards, left, and Harry Watson of Madison, a music instructor on the Utica Campus of ��������, wait patiently before the May 15 �������� graduation ceremony on the Utica Campus.

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  Daniel Davis of Clinton adjusts his mortarboard before the May 15 �������� graduation ceremony at the Utica Campus. Davis studied engineering while on the Utica Campus.

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  Eric Reed of Jackson, left, Mycaila McWilliams of Utica and Ken Davis of Hazlehurst graduated from �������� on May 15 in a ceremony on the Utica Campus.

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  Twins Casey McDuff, left, and Macey McDuff of Clinton graduated from �������� on May 15 in a ceremony on the Utica Campus. Both are headed for nursing school.

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  Zauriya Harris of Edwards put a photo of her mom Cadelia Harris, who died in 2016, on her mortarboard. Harris graduated from �������� in a ceremony on the Utica Campus on May 15.

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  Cinnamon Williams of Forest decorated her mortar board with “Brains and Beauty” in honor of her May 15 graduation from �������� in a ceremony at the Utica Campus. She plans to study physical therapy at Jackson State University.

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  Rayonna Harden of Port Gibson was greeted with balloons and a banner with her photos on it after her May 15 graduation from �������� in a ceremony on the Utica Campus. She is headed to ��������’ Jackson Campus-Nursing/Allied Health Center to study Health Information Technology.

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  Kellye Trussell of Jackson celebrated her graduation from �������� in a ceremony on the Utica Campus with her parents, Doris and Kirt Trussell.