PEARL – Returning to school is a time of self-discovery, new careers and making new friends.
All those are now true for Sherrie Smith and Natasha Jackson, classmates this past year in the Health Information Technology program at . Each graduated from the college Friday, May 28 with Associate of Applied Science degrees in the field.
Sherrie Smith, left, and Natasha Jackson
“It was just the three of us in the class, so we’re friends now,” said Jackson, 27, of Jackson.
Smith, 49, originally from Greenwood and a mother of two adult children, chose Hinds for the convenience of staying in-state and the program’s solid reputation.
“It was really the only doable option I had to earn my degree,” Smith said. “I had a really good experience here.”
The college conferred 532 credentials to 464 students in two ceremonies at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. Nursing and allied health graduates received their degrees at 10 a.m. Academic and career-tech graduates received theirs at 2 p.m.
Among them were Charlotte and Charlene Johnson, twin sisters in life and in school. The sisters, of Clinton, graduated from the Practical Nursing program after already having earned degrees at Jackson State University.
“We’ve done everything together,” Charlotte said. “We’ve always been close.”
Charlotte, left, and Charlene Johnson
Both chose healthcare as a career to be able to continue teaching as well as learning.
“We love helping people,” Charlene said. “We’ve coordinated different programs, we both teach dancing. And we loved Hinds. It was challenging, awesome and we had the best teachers ever.”
Angela Griffin, retired assistant dean for Career and Technical Education at the college, spoke to graduates at both ceremonies.
Griffin told graduates to discover their passion, then follow it no matter what challenges life presents.
“You can Google for a mate or for a career,” Griffin said. “But you can’t Google to find what’s in your heart, the passion that makes you happy.
Angela Griffin, retired assistant career-tech dean, speaks at summer graduation ceremonies July 28 at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. (/April Garon)
“You won’t find your passion in money or things. You will find your passion in things that fill you from the inside. It will be grounded in people and in your relationship with people.”
Griffin retired from Hinds in 2017 after 34 years, a tenure that began as a Business Technology instructor at the Jackson Campus-Academic/Technical Center. Griffin went on to chair the Business Technology Department before becoming assistant dean for career-tech.
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Tes Seymour, center, of Vicksburg, was among 464 students who received credentials from during summer graduation ceremonies July 28 at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. She earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Emergency Medical Sciences. With her, from left, are husband John Seymour, son Caleb Anthony, daughter Madisyn Anthony, son Lane Seymour, and her mother Terry Saldana and father Joe Saldana. (/April Garon)
Andrew Love, right, was among 464 students who received credentials from during summer graduation ceremonies at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. Love, of Brandon, graduated with a career certificate in Brick & Block Masonry. With him is interpreter Pam Jones, left. (/April Garon)
Ty Harris, left, and brothers Quienta and Donovan Carter, all of Hattiesburg, were among 464 students who received credentials from during summer graduation ceremonies July 28 at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. Quienta and Donovan plan to attend McNeese State University; Harris will attend the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. (/April Garon)
Shelby Cunningham, center, of Raymond, was among 464 students who received credentials from at summer graduation ceremonies at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. From left- Kylee Cunningham, Skylar Cunningham, Van McDaniel, Christy Cunningham, Aaron Blakely, Nikki Ryan, Roxie Williams,Triston Cunningham,Theresa Ryan, Roger Jones and Lois Jones. (/April Garon)
Kendrick Kyles, of Jackson, takes a selfie just before summer graduation ceremonies July 28 at the Muse Center at Rankin Campus. Kyles earned a technical certificate in Welding Technology. (/April Garon)
Christin Coyle, of McComb, was among 464 students who received credentials from during summer graduation ceremonies July 28 at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. She earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Veterinary Technology. With her is her daughter, Camryn. (/April Garon)
Casey Brown, center, of Lucedale, was among 464 students who received credentials from during summer graduation ceremonies July 28 at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. She earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Veterinary Technology. With her are her mother, Julie, left, and grandfather Kenneth Sullivan. (/April Garon)
Jataria Claiborne, center, of Port Gibson, was among 464 students who received credentials from during summer graduation ceremonies July 28 at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. She earned an Associate of Applied Science degree after completing the Business Management and Finance program. Family members had t-shirts printed for the occasion. (/April Garon)
Ashley Ramirez, left, of Cleveland; Brittnee Pierce, center, of Harrisville, and Hope Sloan, of Philadelphia, were among 464 students who received credentials from during summer graduation ceremonies July 28 at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. All earned a Associate of Applied Science degrees in Veterinary Technology. (/April Garon)
Annabeth Bowman, center-right, of Pelahatchie, was among 464 students who received credentials from during summer graduation ceremonies July 28 at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. She earned an Associate of Arts degree in General Studies and plans to pursue a nursing degree. With her, from left, are her father Dewayne, her mother Ann, and aunt, Margie Warren. (/April Garon)