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Trina Runia Williams of Jackson got her children raised and watched her husband graduate from ������ in December.

Now it’s her turn to shine in the early childhood education program on the Utica Campus. She’ll graduate with her associate’s degree in May.

“I have always had a passion for children and after raising my two daughters and putting them through college, the time has finally come for me to do what I had always wanted to do,” Williams said.

As a part of her service to the community and a show of affection to her discipline, Williams volunteers 10 hours a week at Gertrude Ellis Head Start Program in Byram.

“My love of children and the way they think are what keeps me going,” said Williams, who is also a joint business owner of Woods of Williams Custom Cabinet Company LLC in Raymond.

Williams, a sophomore, has been selected to the Phi Theta Kappa All Mississippi Academic Team and recently received the 3E Award – Emphasis on Excellence and Enrichment – which is one of the highest student achievement recognitions awarded by ������.

Out of 1,500 nominations for the Phi Theta Kappa All Mississippi Academic Team, only two students were chosen to represent each campus of the state’s 15 community colleges. Williams was among that elite group to be chosen.

She has worked with peer educators, a student mentoring group; serves as treasurer of the Alpha Beta Xi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa; and is a member of Who’s Who Among American Community College Students. Upon graduating in May 2012, Williams plans to continue her education at Jackson State University and major in elementary education.

“Getting our college degrees has been a dream come true for my husband and me,” Williams said. “My husband finished his drafting program from the Raymond Campus this past December, and I will be graduating this May. How wonderful is that!”

She and her husband, Robert, have two adult daughters, Natasha Williams of Long Beach, Calif., and Stacey Williams of Hattiesburg.