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Holmes Community College held the 97th Commencement Exercises on Wednesday, May 14 in Frank Branch Coliseum on the Goodman Campus. The Goodman Campus, Grenada Campus and Attala Center ceremony was held at 10 a.m. and the Ridgeland Campus and Yazoo Center had a ceremony at 2 p.m. The ceremonies were also live streamed at holmesccmedia.com/white-channel.
Each ceremony began with a faculty and administration processional. Evan Yates, a Goodman Campus student, served as the macebearer for the first ceremony. Some of his accolades include Phi Theta Kappa vice president, Order of the Golden Key recipient and being a member of the Holmes Connection! Ridgeland Campus Phi Theta Kappa vice president and All-MS Academic Team recipient Jonathan Thompson carried the mace for the second one. Following the processional, a video produced by the Holmes Marketing Department was shown that highlighted the major events/campus life for the 2024-2025 school year.
Next, Grenada Campus student John Evins gave the invocation during the first ceremony and Ridgeland Campus student William Cooper Canard gave it during the second one. Evins was a Phi Theta Kappa vice president, an Ambassador and an All-MS Academic Team recipient. Canard was also chosen for the All-MS Academic Team and served as Phi Theta Kappa president. Vice President for Academic Programs Dr. Jenny Bailey Jones and Vice President for Career Technical Education Dr. Amy Whittington followed the invocation with a welcome and a few inspiring remarks.
“In the words of Mississippi’s own B.B. King, ‘The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you,’” Dr. Jones said. “Graduates, during your time at Holmes, you have learned: how to put words into action, how to listen carefully and communicate clearly, how to understand and appreciate complexity and how to continue to make Mississippi a great place to live and work. These are the fruits of a college education and the skills for a lifetime, the building blocks of a productive, ethical and satisfying life.
“Class of 2025, you are joining Dr. Whittington, Dr. Haffey and me as proud alumni of this college and will become part of the lifelong Holmes family, a connection we hope brings you as much pride as it has for us in our lives.”
Dr. Whittington shared with graduates the famous quote from John Wesley, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
Next, Holmes President Dr. Jim Haffey stepped forward to present special awards/recognition. The awards given were the M.C. McDaniel Scholarship Award and the Outstanding Phi Theta Kappan Award. The M.C. McDaniel family established this scholarship to be presented to outstanding graduating sophomores who plan to further their education at an institution of higher learning. Mason Harrell of Flora was the M.C. McDaniel Scholarship recipient for the Goodman Campus; Emma Brasher of Grenada for the Grenada Campus and Amani Willis of Brandon for the Ridgeland Campus.
Harrell is an elementary education major with a 4.0 GPA. She has earned multiple accolades, including recognition on the President’s List, induction into the 2025 Holmes Hall of Fame and the Elementary Education Award. She was also named Most Beautiful during Holmes’ 2024 Beauty Review. Harrell was active on campus as an Ambassador, secretary of Student Government Association and as a member of Phi Theta Kappa. She was also a work-study in the Student Services office on campus and is an active member of First Baptist Church of Flora. Harrell has volunteered for multiple mission trips as well as volunteer projects such as Horses for the Handicap. She plans to pursue a degree in elementary education at Mississippi State University.
Brasher, a pre-nursing major, has excelled in both academics and leadership. She has been named to the President’s List and has received multiple accolades, including the STEM Award, Mathematics Award and Campus Class Favorite recognition. Brasher served as president of Phi Theta Kappa for Grenada and was an active member of the Baptist Student Union and Student Government Association, where she was named president. She is also involved in her community as a member of Christ Community Church. Brasher plans to attend Delta State University’s nursing program to earn her bachelor’s degree this fall. Her career goal is to become a general nurse practitioner.
Willis is a health science major who was very active on campus. She served as a Holmes Ambassador, Phi Theta Kappa officer, Chess Club member and STEM Club member. She as also inducted into Holmes’ Hall of Fame for 2025. Off campus, Willis is a media team volunteer for Word of Life Church and a volunteer for St. Dominics. She plans to continue her studies in exercise science at the University of Mississippi on a pre-med track with the goal of becoming a dermatologist.
For the Outstanding Phi Theta Kappan awards, Kaylee Everett of Bentonia was the recipient for the Goodman Campus, Shane Rosenthall of Grenada, for the Grenada Campus, and Mary Lane Rey of Madison for Ridgeland.
Everett served as vice president of the Kappa Alpha Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and was involved in MOSAIC. Additionally, she participated in honors trips with the Sociology Department. Everett plans to transfer to the University of Southern Mississippi to pursue her bachelor’s degree in marketing.
Rosenthall has demonstrated exceptional leadership and academic success, serving as an Ambassador, vice president of the Student Government Association, secretary of Phi Theta Kappa and as an intramural sports participant. His hard work has earned him a place on both the President’s and Dean’s Lists. Rosenthall was also named Mr. Holmes-Grenada for 2025. He plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Mississippi and become a sports psychologist.
Rey, a business administration major, was a 2025 Hall of Fame inductee. She was also an officer for Phi Theta Kappa. Rey plans to attend Mississippi State University to study graphic design. After graduation from MSU, she hopes to take a gap year to explore personal interests before entering the workforce. Ray has worked for several businesses, including U.S. Lawns.
“We are so proud of you!” Dr. Whittington said. “As you leave today, you are embarking upon a new chapter in your journey of life, and we sincerely hope you consider Holmes Community College a place to which you can return for support and encouragement. Our interest in you does not end today. As alumni, we ask that you stay in touch because you are important to us – our administration, faculty, and staff. You carry the legacy of Holmes with you wherever you go, so when you succeed, Holmes Community College succeeds.”
Dr. Jones then explained the various honor cords, stoles, tassels and medals before the graduates made their way to the stage to receive their diplomas. Holmes President Dr. Jim Haffey concluded the ceremony by presenting the Class of 2025 to the audience.
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IN THESE PHOTOS:
1. Pictured are (left to right) Goodman Campus M.C. McDaniel Scholarship recipient Mason Harrell of Flora, Holmes President Dr. Jim Haffey, Grenada Campus Outstanding Phi Theta Kappan Shane Rosenthall of Grenada and M.C. McDaniel Scholarship recipient Emma Brasher of Grenada. Not pictured: Goodman Campus Outstanding Phi Theta Kappan Kaylee Everett of Bentonia.
2. Pictured are (left to right) Ridgeland Campus Outstanding Phi Theta Kappan Mary Lane Rey of Madison, Holmes President Dr. Jim Haffey and Ridgeland M.C. McDaniel Scholarship Award recipient Amani Willis of Brandon.
