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RIDGELAND — For Joe Cox and his daughter, Madison Cox, commencement at Holmes Community College on Thursday, May 14, marked more than earning degrees — it was a shared family accomplishment rooted in education, service and perseverance.
The father and daughter, both students on the Holmes Ridgeland Campus, crossed the stage during the 10 a.m. commencement ceremony, celebrating the completion of their academic journeys side by side.
“To have the opportunity to walk with my dad was nothing short of a blessing,” Madison Cox said. “I am so proud of him and all the hard work he has put in being a student while also being in the Army full-time.”
Joe Cox graduated with an Associate of Arts degree in general studies while balancing academics, military service and family responsibilities. He currently serves as Battalion S4 for the 112th Military Police Battalion and plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management while continuing his military career in logistics and supply chain management.
Madison Cox earned an Associate of Arts degree in law/legal studies and graduated with honors. She plans to continue her education at Dillard University, where she will pursue a bachelor’s degree in political science before attending law school to earn her Juris Doctor degree. Her long-term goal is to become an attorney specializing in civil law before eventually pursuing a career in politics and international diplomacy.
Both Joe and Madison Cox were inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society during their time at Holmes.
Education is deeply rooted in the Cox family. Joe’s wife and Madison’s mother, Dr. Tiffany Cox, is an Associate Degree Nursing instructor on the Holmes Ridgeland Campus who earned a Ph.D. in Nursing Education and Administration from William Carey University in 2017.
Joe Cox said Holmes provided encouragement and support throughout his educational journey.
“Holmes Community College provided me with a great learning experience and helped prepare me for the next step in my education and career,” Joe Cox said. “I’m thankful for the support from the instructors and staff throughout my journey.”
Madison Cox said the experience at Holmes helped shape both her academic goals and personal growth.
“The classes at Holmes pushed me both as a student and as a person and helped me find what I was truly passionate about and wanted to make the focus of my career,” Madison Cox said. “Holmes will always be a part of what shaped me into the person I am today and the person I intend on becoming in the future.”
Outside the classroom, the Cox family remains active in service and community involvement. They attend Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Madison, where Joe participates in the church’s military ministry. Joe is also a lifetime member of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of Mississippi, and Madison volunteers at the Mississippi Children’s Museum.
Together, the father and daughter said graduating from Holmes on the same day made the milestone even more meaningful for their family.
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IN THIS PHOTO: Pictured are (left to right) Joe, Tiffany and Madison Cox following Joe and Madison’s graduation from Holmes Community College on May 14. Dr. Tiffany Cox is an Associate Degree Nursing instructor on the Holmes Ridgeland Campus where her son and daughter took classes.
