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In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Holmes Community College decided not to hold the traditional on-campus commencement ceremonies this year and instead held a virtual ceremony on May 15. Graduates and their families were able to view the ceremony (and still can if they missed the 10 a.m. viewing) at https://events.holmescc.edu. Diplomas will be mailed out after graduation.

The Holmes Community College Ridgeland Campus recognized its students’ achievements and honors a little differently this year: rather than hold an on-campus celebration, faculty and staff created a virtual presentation for students to watch. Instructors representing each academic and career-technical program submitted a video clip of them presenting the award to the student as if they were there presenting on stage.

Academic and technical students with exemplary quality point averages are recognized at the end of the fall and spring semesters by being named to the President’s or Dean’s list. To be eligible for such recognition a student must be enrolled in at least twelve semester hours.

Holmes Community College Grenada Campus Academic Coordinator Kathryn Harlow Cox recently earned her Ed. D. in Higher Education and Leadership from the University of Mississippi. Cox’s dissertation was entitled “Factors Associated with Student Withdrawal at a Mississippi Community College.”

Holmes Community College students Kalee Beck of Carrollton, Ivey Devine of Winona, Sarah Elizabeth Hardy of Bentonia, Gracie MacGown of Madison, Shakeria Smith of Ackerman and Nathan Wildhaber of Jackson were all named to the 2020 Phi Theta Kappa honor society All-Mississippi Academic Team. Nominations are based on outstanding academic performance and service to the college and community. MacGown was named First Team, and the others were named to the Second Team.

Holmes Community College Director of Financial Aid Clate Holleman recently earned his Ed. D. in Higher Education from the University of Mississippi. Holleman’s dissertation was entitled “Exploring the Relationship Between Receipt of a Mississippi Need-Based Grant and Grade Point Average Among Graduating Seniors at the University of Mississippi.”

Holmes Community College’s Director of Business Services Matt Surrell and Ridgeland Campus Evening Coordinator and Health, Physical Education and Recreation Division Chair and Instructor Ryan Beggs recently graduated from the Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy.

The Ridgeland Campus of Holmes Community College held a “drive up” Pinning Ceremony for the graduating Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Class of 2020 on May 7 in the Ridgeland Campus parking lot. COVID-19 might have made holding a large ceremony in an auditorium not possible, but the faculty and staff still made sure the day was special for the graduates. Nursing faculty decorated their cars and graduates drove up one-by-one to receive their pin and lamp, just like they normally would in a ceremony. Students were asked to have a family member pin them at home, get someone to take a short video of it and submit it. All of the pinnings will be combined with a live Zoom meeting of the graduates reciting the Nightingale Pledge so they will experience all parts of the traditional ceremony.

The Holmes Community College Goodman Campus recognized its students’ achievements and honors during the 2020 Virtual Honors Day Program held May 5 via Zoom. Normally a dinner is held for honorees and their families in Frank Branch Coliseum, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Holmes had to make alternative arrangements this year.

Holmes Community College has decided to forego the traditional on-campus commencement ceremonies and will hold a virtual ceremony on May 15 at 10 a.m. due to COVID-19.