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Garian Edwards, an alumnus of Holmes Community College Class of 2024, has taken his dedication to leadership to new heights as a junior at Alcorn State University. Majoring in athletic training and physical education, Edwards continues to build on his active involvement and success from his time at Holmes, going from a Holmes Ambassador to now serving now as an Alcorn State Brave Ambassador.
“Garian shined on our Ambassador team from the start,” said Holmes Recruiting Specialist/Ambassador Sponsor Nikki Boutwell. “His friendliness and smile always made students visiting campus at ease. Leadership comes naturally to Garian, and I am so proud of him continuing to be a leader at Alcorn State University. His future is extremely bright, and I am glad he found opportunities to thrive at Holmes and beyond.”
During his tenure at Holmes, Edwards distinguished himself as a leader and dedicated student across multiple campuses. He began his academic journey on the Grenada Campus before transferring to the Goodman Campus for his sophomore year.
When asked about his favorite memory at Holmes, Edwards had a hard time narrowing it down to one.
“I loved Homecoming; it was a great experience,” Edwards said. “It seems like it is always a fun, big event a Holmes. Being a student athletic trainer was fun, and also, I really, really enjoyed being an Ambassador. It helped me step into who I am as a person and it introduced me to a lot of amazing people. We had a great group last year and I really enjoyed them. I miss them all! It’s a lot of people to name, but most of all I miss Mrs. Nikki.
“I really appreciate all the things Mrs. Nikki did for me as an Ambassador,” Edwards said. “She put a great group together and made this organization exactly what it was supposed to be. Without Mrs. Nikki, I don’t think any of us would even have known each other or gotten closer. She does a great job in her role.”
A native of Grenada, Edwards became interested in moving to Goodman when he learned about opportunities to participate in band and as a student-trainer for Bulldog Football.
“I saw a post on the Holmes athletic page, and when I learned I could get hands-on experience in athletic training with Bill Grace, I realized that’s what I needed to do. He helped me out and put everything together. I started in the summer of 2023 and went through the spring of 2024,” Edwards said.
Edwards was also an Ambassador for the Goodman Campus, and was actively involved in various organizations including MOSAIC (Student Support Services organization), the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Behavioral and Social Sciences Honors program. He graduated with an Associate of Arts degree with a major in athletic training.
Reflecting on his experience, Edwards credits Holmes for helping him step out of his comfort zone and prepare for his continued success at Alcorn State.
“Holmes really pulled me out of my comfort zone with certain things,” Edwards said. “If I didn’t do some of these organizations and leadership positions at Holmes, I wouldn’t be doing them at Alcorn. I loved Holmes so much that if I could start back over and go to Holmes again, I would. But things move forward, and you’ve got to keep on going. I’m very, very grateful to be an alumnus of a wonderful community college like Holmes.”
Now, as an Alcorn State Brave Ambassador, Edwards is one of 112 students chosen for this prestigious role, a position he says he didn’t expect to secure.
“In all honesty, I didn’t know if I was going to get it,” Edwards said of his selection. “They put the application out the week before school started, right when I moved in. When I saw the email, I quickly applied. I wanted to find out where I fit in.”
His involvement at Alcorn State doesn’t stop there. Edwards was recently accepted into the Alcorn Impact Community Service program, where he is excited to contribute to upcoming events and initiatives.
“We had to apply for that program, and part of the application involved giving ideas for events,” he explained.
Looking to the future, Edwards plans to become a certified athletic trainer with aspirations to work at the professional level in the NFL, NBA or MBA. Edwards’ commitment to leadership, community service and professional development continues to make him a positive representative of the college.
“Holmes is a big part of why I’m so involved at Alcorn now,” Edwards said. “My best advise to other students is to keep a positive head on your shoulders at all times. I’m very, very grateful to be a part of a community college like Holmes and to be a strong representative alumnus of the college. There’s a lot of things that you can get involved in at Holmes that will help open doors for you, a lot of opportunities to show off your skillset. It’s amazing what Holmes has to offer in so many different ways at so many different locations. I really appreciate everyone who helped me along the way when I was there, I’m so grateful!”
For more information about Holmes, visit www.holmescc.edu.
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