Union County area candidates for degrees at Mid-Continent University

Students from Union County were among those who were candidates to receive degrees from Mid-Continent University in Mayfield, Ky.

Commencement ceremonies were Saturday, Dec. 12, at Mayfield High School in Mayfield.

The December graduating class included 16 local students who were candidates for bachelor’s degrees which were earned through a partnership with Shawnee Community College, SCC.

Angela Simmons of Dongola was asked to speak as a representative for her graduating class during a brunch which was held prior to the commencement ceremony.

“It is hard to believe that two years ago, we were all sitting in class, looking at each other. Most of us were complete strangers, thinking, ‘What have we gotten ourselves into?’,” Simmons recalled.

“I really felt that there was no way I would ever be friends with all of these people as I was listening to the speaker talking about how close we would become.

“Then, I thought to myself, ‘It is okay, you are not here to make friends. You are here to finish something you started years ago’.”

“Little did I know that getting my degree was just icing on the cake.

“The friendships that have come out of the last two years will be cherished for a lifetime.

“I feel blessed to know all of you and honored to call all of you my friends.

“I have learned something from each and every one of you – that is just as important as anything learned from a book.

“Some of us may decide to keep going and further our education. Some of us may use our degree to choose a different career path.

“And some, like me, will be able to look in the mirror and instead of saying someday, I will say, today I did.”

Students from the Union County area who were candidates for degrees, along with honors they received, follow:

Malinda Ashby, Dongola.

Amanda Hazel, Jonesboro.

Misty Hodges, Anna, magna cum laude.

Blake LeFevre, Anna, magna cum laude, Sigma Beta Delta.

Jeremy Murphy, Karnak.

Christina Wright, Ullin, cum laude.

Angela Simmons, Dongola.

Crystal Zeschke, Dongola.

 Outside of SCC bachelor degree graduates from the Union County area included:

Michael Meeker, Karnak, cum laude.