{"id":91957,"date":"2022-12-09T16:47:35","date_gmt":"2022-12-09T22:47:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/news-and-events\/?p=91957"},"modified":"2022-12-09T16:47:35","modified_gmt":"2022-12-09T22:47:35","slug":"delta-state-university-celebrates-nearly-400-graduates-during-96th-commencement-exercise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/news-and-events\/2022\/12\/delta-state-university-celebrates-nearly-400-graduates-during-96th-commencement-exercise\/","title":{"rendered":"Delta State University celebrates nearly 400 graduates during 96th Commencement Exercise"},"content":{"rendered":"

CLEVELAND, Miss.\u2014<\/strong> It was the end and the beginning for the nearly 400 graduates who were celebrated by Delta State University during its 96th<\/sup> Commencement Exercise.<\/p>\n

A total of 370 graduates from the Summer and Fall of 2022 were recognized in the program during two in-person ceremonies Friday, Dec. 9. Graduate students were honored during the 10 a.m. event while undergraduate students were honored at 2 p.m.<\/p>\n

In addition to the United States, graduates hailed from 8 countries across the globe, including Columbia, France, Haiti, Iceland, Italy, Montenegro, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery day is a great day to be at Delta State, and I know that our degree candidates will fondly remember this moment, the day in which we honor our Summer and Fall 2022 graduating classes for their hard work and the perseverance they have demonstrated in achieving academic success that few accomplish,\u201d said Delta State Interim President Dr. E.E. Caston.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want you to know how proud we are of each of you. We know this has been a very challenging time to be a university student, and we appreciate and acknowledge the flexibility and tenacity you have demonstrated during this very interesting period of American history,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Dr. Tomeka Harbin, the 2022 recipient of the S.E. Kossman Outstanding Teacher Award at Delta State, served as the commencement speaker.<\/p>\n

A native of Grenada, Miss., Harbin has taught in the Management, Marketing, and Business Administration division since 2011. She began her career at Delta State as an Instructor of Management, then as an Assistant Professor of Management from 2013 to 2019. After serving the interim role for 11 months, Dr. Harbin was named chair in 2018 and received the rank of Associate Professor of Management in 2019.<\/p>\n

During her address, she spoke of being honored to be this year\u2019s commencement speaker, although it was a bit different from the speaking she is used to. She then decided she would present her address as a lecture, and the entire audience would be the class.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is different,\u201d said Harbin. \u201cIt\u2019s different, but that\u2019s ok, we are different and we are unique at Delta State University. We are the Fighting Okra and we are the Statesmen. We do things differently here.<\/p>\n

Harbin told the Class of 2022 in consideration of what her address would be was that one thing she did in her classes was to present a topic. So, she presented the topic \u201cTake Care of Your People.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one makes it anywhere in this life without the assistance of someone else,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd I would imagine that within these past few weeks, graduates, you\u2019ve needed encouragement from your peers, parents, and faculty members to get through those final projects and exams.\u201d<\/p>\n

She went on to say that \u201cit doesn\u2019t end with graduation in fact you switch roles.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou all go on to be leaders in divisions, companies, healthcare organizations, schools, and airlines,\u201d she said. \u201cYou become the person who motivates, inspires, empowers, encourages, and supports your people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing a leader isn\u2019t just about making the big decisions or having the final say,\u201d she said. \u201cBeing an effective leader is being able to be responsive and attentive to those people who are following you.\u201d<\/p>\n

She closed by reminding graduates not to forget about their green and white family and urged them to go out into the world and do great things.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so thankful for the support from my professors,\u201d said Jessica Harrison of Cleveland, Miss. who received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in general business. \u201cThey wanted me to succeed, and they believed in my ability to chase my dreams. I am leaving here with much more than a diploma. I will always have the love and memories from the DSU faculty and my classmates. Thank you DSU!\u201d<\/p>\n

Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Honor Diploma recipient Nicole Hollis, of Columbus, Miss., had this to say about her time at Delta State. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t trade the last three-and-a-half years at this university for anything in the world. Delta State has been my home away from home since I got here in the fall of 2019. The people here \u2014my classmates, professors, faculty, and staff members \u2014 have had an incredible impact on not only my education, but my college experience as a whole. I am who I am today because of this institution and all it\u2019s done for both me and my family. I\u2019m proud to be an Alumni of Delta State University where from day one we are encouraged to Join in and Stand out<\/em>. As Always, Fear the Okra, and Respect the Statesman.<\/p>\n

Master of Business Administration graduate Ben Yarbrough of Cleveland, Miss., echoed a similar sentiment.<\/p>\n

\u201cDelta State University has been my home away from home,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve gained more knowledge in the things I\u2019m passionate about and have been give so many opportunities I never would have had otherwise. I\u2019m forever grateful to Delta State.\u201d<\/p>\n

To view a replay of Delta State\u2019s Fall 2022 Commencement, visit https:\/\/livestream.com\/deltastateuniversity<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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