Hinds CC graduates Health Sciences students

RAYMOND – At age 40, Kenneth Tisdale achieved his dream of earning an Associate Degree in Nursing at one of four graduation ceremonies at Hinds Community College on Dec. 11.

Tisdale was a teacher for 11 years before deciding on a major career switch, first earning a Practical Nursing degree then enrolling in Hinds’ Transition to RN program

“I love it. I’m very happy with the change I made,” said Tisdale of Jackson, who works at Methodist Specialty Care Center for patients with life-altering issues.

Navigating the Transition program was easier for Tisdale after he completed the Practical Nursing program. “I knew what to expect,” he said.

Hinds is holding four fall graduation ceremonies at Cain-Cochran Hall on the Raymond Campus, including at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12.

Like Tisdale, Paula Bailey, 56, of Ridgeland plans to stay where she is now working, Accent Care Home Health, just with a higher credential. She also earned an Associate Degree in Nursing.

“I really like where I’m working, and I’m going to stay. I just wanted to finish my degree,” she said. “I think the (Hinds) instructors are great. Joetta Chandlee (Dean of Nursing) convinced me to come back at my age, and I’m happy she did. It was a great learning experience and a great clinical experience.”

Hinds is awarding 966 degrees and 637 certificates, which means many graduates are earning more than one credential. Among the graduates, 233 are graduating with honors including 136 cum laude, or 3.2 to 3.59 grade point average; 75 magna cum laude, or 3.6-3.99 GPA and 22 summa cum laude, a perfect 4.0 GPA.

At the 10 a.m. Wednesday ceremony for Nursing and Allied Health graduates, Mason Norman of Madison offered the invocation; Felicity Delgado of Vicksburg spoke on behalf of classmates and Audriana Williams of Vicksburg offered the benediction. All three attended the Nursing Allied Health Center and are graduating with Associate Degrees in Nursing.

After graduation, Norman, 24, will go to work for the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Delgado, 24, starts work at The Bluffs Nursing Home in Vicksburg and plans to continue her education at William Carey University for a bachelor degree in nursing. Williams, 35, plans to work toward becoming a flight nurse.

In her remarks, Delgado recalled her struggles in earning her degree and called on her colleagues in the Health Sciences field to remember “one key factor as we begin our careers … we are human.

“We are not robots or gods; we will make mistakes, and we will cry. We will be flooded with emotions at times, while at others we must flip the switch to keep moving. Embrace who you are and allow it to turn you into a better healthcare worker,” she said.

At 10 a.m. Thursday, Shanora Thomas of Jackson will offer the invocation and benediction, and Jaylen Alexander McGriggs of Clinton will offer graduation remarks. Thomas, 24, attended the Jackson Campus where she earned her certification in welding. After graduating she is going straight to work in her field.

McGriggs, 19, attended the Raymond Campus where he earned an Associate degree in Electro-Mechanical Technology. After graduating from Hinds, he will attend Mississippi State University to study engineering.

Thomas will offer the invocation and benediction at the 2 p.m. ceremony also. Dhriti Dhingra, 19, of Olive Branch will speak on behalf of classmates. She is receiving an Associate degree in computer science. After graduation she plans to pursue a career as a software developer.