NATCHEZ — Miriam Jeffus Timmons wished her mother could have attended her graduation from Alcorn State University Saturday.

It was her mother’s wish for Timmons to obtain a college degree, and at 51, Timmons — a Natchez resident — fulfilled that wish, walking across the graduation stage not only with a degree but with the title of Alcorn’s class of 2012 salutatorian.

During her salutatory address, Timmons said her graduation and the graduation of her peers honors her and their parents.

“It marks the fruits of the labors in raising the men and women standing in front of you today,” she said.

Her graduation was a testimony of the support of family, friends, Alcorn faculty and God, Timmons said.

“I can’t tell you how many times I had to fight the urge to give up,” she said.

“God gave me the strength and opened the doors that allowed me to achieve my dreams.”

“I am a living testimony that you can achieve your dreams despite your age.”

Timmons told the graduates that when they leave Alcorn, they should always remember that someone is looking up to them.

“You are the leaders of future generations — lead well,” she said.

“Don’t judge each day by the progress you meet, but by the seeds you plant.”

Valedictorian Cameron Jenkins said — quoting Dr. Suess — that graduates should not cry because their time at Alcorn is over, but they should smile because it happened.

“You should smile because Alcorn has linked us together, and these friendships will last a lifetime,” Jenkins said.

The valedictorian told the graduates that as they leave, they can stand on the promises of the education they received at Alcorn.

“The promise of education is that if you do your best, prepare to do the best, you will receive the best,” he said.

Even when things don’t work out for the best and graduates face temporary defeat, it is an opportunity for great things, Jenkins said.

“Disappointment can bring out the best in us,” he said. “It can bring out a reservoir (of determination) you were previously unaware of.”

As Alcornites, the graduates have the ability to, “stand and stand tall,” Jenkins said.

Alcorn Executive Vice President and Provost Samuel White said the youngest graduate Saturday was 20 and the oldest was 69.

The 753 degrees conferred was an increase of 17 percent over last year, White said.

Alcorn’s School of Nursing pinning ceremony was Thursday.