NATCHEZ — Saturday was bittersweet for some members of the Alcorn State University class of 2016, as they closed one chapter and opened a new one.

Thurgood Marshall College Fund President and CEO Johnny C. Taylor was awarded an honorary doctorate Saturday morning before giving the commencement address.

“I often am called upon to defend the continuing relevancy of historically black colleges and universities,” Taylor said. “You are going to change the world. You are the most compelling case that we at Thurgood Marshall college fund can make for the relevancy of HBCUs.”

His advice to the graduates was twofold.

“When you go into the workplace, one — show up,” he said. “Bring your A-game, whatever your profession is, because people are going to judge Alcorn State based on you and what you do.”

Second, Taylor said, graduates are responsible for giving back to the people and institution that made them what they are.

“We need your time and treasure,” he said. “We expect each one of you to give back to this institution.”

For Natchez native and Alcorn graduate Regina Stewart, the moment was bittersweet.

“I jut got finished crying not too long ago,” Stewart said. “I’m just so in awe, because I’ve been here since 2011. This is my home, and it’s like, you’re leaving the nest now but you’ll always have a home to come back to.”

Stewart, who graduated from Natchez High School in 2011, was awarded an accounting degree Saturday.

“I have to start my next chapter,” she said. “I’m loving it.”

Biology graduate Heather Hornsby of Forest said she felt only joy.

“I’m so excited, it’s just like, hey, I made it out!” she said.

It was her mother, Mary Morgan, who shed the tears.

“It was my baby that inspired me to go further than I’ve gone,” Morgan said. “I didn’t graduate from college because I had her, and I didn’t even go back to school. It was her that pushed me to go back.”

Criminal justice graduate James Gaskins of Woodville has an eye only on his future. The aspiring law school student is already planning his post-graduate career.

“I want to be a lawyer one day and open up my own firm by the time I’m 50,” he said. “It’s hard to do anything nowadays without a college degree. It’s an amazing door opener.”

Vidalia native Sherrelle Smith has already been in the workforce as she pursued her master’s degree in business administration. She works in the business office of Natchez-Adams School District.

“We’ll see where it goes,” Smith said. “It feels great to be done. I’m so glad to be done, but it was a good experience.”