STARKVILLE —Some 800 Mississippi State students are candidates for degrees at the conclusion of the 2007 summer term.

Because the university doesn’t hold graduation exercises in August, summer graduates are invited to participate in the fall semester commencements Dec. 14 an 15.

All bachelor’s-degree students with exceptional scholastic averages and at least half the total required course hours earned at MSU are graduated with honors. Their specific levels of recognition and the minimum required averages for each, based on a 4.0 scale, include summa cum laude, 3.80; magna cum laude, 3.60 and cum laude, 3.40.

The academic honors are recorded on the graduates’ diplomas and permanent records.

Degree candidates from the local area are:

Michael J. Adam of Wilkinson County — bachelor’s of arts in Arts and Sciences

Christopher S. Barnes of Natchez — bachelor’s of business administration in business and industry

James K. Crenshaw of Natchez — bachelor’s of arts

Joanna M. Frederick of Natchez — bachelor’s of arts, magna cum laude, arts and sciences

Kelvin Harris of Natchez — master’s in arts and sciences

Anthony L. Strauder of Natchez — bachelor’s of science in education

Larry T. Thomas of Natchez — bachelor’s of science in engineering