Graduation season kicked off this weekend and will continue through the rest of the month as students in our area receive recognition for their hard work and dedication.

Before we prepare for the week ahead, let’s take a look back at some of the highlights from last week:

• Nearly 700 Alcorn State University graduates walked across the stage in Lorman to receive a diploma after Myrlie Evers-Williams asked the students to be a part of making change in Mississippi. The widow of slain Civil Rights icon Medgar Evers encouraged the graduates to give back to the community, while also having fun along the way. We congratulate all the graduates.

• Natchez resident Meredith Faust has given 100 percent of her proceeds from fundraisers involving jewelry manufactured by Premier Designs to those in the community in need. Faust views the good deeds as a requirement of service to God. Money raised in recent fundraisers has gone to the families of Tyler Brumfield, who died in a tragic car wreck earlier this year, and Nikki Worthey, who was in the car with Brumfield and suffered serious injuries. We thank Faust for her fundraising efforts.

• Sarah Clancy was named the STAR student at Adams County Christian School. The STAR student honor is awarded to the student who scores the highest ACT score at each school in the state. Clancy earned a 30 on the college preparatory test and was accepted to the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College at the University of Mississippi. We congratulate Clancy on her success and wish her the best going forward.

A week filled with showers and thunderstorms is expected, but let’s not allow the bad weather to dampen plans to do great things in our community.