Co-Lin Natchez Campus graduates 173 students Friday

Published 12:01 am Saturday, May 12, 2018

NATCHEZ — Despite instructions to hold applause, the crowd of family and friends at the Natchez campus of Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s graduation roared and cheered as graduates crossed the stage Friday.

Almost every one of the 173 names called was met with raucous applause from the more than 300 supporters gathered in the Natchez Convention Center.

“This is the moment we’ve been waiting for for two years,” said, Candice Tetlow, the Hall of Fame graduate who gave the commencement address. “Wherever your journey leads you, remember this moment and the success you feel… Remember you have a cheering squad here for you.”

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When the last name was called and the students turned their tassels — marking them officially as graduates — the appreciative crowd gave one last cheer.

Out in the crowd sat a group of approximately a dozen family members in all white shirts that congratulated Javontrics Murphy.

“We’re all just proud of him,” Chambers’ father Troy Chambliss said.

For approximately a dozen students, the diploma from Co-Lin was not the only one they would receive.

Natchez Early College Academy graduated its second class of students Friday, meaning the NECA students who received associates degrees last night will also receive their high school diplomas on May 25. 

Ronnie E. Nettles, president of Copiah-Lincoln Community College, shook each of the students’ hands as he handed them their diploma.

“You should all be very proud of yourselves,” Nettles said. “This accomplishment reflects positively on you, your family, your community and your state.”

 

Editor’s note: This story has been updates to correctly spell Javontrics Murphy’s name.