ELLISVILLE ā ĢĒŠÄÖ±²„ās 93rd Commencement Ceremony was held outdoors at 8 p.m. for the first time in the collegeās history. The COVID-19 virus led to modifying a lot of events and activities over the last year. ĢĒŠÄÖ±²„ President, Dr. Jesse Smith shared with the crowd, including the approximate 720 graduates participating in the ceremony, that this graduation ceremony marked the first time some people have been back on campus since March 2020. Smith also āconfessedā in his Presidential Message in the Commencement Program, that he didnāt understand the meaning of the words unprecedented, incomparable and unpredictable until he witnessed this season of hardship the college community experienced together.
āāDuring my time of leadership, I have never seen the challenges, trials and circumstances that you graduates have faced in these past twelve monthsā¦. I have full confidence that the ĢĒŠÄÖ±²„ graduates of 2020 and 2021 have been rewarded with the spirit of perseverance, an invaluable garland that will forevermore be placed around your neckā¦.āāsaid Smith.
Commencement speaker, retired U.S. Army Major General, Byron Bagby who is the managing partner of BMB Solutions, LLC, an independent consulting firm offering executive leadership development, coaching, and strategy development also commended the graduates. As a first-generation college graduate, Bagby said he understands the challenges that the 35 percent of ĢĒŠÄÖ±²„ students faced being the first in their families to go to college. He also challenged the audience to continue to make their family and friends proud by fulfilling three basic elements of life.
āBe a mentor. Be yourself and make a difference in the world. At this stage in
your life, each one of you has a collection of experiences that are and will be beneficial to other people who have the same profession as youā¦. Look for opportunities to connect with other people. Reach out to them frequently. Share your lessons learned and life experiences,ā said Bagby. āThank you for what you will do for our world, our nation and for what you will do for your communities.ā
About 70 of the ĢĒŠÄÖ±²„ graduates from the class of 2020 decided to participate in this yearās ceremony after last yearās graduation was canceled because of the Pandemic. Bay Springs 2020 graduates and twins, Jada and Jazmin King said they were eager to return to campus.
āMy sister and I were very involved at Jones and we were very successful during our two years here,ā said Jazmin,
the 2019 Homecoming Queen and Mississippi Rural Physician Scholarship Program recipient. āWe wanted to return to Jones for some closure and to say our goodbyes to our friends, faculty members and administrators who were so helpful to us over our two years here,ā Jada added, who was voted Miss ĢĒŠÄÖ±²„ 2020 and a Mississippi Rural Physician Scholarship Program recipient.
Likewise, 2021 graduate and Student Government Association President, Dariyel Johnson said she was glad the Class of 2020 was invited to partake in graduation ceremonies.
āIt hit me this week how many friends Iāve made here at ĢĒŠÄÖ±²„ and everything Iāve been able to accomplish as Freshman Class President and SGA President. Having the 2020 grads here, also gives me the chance to say goodbye to them too, as we leave this special place, together,ā said Johnson, who also earned the title of ĢĒŠÄÖ±²„ Most Beautiful 2020. Johnson plans to continue her broadcast communication degree at the University of Mississippi and vie for the title of Miss Mississippi next month.
Oak Groveās Slade Smith and Slade Hicks of Laurel, have ĢĒŠÄÖ±²„ to
thank for their friendship. The two met early in their freshman year while playing intramural frisbee, because they share the same name.
āIronically, our dads went to Laurel High School together,ā said Slade Smith. āJones gave me the room to grow because I didnāt know where I wanted to go to college to start my bio-chemistry degree. Itās going to be hard to leave this place.ā
Slade Hicks who is majoring in electrical engineering added, āIām glad weāll get 
to still hang out at Mississippi State. We both are adventurous and enjoy playing intramural sports. We were on a lot of winning teams at Jones.ā
The evening commencement ceremony on the lawn of Jones Hall provided a dynamic atmosphere to showcase the Jones Onstage and Concert Choir students and a firework show finale. Jones graduates received either, an Associate in Arts degree, Associate in Applied Science degree, a Technical Certificate, or a Career Certificate.
