NEMCC to host 76th annual Commencement Exercises May 15-16 at Bonner Arnold Coliseum in Booneville

by Michael H. Miller

BOONEVILLE, Miss. (05/07/2025) — After a one-year hiatus from its traditional location, Northeast Mississippi Community College will return to the Bonner Arnold Coliseum on its Booneville campus to host its seventy-sixth (76th) Annual Commencement Exercises on Thursday, May 15 and Friday, May 16.

Northeast will also hold several additional celebratory events throughout the week to honor its 2025 graduates.

Northeast's 2024 commencement was relocated to the Crossroads Arena in Corinth due to facility renovations, but the college's iconic venue is ready once again to welcome graduates, families, friends, and the community for one of the largest graduation ceremonies in school history.

To accommodate the growing number of graduates and guests, Northeast is expanding from its traditional two-night format to four distinct commencement ceremonies across two days.

To ensure optimal seating and viewing of the candidates, attendees are encouraged to arrive early, with the processional set to begin 10-15 minutes prior to each ceremony.

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY SCHEDULE

Thursday, May 15

2 p.m. - Associate of Arts (Last Names A-L)

National Anthem: Landon Ragin of Booneville, Campus Country Member

Moment of Silence/Prayer: Emma Arthur of Corinth, SGA President

Student Response: Anna Greene of Rienzi, accounting major and former Lady Tiger basketball player

Candidate Presentation: Robbie Rogers Jones, Associate Vice President of Academic Instructional Programs, Division Head, Social, Behavioral & Applied Sciences

6 p.m. - Health Sciences Graduates

National Anthem: Eli Emerson of Glen

Moment of Silence/Prayer: Brianne Locke of Starkville, former Tiger softball player

Student Response: Abby Rutherford of Walnut

Candidate Presentation: Jennifer Coley, Vice President and Division Head of Health Sciences

Friday, May 16

2 p.m. - Associate of Arts (Last Names M-Z)

National Anthem: Emmaline Bennett of Ashland, Campus Country member

Moment of Silence/Prayer: Charles Wyatt Mitchell of Corinth, Mr. NEMCC

Student Response: Bailey Wilbanks of Kossuth, SGA Vice President, PTK President, Miss NEMCC

Candidate Presentation: Ben Shappley, Vice President of Community Outreach/Economic Development/Satellite Campuses

6 p.m. - Career Technical Education (CTE) Graduates

National Anthem: Emmaline Bennett of Ashland (second performance)

Moment of Silence/Prayer: Karleigh Baggett of Ripley, Business Management graduate

Student Response: Morgan Chills of Blue Mountain, Hospitality Management & Culinary Arts graduate

Candidate Presentation: Jason Mattox, Vice President of Career Technical Education/Director of Workforce Training

Each ceremony will begin with the processional set to Elgar's timeless Pomp and Circumstance.

ADDITIONAL CEREMONIES

Thursday, May 8 at 1 p.m. - Health Science Pinning Ceremony

Wednesday, May 14 at 2 p.m. - Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Pinning Ceremony

Monday, May 19 at 6 p.m. - Adult Education (AE) Completion Ceremony

Thursday, May 8's event will be held in Hargett Hall Auditorium while both the May 14 and May 19 ceremonies will be held in the Bonner Arnold Coliseum.

In all ceremonies, students will play key roles, from national anthem presentations, moment of silence/prayer to offering reflections on their Northeast experience.

Northeast Board of Trustees Chairman Vance Witt of New Albany will offer words of welcome at each ceremony, and Northeast President Dr. Ricky G. Ford will deliver remarks celebrating the achievements and futures of the graduating class.Northeast Vice President of Instruction Dr. Michelle Baragona will recognize graduates before Dr. Ford officially confers degrees.

For those unable to attend in person, all commencement ceremonies, with the exception of the pinnings, will be streamed live at NEMCCTV.com to ensure that everyone can be part of the celebration.

A digital program for Northeast's commencement exercise ceremonies will be published at the college's ISSUU site at http://www.issuu.com/nemcctigers prior to the ceremony for those wanting to follow the schedule of events.

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