By Staff
GETTING READY Kim Shackelford receives help with her cap from her mother, Elizabeth Sorey, Monday before Meridian Community College's graduation ceremonies. Temperatures dipped into the 50s for the ceremony at Ray Stadium on the Meridian High School campus. Photo by Paula Merritt / The Meridian Star
By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
May 13, 2002
James Sulton received his Meridian Community College diploma Monday night at the same place he got his high school diploma two years ago Meridian High School's Ray Stadium.
Sulton and other MCC graduates participated in graduation ceremonies on a night that felt more like fall football weather.
Temperatures dipped into the 50s and a cool breeze blew through the stadium for the 7:30 p.m. program. The graduates didn't seem to mind as they lined up for the ceremony.
Sulton, a drafting and design graduate, plans to attend the University of Southern Mississippi this fall along with friend Ben Lockhart, another MCC drafting and design graduate.
Both will pursue bachelor's degrees in architectural engineering.
Lockhart, of Meridian, works as a drafter at Clearspan Components. He said he felt good about himself as he was moments away from receiving his diploma.
Marco Smith, 21, of Meridian, was lined up before the ceremony along with Lockhart and Sulton. Smith graduated with Sulton from Meridian High School.
Smith works as a sales associate at Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse in Meridian and serves in the U.S. Army Reserve.
State Sen. Videt Carmichael, R-Meridian, spoke to the graduates before they received their diplomas. He advised them to work hard and include God in their lives.