Zac Carlisle

Editor

On Aug. 2, 2014, Mississippi University for Women held the school’s first August graduation.

According to school administrators, the ceremony was a success.

Traditionally, universities such as MUW hold commencement ceremonies at the end of the fall and spring semesters. With the rise in graduates and the continued success of the nursing and speech-language pathology programs, the school decided to hold a third ceremony to accommodate the graduates.

According to President Jim Borsig, the majority of the 130 graduates were from nursing or speech-language pathology.

“They were excited to participate because they just completed the required course work, and they had graduation on their mind,’” said Dana Walker, instructor of nursing.

A major influence in the decision to add another graduation ceremony was being able to have the graduates share their special day with loved ones.

“One of my favorite days is graduation day, and by adding the August commencement, more of our students are able to share this important milestone with their family, friends and our faculty,” said Borsig.

Kaye Bender, president and chief executive officer of the Public Health Accreditation Board, was the commencement keynote speaker. The ceremony was held in Rent Auditorium.

Many MUW students said they feel that having the chance to participate in an August ceremony would put less strain on them to cram their remaining courses into the fall or spring semesters.

“I like the idea. It means more of my family could attend. Not only that, but it would benefit me by not having to load up on classes the last semester. I would have the summer semester to do some of my classes,” said Courtney McNeese, a senior accounting major from Hatley, Miss.

Borsig said that this will continue to be an annual event.