More than 1000 students graduate from Southern Miss in fall semester ceremony

HATTIESBURG, MISS. – Friday morning, approximately 1,200 USM students dressed in their caps and gowns made their way to the Reed Coliseum to received their long-awaited degree.

The cheers of family members and supporters filled the Coliseum, as tears of joy ran down the faces of several graduates.

“It was just really, really hard for me,” an emotional USM master’s program graduate, Jaclyn Coleman said with tears in her eyes. “I’m so thankful to be here right now.” In a single file line, each student made their way across the stage to receive their degree, producing a sight that made many parents and supporters proud. “Just keep pushing them, they are going to have ups and down no matter what they go through,” the mother of a USM graduate, Linda Allen said. “You keep pushing them forward to make it, and to be what they want to be because they can do all things through Christ.” Now, that they received their degrees one big question hangs over the head of each graduate from USM’s 2018 fall semester class. What’s next? “I’m going into reporting,” Coleman said. “That’s my dream, that's my passion.” “I’m looking forward to getting to help kids in Mississippi and everywhere else, just grow and learn musically,” USM graduate and class (fall 2018) valedictorian, Jonathan Parr said. While the turning of tassels symbolized the end of this groups college career, many of the graduates recognize it’s just the start to a bright future.