The chance to further her education in a small, caring environment was the perfect draw for Hannah Cranfield when it came to considering Hinds Community College.

“The reason I chose Hinds was to further my education at a community college that offered great opportunities to learn in a small environment,” said Cranfield, of Vicksburg, a student at the Vicksburg-Warren Campus.

Cranfield is pursuing a career in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) areas of study and plans to complete the Vicksburg Coding Academy, administered by the college and housed at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. She hopes to eventually use her degree in her hometown and work at the federal facility.

Her experience in the community college environment has worked out well for her, with small class sizes and individualized attention. Along the way, she was recognized for her achievement by being named among 28 students given 3E awards for spring 2020. The designation stands for Emphasis on Excellence and Enrichment and the student must carry a 3.5 GPA or higher.

“The faculty, staff, and students are very friendly,” she said. “The instructors always make sure everyone is understanding the material and getting the help they need.”

She’s among the scores of students affected by the closure of all six Hinds locations amid the coronavirus crisis. It has prompted all courses of study to switch exclusively to online instruction for the remainder of the spring semester and for the upcoming summer semester.

“Transitioning to online classes has not been the easiest,” she said. “Online classes take away your ability to interact with other students. But, my instructor, Jim Dismuke, has been the most helpful. He’s always available when we need help.”