OXFORD — The University of Mississippi celebrated more than 5,400 candidates for graduation in the Class of 2020 during a live, virtual celebration last week.

“While we aren’t able to gather in the Grove and at other beautiful venues on our campus right now for traditional pomp and circumstance, we could not let our originally scheduled Commencement day pass without recognizing the incredible achievements, character and spirit of this class of graduates,” Chancellor Glenn F. Boyce said.

University leaders continue to evaluate plans to hold an in-person Commencement ceremony at a later date.

“The university remains committed to doing all it can to honor our graduates in person when it is safe for us to come together as a university community,” Boyce said.

As part of the virtual celebration, students — including December 2019 graduates, and May and August 2020 candidates for graduation — received an official cap and tassel from the university, along with other celebratory items.

 

Local residents receiving degrees were:

• Naomi Celeste Short, of Vicksburg, Master of Music degree. Short is a Music major in the Graduate School.
• Meredith Nicole Hull, of Vicksburg, a Bachelor of Science degree. Hull is an Integrated Marketing Communications major in the School of Journalism and New Media.
• Jacob Brennen Coomes, of Vicksburg, a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Coomes is a Pharm D in Pharm Prct Track major in the School of Pharmacy.
• Priya Chetan Sanipara, of Vicksburg, a Bachelor of Science degree. Sanipara is a Biological Science major in the College of Liberal Arts.
• Jon Colton Miller, of Vicksburg, a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree. Miller is a Criminal Justice major in the School of Applied Sciences.
• Grace Caroline Burnett, of Port Gibson, a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science degree. Burnett is an Exercise Science major in the School of Applied Sciences.
• John Austin Jones, of Vicksburg, a Master of Business Administration degree. Jones is a Business Administration major in the Graduate School.
• Jaquann Kendrick King, of Port Gibson, a Bachelor of Science degree. King is an Integrated Marketing Communications major in the School of Journalism and New Media.
• William Briggs Hopson IV, of Vicksburg, a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Hopson IV is a Banking and Finance major in the School of Business Administration.
• Brooks Andrew Boolos, of Vicksburg, a Bachelor of Accountancy degree. Boolos is an Accountancy major in the Patterson School of Accountancy.
• Shelby Lynn Bottin, of Vicksburg, a B.S. in Civil Engineering degree. Bottin is a Civil Engineering major in the School of Engineering.
• Carrollton Connor Smith, of Vicksburg, a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Smith is a Marketing major in the School of Business Administration.
• Everett Scott Verhine, of Vicksburg, a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Verhine is a General Business major in the School of Business Administration.
• Joshua McNair Brown, of Vicksburg, a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Brown is a Banking and Finance major in the School of Business Administration.
• Addison Claire Mathis, of Vicksburg, MS, a Bachelor of Science degree. Mathis is an Integrated Marketing Communications major in the School of Journalism and New Media.
• Kayla Dianne Schroeder, of Vicksburg, a Master of Education degree. Schroeder is a Curriculum and Instruction major in the Graduate School.
• Kaitlin Elyse Collins, of Vicksburg, a Bachelor of Arts degree. Collins is a Psychology major in the College of Liberal Arts.
• David Dixon Stone, of Vicksburg, a Master of Accountancy degree. Stone is an Accountancy major in the Graduate School.
• Christina Jasmine Epps, of Port Gibson, a B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences degree. Epps is a Pharmaceutical Sciences major in the School of Pharmacy.
• Paul Williamson Pierce, of Vicksburg, a Bachelor of Arts degree. Pierce is a Biological Science major in the College of Liberal Arts.