By By Steve Gillespie
The Meridian Star
Twenty-five students earned high academic honors Friday as the class of 2001 walked away with diplomas at Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus.
Nine students graduated Summa Cum Laude: Delana Deese McDonald of Bay Springs, Robbie Kay Lawson of Collinsville, Kristy Pace of Lauderdale, Alexei Konstantin Novozhilov of Meridian, Amanda L. McCarty, Kimberly Ann Nicholson, Andrea L. Robertson and Donna S. Tucker, all of Philadelphia and April Anita Robertson of Stringer.
There were nine Magna Cum Laude graduates: Vanessa Sanders Hollingsworth of Carthage, William Keith Ethridge of Collinsville, Dorothy Davis Allen of DeKalb, Pamela Diane Dement and Sonya Diane Jones, both of Laurel, Joel Andrew Caton, Jennifer Freeman Jackson and Edward C. Randle all of Meridian and Lisa Michelle Gaines of Toomsuba.
Seven graduates received their diplomas Cum Laude: Beth Ann Roberts of Carthage, Natasha Marie Mathis of Decatur, Lisa Seal of Lake, Joy E. Clayton, Kristi Lanterman and Holly Gordon Triplett all of Meridian and Joseph Derek Mosley of Vossburg.
Wade Jones, president of East Mississippi Business Development Corporation, delivered the keynote address. His message focused on the importance of understanding one's self as well as others and valuing our differences.
Graduates:
Spring 2001 graduates, their degrees and hometowns are: Bailey Linda Diane Stegall, B.S., Elementary Education; Bay Springs Delana Deese McDonald, B.S., Elementary Education, Alicia Knight Sumrall, B.S., Elementary Education; Carthage Tiffany Nicole Agent, B.S., Elementary Education, Faith M. Henry, B.S., Interdisciplinary Studies, Vanessa Sanders Hollingsworth, B.S., Elementary Education, Patricia Ann Lewis, B.S., Interdisciplinary Studies, William Brian Risher, B.S., Secondary Education, Social Studies, Beth Ann Roberts, B.S., Interdisciplinary Studies, Leah Strum Winkler, Ed.S., Educational Leadership, Bradley M. Winkler, M.S., Educational Leadership; Chunky Stacy Catherine Baker, B.S., Elementary Education, Kaycie Anita Thomas, B.B.A., Accounting; Collinsville William Keith Ethridge, B.S., Elementary Education, Robbie Kay Lawson, B.S.W., Social Work, James Howard Murphy, B.B.A., Marketing; Conehatta Darlene Isaac Vaughn, B.S., Interdisciplinary Studies; Daleville Beverly Ann Hamrick, B.S., Interdisciplinary Studies; Decatur Chris Kelly, B.S., Manufacturing Technology, Natasha Marie Mathis, B.B.A., Accounting, Leah Miles Walker, B.S., Elementary Education; DeKalb Dorothy Davis Allen, B.B.A., Business Administration; Ellisville Patricia Diane Williams, Ed.S., School Counseling; Forest Vicki Lyles Malone, M.S., Educational Leadership, Shronda R. Patrick, B.S., Interdisciplinary Studies, Christopher Shane Phillips, B.S., Secondary Education, Social Studies; Gulfport Oleg Chichkanov, M.B.A., Business Administration; Lake Lasherish Lakeith Anderson, B.B.A., Management, Marlina Regina Cox, B.S., Secondary Education, Social Studies, Lisa Seale, B.S, Elementary Education, Stephanie B. Thompson, B.B.A., Accounting; Lauderdale Kristy Pace, B.S., Elementary Education; Laurel Pamela Diane Dement, B.S., Elementary Education, Eric Charles Herrington, B.B.A., Accounting, Sonya Diane Jones, B.S., Elementary Education, Natalie Hayes McKinley, B.B.A., Business Administration; Meridian Lori K. Bielefeld, B.S.W., Social Work, Stacie Marie Birdsong, B.B.A., Accounting, Heather Moore Booker, B.S., Elementary Education, Erin Anderson Byers, B.S., Elementary Education, Joel Andrew Caton, B.B.A., Information Systems, Karen Elizabeth Chisolm, M.S., Educational Leadership, Stephen Lamar Clay, B.S.W., Social Work, Joy E. Clayton, B.S.W., Social Work, Gene Coleman, B.S.W., Social Work, Terry W. Cook, Ed.S., Community Counseling, Jonas Crenshaw, Jr., B.S., Secondary Education, Social Studies, Latonya Michelle Davis, B.S., Elementary Education, Wendy Turner Fisher, B.B.A., Accounting,