14 May Every graduation cap holds a story May 14, 2026 By Camp, Tyler W Career Center, General 0 As commencement season arrives, campuses across the country fill with familiar traditions: caps and gowns, proud families and friends, applause and celebration. Those moments certainly matter, but behind every graduate crossing the stage is something even more meaningful: a story. Some journeys are straightforward. Others are marked by obstacles, setbacks, second chances and perseverance that often go unseen. For 19-year-old Noah Newton of Lee County, this graduation season represents something he once was not sure would ever be possible. Noah was unable to graduate high school through the traditional path. Like many students facing life challenges, the road forward felt uncertain. But through the Bloom Academy at Itawamba Community College, Noah found a new opportunity, a support system and a place where success could look different while still being deeply meaningful. Now, after completing his first year in the program, Noah has earned his High School Equivalency diploma through ICC. For Noah and his family, the accomplishment is more than a credential. It is proof that progress does not always follow the same timeline or pathway for every student. Programs like Bloom Academy are designed to support neurodivergent students by helping them build academic, social and workforce skills while also creating a sense of belonging and independence. For students like Noah, it becomes more than a program. It becomes a bridge to confidence and possibility. And during graduation season, stories like his deserve just as much applause. It is easy to view commencement strictly through the lens of degrees, honors and accolades, but the true spirit of graduation is found in resilience. It is found in the student who worked nights to support a family while attending class during the day. It is found in the parent returning to school after years away from the classroom. It is found in the first-generation college student stepping into unfamiliar territory with determination and hope. And it is found in students like Noah, whose success may not mirror someone else’s journey but is every bit as important. At ICC, graduation season serves as a reminder that achievement is not one-size-fits-all. Milestones look different for different people, and success should never be measured solely by how quickly or traditionally someone reaches a goal. What matters is the courage to keep moving forward. As graduates walk across the stage this spring at all levels of education, the applause will celebrate academic accomplishments, but it will also honor perseverance, growth and the quiet determination that carried each student to this moment. Because every cap in the crowd holds a story. And every story deserves to be celebrated. Related Articles World Day of the Child should be celebrated EVERY day...because they are 'our future' The calendar pages are turning rapidly. Excitement and anticipation fill our days, hours and minutes…and most importantly, the sights and sounds of children, eagerly awaiting Christmas Eve, the most magical time of the year. Children…we must celebrate them every day, because, you see, they are our future. They need love, nurturing and attention, all of which are free. Sometimes it’s good to remember what it’s like to be a child…and seeing the world through their eyes. As the world rushes to prepare for the holidays, specifically Christmas, with making lists and checking them twice, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for us to stop for just a few minutes and reflect on those days when we were eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa…an early bedtime, but little sleep as any sound could have been his reindeer. Christmas and every other day should be the “day of the child” just as the commemoration this week as “World Day of the Child.” There are many ways that we can celebrate with children every day and in ... ICC's nursing students celebrate week, month and graduation When the pages of the calendar turned to May, a special celebration began for nurses across the nation. Every year, from May 6-12, those in the profession are recognized for their service and dedication to caring for others and improving the health of patients through National Nurses Week. But as special as nurses are and most deserving of a celebration, the week is just a small part of the larger National Nurses Month, which will be observed through May 31. “Students who are enrolled in Itawamba Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing program prepare to take the NCLEX-RN and subsequently to become Registered Nurses, who work in collaboration with physicians and other members of a healthcare team,” said Tonya Vaughn, dean of Health Science Instruction. “They fill numerous roles, including but not limited to, disease prevention, coping with illness, patient assessments, health educators and advocacy. However, they don’t stop there. There is also possible case management, quality assurance procedures, directing complex nursing care systems and conducting clinical research. They work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, home healthcare services and nursing care ... ICC Welding/Cutting students celebrate their career path every day Although the nation commemorates April as National Welding Month, students in Kent Lewis’s Welding and Cutting Technology class at Itawamba Community College’s Belden Center celebrate their career path and ultimate profession every day. This year’s theme is “Connected by Welding: Bridging Communities and Industries,” and ICC’s students definitely do. According to Dylan Baldwin, dean of Career Education, ICC’s welding students are an excellent example of the definition of community partners. “They contribute to worthwhile events and charities while sharing their talents as often as possible. Every project provides an opportunity to demonstrate their creativity while honing their skills in their chosen profession.” ICC’s welding students come from different backgrounds and have different career expectations, but they are bound by their love and passion for welding. Among their stories have included “I’m hooked on a hobby that I can have for a lifetime. My grandfather was a welder, and I would have made him proud. I can feel his arms on mine when I stick weld.” Some hope to start their own business, but no matter their story, their chance meeting in ... Pontotoc resident and ICC alum returns to alma mater to share her story with Emerging Scholars Almost five years ago, Pontotoc native and resident Karis Cox Pannell graduated from Itawamba Community College. Today she is a Certified Public Accountant, specializing in tax planning, strategy and consulting for both individuals and businesses. She is a 2017 graduate of South Pontotoc High School, and her journey has included both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mississippi State University, and most recently, recipient of the prestigious Fred T. Neely Gold Medal awarded to the student who has the highest CPA exam score in the state and passes all four sections on the first try. Oh, and by the way, that journey has also included a wedding with husband Landon a year and a half ago. Recently she came “home” to ICC, where she had an opportunity to share her story with area high school honor students during an Emerging Scholars luncheon. “Starting college is a significant step in your life, and it’s an opportunity to shape your future,” she said. “I decided I wanted to major in accounting back in high school, I was always a very logical thinker, ... ICC celebrates Black History Month with Feb. 19 programs Dr. Katerria Grice of Tupelo, athletic academic adviser at Itawamba Community College, will be the featured speaker for a Unity Program in celebration of Black History Month, at 11:30 a.m., Feb. 19, at the Itawamba Community College Tupelo Campus in the Academic and Student Center, and at 6 p.m. in the W.O. Benjamin Fine Arts Center at the Fulton Campus. A native of Waynesboro, Grice earned the associate’s degree from Pearl River Community College, both the bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi and the master’s degree from the University of West Alabama. Grice is also the founder of Women of Excellence, ICC’s newest organization. It is dedicated to the empowerment and upliftment of minority women, equipping them with the tools to carry themselves professionally and prepare for the future. Under her leadership, the organization has grown and continues to expand, focusing on a culture of service, empowerment and community impact. She is an active member of both the Tupelo Women’s Club and King City Church in Tupelo. Grice, and her husband, Jarvey, are the ... Students receive diplomas during 2026 ICC Adult Education graduation ceremony Several area students participated in the 2026 Adult Education graduation ceremony at Itawamba Community College, May 14, at the Davis Event Center on the Fulton Campus. Those who were awarded a high school equivalency diploma (formerly known as GED) from the state of Mississippi include Aberdeen — Salenah Martin, Edgerin McAllister; Amory — Mia Chavis, Anthony King, Camden Perry, Aliya Sandlin, Shelby White; Baldwyn — Matthew Smith; Belden — Jasmine Garmon; Belmont — Lily-Ana Buse; Blue Springs — Jennie Campbell, Aaron Phillips; Calhoun City — Sara Hood; Ecru — Angelia Colegrove; Fulton — Barrett Ables, Dominique Ashby, Emilee Bennett, Raven Ewing, Coty Payne, Kimberly Thomason, KenDerrick Williams; Gattman — Samuel Blanton; Guntown — Cayson Hendrix; Houston — Martha Earnest, Veronica Griffis, Elijah Hallman; Mantachie — Daniel Edwards, Billie Fritz, Landon Garrison, Kayla Hale, Amy Murillo, Karson Smith, Abbigail Witcher; Marietta — Michael McMillen; Mooreville — Terry Anderson, Grace Hubbard, LaCrista Montgomery, Hayden Stewart, Jayden Walls; Nettleton — Brandi Jackson, Chloe Johnson, Bryson Smith; New Albany — Cecily Frazier; Okolona — Garrett Allen, Ryan Allen; Plantersville — Hope Hamrick; Pontotoc — Bailee Aaron, Cameron Bean, Christian Patterson, Addyson Triplett, Angelo Williams; Saltillo — Addison Cosner, Dallas Ellis, Amari Lopez, Jacob Neblett, Noah Newton, Natalie Phillips, Brayden Smith, Natlie Stacks, Marquita Thompson, Stetson Young; Shannon — Caitlyn Williams; Smithville — Haden ... 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