91视频

June 18, 2021

A commencement exercise for graduates of 91视频鈥檚 Cosmetology and Barbering/Stylist programs took place June 17 in the Lyceum Auditorium on the college鈥檚 Golden Triangle campus.

Nineteen students completed the Cosmetology program, while four students graduated from the Barbering/Stylist program.

Speakers for the event included 鈥淥utstanding Cosmetology Student鈥� Curtlyn Blake and 鈥淥utstanding Barbering/Stylist Student鈥� Jessi Sherrill.

Both spoke about the challenges posed by COVID-19.

鈥淏etween CDC guidelines, state regulations, quarantines and sometimes last-minute changes, there were times I鈥檓 sure we all wondered, and I know I did, if we would ever get to this day, let alone make it on time, but we did,鈥� Blake said.

Sherrill congratulated her classmates for putting their 鈥渘oses to the grindstone to finish this class during one of the harshest years of our lives.鈥�

鈥淐OVID-19 put us all to the test,鈥� Sherill said. 鈥淚t turned something as simple as a hug into a luxury and something as mundane as a face-to-face conversation into pure gold.鈥�

EMCC Dean of Instruction for the Golden Triangle campus Dr. Michael Busby praised the students, Cosmetology instructor David Long and Barbering/Stylist instructor Erica Turner for adapting to new teaching and learning methods precipitated by the novel coronavirus.

He advised the students to serve others through their work and encouraged them to be lifelong learners.

鈥淔inally, and probably most importantly, always, always believe in yourself,鈥� Busby said. 鈥淣ever give up. Never quit. Have that confidence. You worked so hard during a difficult year in a program that was already rigorous. What you went through made it even more rigorous, but you did it and achieved at high levels.鈥�

State law requires students enrolled in both the Cosmetology and Barbering/Stylist programs complete 1,500 hours of training prior to sitting for the state exams. Both are nine-month programs and students are in class 40 hours a week. Students earn a certificate upon completion, but also have the option of taking additional classes needed for an associate鈥檚 degree.

After the graduation ceremony, EMCC President Dr. Scott Alsobrooks said the challenges these students overcame because of the novel coronavirus were unlike any faced by earlier graduates.

鈥淐osmetology and Barbering are demanding, hands-on programs that are not easy courses to take under the best of circumstances,鈥� Alsobrooks said. 鈥淏ecause of COVID-19, these students had to adapt to new teaching methods while meeting rigorous guidelines needed to complete their required training hours. It took determination and drive for them to make it to this point today and we are extremely proud of them.鈥�

More information about the Cosmetology and Barbering/Stylist programs is available at under the 鈥淧rograms鈥� and 鈥淐areer Technical Education鈥� tabs.

Graduates of the Barbering/Stylist program are Dana Chamblee of Winona, Leon C. Ellis of Caledonia, Jessi L. Sherrill of Columbus and James Vernon of Caledonia.

Cosmetology program graduates are: Tabitha Atkinson of Philadelphia; Curtlyn Blake of Ackerman; Alex Cross of Bruce; Kenedi Deans of Columbus; Anna Dearman of Ridgeland; Sara Dexter of Cedar Bluff; Shelaina Eckford of Columbus; Chelsey Franklin of Brooksville; Keiondra Gandy of Starkville; Jacey Garrard of Louisville; Mackenzie Hodges of Starkville; Hanna Lawrence of Pelahatchie; Meg Martin of Philadelphia; Savannah McCarter of Columbus; Brittin Owen of Columbus; Erin Ruth of Starkville; Claudia Rybolt of Starkville; X'Zayvia Scott of West Point, Myra Thompson of Starkville