Graduation on the Hattiesburg campus Friday afternoon was uplifting. Several students I knew personally were graduating (yes, I do still get to interact with students!) and I felt so priviledged to shake their hands and give them their diplomas. Also on Friday afternoon, our own Assistant Professor Ann Marie Kinnell was presented the University Service award for her outreach through American Humanics and the service learning faculty fellows initiative. An alum of our Mass Communications program, Mr. Bill Phalen, served as commencement speaker.
Then this morning at the Colesium in Biloxi, I participated in the Gulf Coast graduation ceremony. The USM Steel Pan orchestra provided "mood" music for the reception afterward, and then I was on my way with our Gulf Coast faculty to our annual faculty appreciation lunch. The weather, the food, the company and the events were all terrific.