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Date 6-5-06
Contact Tammy Stafford 228.688.7663
WITH PHOTO
HANCOCK
COUNTY—Ten years ago, Janice Hansen began working
for the University of Southern Mississippi as a fiscal systems analyst
with the Mississippi Enterprise for Technology at the John C. Stennis
Space Center.
At that time,
Hansen’s colleagues invited her to begin taking classes in accounting
at Southern Miss. She agreed and enrolled in two or three classes
each semester but quickly realized her school load, coupled with
working full time and raising two teenage children, was not feasible.
Instead of leaving her studies behind, this nontraditional student
remained committed to earning a degree and completed one class each
semester.
Fast-forward
to May 12, 2006, when Hansen walked across the stage at Reed Green
Coliseum in Hattiesburg to accept her Bachelor of Science degree.
All of Hansen’s work colleagues as well as her family and friends
were in the audience to applaud her outstanding accomplishment.
Accounting professor
Charles Jordan said, "Janice showed a great deal of dedication
and perseverance in completing a difficult major like accounting.
With her positive attitude and ‘can do’ spirit, she was a pleasure
to teach," said Dr. Jordan.
Professor Robert
Rambo said Janice may have been a nontraditional student, but she
embodies the traditional character of the people living on the Mississippi
Gulf Coast.
“She had to
work hard to complete her studies, and setbacks along the way just
made her more determined to work even harder. We all lost some things
from Katrina, but Janice never lost her focus on her priorities.
At times this past year I wasn't exactly sure who was the teacher
and who was the student,” said Rambo.
It’s no doubt
that she felt that way since, with only two classes remaining, Hansen
lost her home and all her possessions when Hurricane Katrina roared
ashore nine months ago. Although her property, only a few blocks
from the beach in Waveland, was wiped cleaned, she remained enrolled
at Southern Miss. Hansen believes that the last few months have
been like a dream and tears up when she talks about earning her
diploma following 10 years of hard work and dedication. “I never
believed graduation day would come,” noted Hansen.
Shortly after
Katrina she was contacted by volunteers from the German Baptist
Brethren. If she was willing and could pay for the supplies, they
wanted to donate months of labor to rebuild her home on the cleared
lot. Only a few weeks before graduation, Hansen received the keys
to her home from her newfound Christian friends. Hansen concludes,
“What more could I ask for? I have an amazing house, a college degree
after years in the making, and a lifetime of memories. Truly I have
been blessed.”
Click to enlarge
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