Lawson State Honors Fall 2024 Graduates
Trust and believe. Those were two of the most powerful and frequently repeated words shared by Lawson State Community College graduates at Friday's fall commencement ceremony.
"Trust the timing of your life," culinary arts graduate Cecelia Curry Wade, a retired U.S. Army master sergeant, told her classmates. She started college in the mid-1980s after high school. Financial hardship caused her to put her education on hold as she began a military career that would span the next 38 years.
After retiring in 2022, she returned to finish what she started.
"My college experience came at a wonderful time in my life, and I proudly take the memories with me as I begin my next chapter," said Cecelia (left), who was selected for the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and named 2024 Culinary Student of the Year.
"As a non-traditional student who eventually completed and earned her college degree, I hope that I stand as an example for others – young or gracefully aged - who might think this isn't a goal worth achieving," said Cecelia, who graduated alongside her nephew. "Never give up, never stop learning, and always seek success in all that you do."
WATCH: Fall 2024 Commencement on YouTube
READ: Fall 2024 Commencement Program
A Milestone Celebration
Lawson State awarded more than 160 degrees and certificates during the fall graduation ceremony. The event was especially meaningful as the college celebrated its 75th anniversary this year, giving graduates another reason to be proud, said Dr. Cynthia T. Anthony, president of Lawson State.
"We are celebrating 75 years of excellence, and just like the college has reached a significant milestone, so have you," she told the graduates while acknowledging the "village" that helped them achieve their goals. "We celebrate you today and give thanks to everyone who supported you, too. It takes all of us to make success happen. Working together we can achieve the unimaginable."
For aspiring meteorologist Justin Grant, the dedication of faculty made a difference during his time at Lawson State. "I was privileged to have some of the most patient instructors on Lawson's campus. They pushed me and molded me into the person I am today," he said. He particularly praised math instructor Naila Jarasyi, who "provided every avenue for her students to succeed in her class and beyond."
Under her guidance, Justin and other math team members put their skills to work in the community. For three years, they tutored students at Oxmoor Valley Elementary every Friday morning. "We found that our efforts were not only improving their confidence in math but contributing to improvements on state exams," said Justin, who is continuing his studies at the University of South Alabama.
"All in all, my journey at the college was not without error, but I could really tell that Lawson State truly cares for the wellbeing of students," he said. "And Lawson makes it their mission to have every student walk across the stage on graduation day. That's my experience and I shall cherish it for the rest of my days."
