By Anthony Howard & William H. Kelly III
(JACKSON, Miss.) – Jackson State University (JSU) held its Fall 2024 Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement Ceremonies on Friday, Dec. 6, to honor the next wave of certified professionals. Over 600 individuals were presented with their bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees in JSU’s Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center (AAC).
“This is your day, and we are here to celebrate you,” said JSU President Marcus L. Thompson, Ph.D., during his welcome remarks. “I encourage you to enjoy this accomplishment, for this is a tremendous milestone in your life and your career. You have elevated yourself by mastering your area of studies, and now the world awaits your coming.”
The building roared with excitement as the families, friends, and fellow peers of the graduates celebrated this special moment from the crowd. The combination of confetti cannons and unapologetic screams from the audience, mixed with grooves and customized graduation caps, made for a memorable event.
“Graduates, you are a source of pride for this university and a testament to the power of determination,” said Denise Gregory, Ph.D., provost and vice president of Academic Affairs. “As you receive your degrees, know that you carry with you the hopes, dreams and support from your professors, mentors and loved ones who have championed you every step along the way.”
Marquez Arterberry, a proud father, was among the 200 scholars crossing the stage during the Graduate Commencement Ceremony. The Jackson, Mississippi, native earned his master’s degree in professional accountancy and dedicates this accomplishment to his toddler-aged son.
“I definitely want to set a good example, and that’s why I wanted him to be here to see it. This allows me to provide for my family,” said Arterberry, a two-time JSU graduate. “The feeling of pride and accomplishment is definitely worth it, and it’s not just about you. It’s about setting an example for those coming behind you as well. I also want to set an example for us as men and Black men in general.”
Jazmin Adjei, DrPH., earned a doctorate in public health policy and management to propel her passions in the service field. She works for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an epidemiologist and has dedicated over 10 years to public health.
“I always felt like being on the front line was a great way to service, but I knew being on the backend of policy and the one writing legislature would really help implement change,” Adjei shared.
Jackson State is the first HBCU the Miami native has attended, and she attributes the institution’s rich culture and legacy of Black excellence for her decision to attend the university. She says that she chose JSU to embrace that feeling of being “home” that you can’t get anywhere else.
Adjei, 30, is the youngest of six. She dedicates her degree to her mother, who “sacrificed everything” for her, and reminds everyone that “you’re never too young… just to do it.”
Camaya Thornton walked away with her bachelor’s degree in psychology and a new sense of empowerment. Known as the “cupcake girl” by peers, the entrepreneur spent her time at JSU preparing cupcakes and sweet treats for eager buyers–a business that started in high school.
Thornton thanks JSU for exposing her to the power of networking and taking “a leap of faith.”
“Stepping on Jackson State’s campus is something that wakes you up inside. It’s something that calls you out to your calling and to your purpose, and if you answer to it, it opens up so many doors,” shared Thornton. “So I owe Jackson State that. I owe Jackson State that to succeed and to pursue my entrepreneurism.”
The Meridian, Mississippi, native said she plans to explore food trucks and pop-up shops and continue her education to pursue teaching middle school.
“I think this time in my life is for pouring into some younger people…I think [middle school is] an appropriate time for me to teach because they are trying to find their identity, and I’m a huge person on finding who you are. So I want to help them find who they are and thrive in that,” Thornton added.
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