University of Mississippi

While Dreanna Leake might be the first in her family to graduate from college, she didn't let fear of the unknown prevent her from gaining the most from her college experience. In fact, her strong academic performance landed her on the Chancellor's Honor Roll multiple times at the University of Mississippi.

Latoria Hicks has worked on multiple film projects during her time at the University of Mississippi as a film production major. Her film production thesis project is a romantic film called "Piece by Piece," focusing on self-acceptance, and is her directorial debut.

Bailey Hooper is on the path to pursue her true passion of mental health counseling through play therapy. During her time at the University of Mississippi at DeSoto Center-Southaven, she studied education, psychology, and communication sciences and disorders through the multidisciplinary studies program, cultivating a diverse skill set.

Kristen Derting's interest in hospitality management began when she took a culinary arts class in high school in her hometown of Salem, Oregon. She found her interest grew as she worked alongside her teacher and mentor in leading events and finding more ways to be involved with the program. Derting was preparing to enroll in culinary school, but that plan evolved when she was offered an athletics scholarship to the University of Mississippi. On her official visit as a recruit for the Ole Miss rifle team, she toured Lenoir Hall, where the hospitality management program is housed, and immediately knew that she would love the program.

The most important part of Calyn Ashe's time at the University of Mississippi involved her senior thesis. For this project, the May B.F.A. graduate wrote, illustrated and produced an original children's book called "Penny's Dream." Based on her experience as a child in a military family and her own dreams throughout the many changes in her life, this project was more than an assignment.

On an airy April day that would tempt even the most bookish students astray, Jonathan Dabel is poised at his desk, wrapping up a Zoom interview and making plans to fly to Seattle to present his research at the University of Washington. For Dabel, the college experience has been a marathon of seeking and seizing opportunities. His internships and research projects have taken him to Jackson, Miami and the bustling corridors of Washington, D.C. As an economics and public policy leadership major, he has invested his college career in exploring ways to address poverty.

When Aaliyah Gates was looking for colleges as a junior at Bruce High School, she knew one thing for certain: She was not going to Ole Miss. Five years later, Gates crossed the graduation stage and received her bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in social work from the University of Mississippi - and she couldn't be happier.

Veronica "Ronnie" Cunitz grew up in Makakilo, Hawaii, where she attended Hawaii Technology Academy, a public charter school, for high school. She succeeded in her early academic endeavors, skipping two grades, but ultimately longed for deeper learning. While she was initially nervous about starting college a couple of years early, she was determined to find a good fit for her ambitions.

Azurrea Curry, a senior secondary English education major at the University of Mississippi, found her decision to teach was as easy as figuring out a preschooler's puzzle. "I love to care about people, my family, my friends," the Gulfport native said. "I love English. And I love to learn. So I knew that the best way to put the three together was education."

Fewer than five years after enrolling at the University of Mississippi, Amyaha Graham is earning her second degree: a master's in accountancy and data analytics. It's just one of Graham's many remarkable accomplishments. She's received two scholarships, graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in accountancy, served as class marshal at the 2023 Patterson School of Accountancy Commencement, was named a Taylor Medalist - the highest academic honor a UM student can receive - maintained a perfect GPA every semester, served as a mentor to other students, held jobs on and off campus and passed the CPA exam.

While Antoin Marshall has always been a singer, it took some time to find his voice - figuratively. "Music wasn't seen as a viable career choice in the early 2000s," said Marshall, who grew up in Africa. "Everyone wanted their children to become a doctor or lawyer or engineer - something that would set them up for life. That's one of the reasons why my parents were happy to push me in that direction. "But I was not having a great time studying pharmacy, and music was calling me."

Madison Hawkins graduated from Northwest Mississippi Community College with her associate degree in December 2021. From there, she decided to go back and pursue a general business degree through the University of Mississippi at DeSoto Center-Southaven.

When Wake Monroe reviewed his 2023 Medical College Admission Test results, his heart skipped a beat. Had there been a mistake? "I had done a lot of practice, but it was still even a little better than I was expecting," said Monroe, who graduated from the University of Mississippi in May with degrees in biochemistry and international studies. He scored a 524, putting him in the elite 100th percentile for the exam.

Violet Jira found a love for writing in high school when she worked as the opinion editor for her school's student newspaper. After changing her major a few times during her freshman year at the University of Mississippi, the Cleveland native found her passion for critical thinking and reporting when she landed on journalism and later added philosophy her junior year.

Emilie Mai has always known that she wanted to be a dentist. When the Brandon native enrolled as a freshman at the University of Mississippi, she chose an allied health major on the pre-dentistry track, but she knew this was not the right fit for her. She looked at all the available majors and settled on chemistry, specifically forensic chemistry.

Lydia Miller always imagined herself playing softball in college. The Harrisburg, Illinois, native was a multisport athlete at Harrisburg High School until a twist of fate changed her path - she tore her ACL, MCL and meniscus.

At a young age, Jacquelyn Stewart-Kuhn developed a passion for language and culture, inspired by her family's eagerness to explore and learn about different cultures. But it wasn't until she visited Egypt in 2018 that she decided to pursue Arabic in college. A native of Mobile, Alabama, Stewart-Kuhn graduated in May from the University of Mississippi with a degree in Arabic and international studies, specializing in the Middle East and social-cultural identity.

When Elizabeth Johns arrived at the University of Mississippi in fall 2020, she knew no one and very little about her surroundings. Still, the native of Orange, Texas, said she felt at home every time she stepped on campus. "I visited Ole Miss a lot when I was in high school for a number of visit days, and every time, someone would go out of their way to make me feel more comfortable and more at home," said Johns, who graduated in May with a degree in communication sciences and disorders.

When Cody Farris first stepped onto the University of Mississippi campus in 2017, it was the same day as the "Great American Eclipse" and he knew that he was in the right place. Farris started as a pre-med student, but years of obstacles led him to his passion for video storytelling. The Brookhaven native graduated with a degree in journalism in May.

Ya Xin Huang and her family arrived in Warrensburg, Missouri, from China in 2012, when she was 11. Huang not only had to learn how to adapt to a new stage of life at an awkward age, but also to a new country, culture and language. "We were eager to create a life where we were not reliant on others, a stark contrast from our previous experiences," said Huang, who graduated in May from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor's in entrepreneurship.

Fred Dunlap III, fondly known as "Huggy Bear," is a total percussionist - he can play a full drum set, the marimba, orchestral percussion and hand drums. He arrived at the University of Mississippi with plans to pursue a master's degree in music performance, but he had no idea that it would take 14 years.

When you give birth to a child, you're a mother. When you beat breast cancer, you're a survivor, and when you go back to school, you're a student. When you do all three while holding a full-time job? Then you're Precious Thompson.

In the 1980s, Daneel Konnar's parents immigrated to the United States from Malaysia, and his father began working for a hotel management company with a property in Jackson. His family moved to Meridian several years later to start their own hotel business. "At a young age, my parents took a chance on the state of Mississippi as immigrants," he said. "That's how it became home." Konnar stayed in his home state to graduate from the University of Mississippi in May with a degree in public policy leadership, as well as minors in political science and higher education.

Samantha Anne Sepe was designated banner bearer for the School of Education at the University of Mississippi. Sepe was among the 19 UM students who were named class marshal or banner bearer for their respective college or school during the 2024 Commencement ceremonies.

From her childhood in foster care and active duty in Afghanistan to the Chancellor's Honor Roll at the University of Mississippi, Regeana Peeler has learned that perseverance earns success.

After more than 18 months of building a business, Alexandra Santiago made the decision to close her popular "Tex-Mex-ississippi" restaurant, Sleepy Cactus, in order to return to school. In December 2023, she announced on Instagram that her breakfast tacos - with their distinctive gold foil wrappers - would be available at Heartbreak Coffee on the Oxford Square. Meanwhile, she would be busy a half-mile away, completing her Bachelor of University Studies at the University of Mississippi. It was a big shift for Santiago, who moved from San Antonio, Texas, to Oxford in 2009 to study early childhood education. But she soon left school to pursue her passion in the kitchens of some of Oxford's most famous restaurants.

As a nontraditional, first-generation student, Sarah Martin understands the value of hard work and sacrifice. Starting at an early age, Martin's determination, perseverance and unwavering commitment to her dreams led her on a journey that arrives at her destination this May as a graduate of the Master of Science in Athletic Training program at the University of Mississippi.

Macey Ross, who excelled at the Arkansas School of Math, Science and the Arts, didn't anticipate attending a Southeastern Conference school, nor did she expect to end her collegiate career heading to the top dental school in the world.

Jacob Marshall has never been one to shy away from a challenge. Even though he entered the University of Mississippi relatively unheralded, the interdisciplinary studies and psychology major, with an emphasis in neuroscience, has since earned a reputation for academic achievement and public service.

Family is everything to Victoria Green, a Canton native, who graduated in May from the University of Mississippi with her Doctor of Pharmacy.