University of Mississippi

It was an unconventional entry into computational chemistry, but Michael Neal took it in stride. When the COVID-19 pandemic upended many graduate student researchers' plans, the University of Mississippi doctoral student agreed to shift his research focus away from the lab - embracing a new world of molecular modeling and simulations.

In high school, music was the one subject Will Nelson truly loved. He was a member of the Northwest Rankin High School band program for six years. Looking to fully focus on his passion for music, Nelson's path to the University of Mississippi was cemented when the university's woodwind quintet came to visit his high school.

As a first-generation college student, Harrison "Graham" Gustafson knew enrolling at the University of Mississippi would be challenging for him. But that did not stop him, and now that he's graduated with a bachelor's degree in social work, he's aiming even higher, at graduate school.

When Dylan Barker arrived as a freshman at the University of Mississippi five years ago, his only priority was to earn his degree. Things were going as planned for the Madison native until a global pandemic interrupted everything.

She knows what a goniometer is, and she knows how to use it. Madison Cotten, a first-generation college student who anticipated attending medical school until she took a class required for a minor in recreational therapy at the University of Mississippi, will get plenty of chances to use one.

No one seems to know when Nya Thompson sleeps. A Stamps scholar, Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program scholar and citizen scholar, the Ridgeland native has certainly maximized her opportunities at the University of Mississippi.

Kellygrace Loko grew up in the West African country of Togo but came to the U.S. at the start of 2020 to fulfill a dream of helping others. The first part of her journey to pursue a career in medicine was fulfilled as she received her diploma at the University of Mississippi's 171st Commencement ceremonies. Loko was honored as this year's class marshal for the Bachelor of Multi-Disciplinary Studies degree program.

Jacob Fennell came to the Southern studies master's program at the University of Mississippi with an interest in literary studies, and during his two years here, he has flourished into a real scholar.

When Susan Walls became a mother her freshman year at the University of Mississippi, she knew the odds were stacked against her. Student mothers face many hurdles to complete their degrees. Walls was also quite familiar with defying the odds: The Houlka native was a first-generation student from a single-parent household in rural Mississippi, and she was attending the state's flagship university.

Neyda Martinez, who received her law degree from the University of Mississippi in May, is the perfect example of a generational pursuit of the American Dream. She was born in California, but her parents, Jose and Maria Solis, moved to Pontotoc County in 2000, when she was 5 years old.

Misa Fujinuma likes distinctive cultures: That is how she came to pursue a master's in higher education at the University of Mississippi, almost 7,000 miles from her hometown in Nagoya, Japan.

Alexandria "Ally" Watrous was sure about being a chemistry major and joining a research group before she even graduated high school. A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Watrous was interested in attending college out of state if she found the right program. Intent on majoring in chemistry, finding a program where she could begin research as a freshman was her top priority. She found just that at the University of Mississippi, where she graduated in May with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and Bachelor of Arts in physics and German, with minors in French and mathematics. She also has received a Goldwater Scholarship, one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious scholarships in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.

Kennie Hicks has always aspired to help people. Finding a career where he could make a difference in people's lives has been a goal since he was young. Hicks earned a bachelor's degree in family science from Mississippi University for Women in 2021, graduating cum laude, but he decided that he wanted to pursue a slightly different career path. He soon settled on the online Master of Public Health program at the University of Mississippi.

Janie Watts didn't originally envision her future at the University of Mississippi. But a visit to see her sister at UM changed everything for the Brandon native. The vibrant community of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and the charm of Oxford won her over.

The integrated marketing communications program at the University of Mississippi has been a perfect fit for Quiana White. The Jackson native is described by her friends and teachers as tenacious, bubbly and a natural leader. But finding the right match required some adjustments. Her initial plan was to study nursing, and she switched to the IMC program in the School of Journalism and New Media after finding it was what she enjoyed more.

Racheal Embry has spent her undergraduate years at the University of Mississippi getting outside her comfort zone. From serving as president of the First-Gen Student Network to conducting research in the Department of Psychology, Embry hasn't shied away from putting herself out there.

Lilly Bray graduated from high school thinking she might be interested in a career in dermatology, but once she arrived at the University of Mississippi, she shifted her focus to civil engineering. It's a change inspired partly by an aunt's suggestion and partly by her own strengths.

As a high school senior, Jhalen Wells faced a tough decision. Would the Clarksdale student accept a football scholarship to Jones Community College or embrace the opportunities of a full academic scholarship to the University of Mississippi? Passionate about entrepreneurship and drawn to service, his ultimate decision was informed by his family's guidance and a drive to achieve big dreams - which he knew he could do at Ole Miss.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.