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Southwest to honor students at 26th Commencement ceremony

By Victoria Brown 

Southwest to honor students at 2024 Commencement ceremony

Southwest Tennessee Community College will celebrate the Class of 2024 on Wednesday, May 8 at the Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi. The program will commence at 7 p.m. 

Dr. Carol Ash, vice president of academic affairs and workforce development, will officiate the ceremonies and President Tracy D. Hall will welcome the graduates and guests. Reginald Coopwood, president and CEO of Regional One Health, will deliver the commencement address. 

This year’s student speaker is Nacaria Royal, a general studies major and the newly elected Student Government Association president. In April, Royal was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Upsilon Delta Chapter and will serve as one of the chapters vice presidents during the 2024-2025 academic year. 

Below are the guidelines for commencement that all graduates and their families should follow. Should you have questions about commencement, contact Dean of Student Affairs, Alma Rutledge, at anhernandez@southwest.tn.edu.

Congratulations, graduates! 

Guidelines for Commencement

Ceremony Etiquette

The Commencement Ceremony is a most dignified event, whose traditions and regalia date from the thirteenth century. All participants are expected to exhibit courteous behavior and to observe the decorum merited by the occasion. Thank you for familiarizing yourself with the following notes on etiquette.

Arrival: We encourage students to arrive at 5:00 p.m.; however, please arrive no later than one hour before the ceremony begins. 

Graduates: You will be assisted by Southwest faculty and staff with lining up on the day of Commencement. Please be cooperative and attentive to ensure you hear all directions.

Due to the layout of the event space, graduates will walk a greater distance than normal, including up and down ramps or stairs. We highly suggest wearing comfortable shoes. 

Center for Access: Graduates and faculty/staff with mobility concerns should contact the Center for Access at (901)-333-4223/5523 or by email at ca@southwest.tn.edu . Sign language interpreters will be provided.

Mortarboard Decorations: We encourage graduates to decorate their mortarboards. However, no obscene, profane, or improper decorations will be allowed. If done, you will be asked to remove your mortarboard.

Leaving: You may not leave until the ceremony concludes. The ceremony will last approximately two hours. It is important that you respect all of your fellow graduates and the importance of the ceremony.

Southwest will provide limited commencement programs. A link to a digital commencement program will be shared via email, after the ceremony. Attendees will receive ONE (1) printed program at the stadium. Graduates will have a printed program in their seats on the field.

The following items are NOT permitted in the Landers Center:

  • Containers, bottles, cans, liquid containers or coolers
  • Food
  • Backpacks
  • Umbrellas, strollers (strollers must be checked in at Guest Services, umbrellas are at the discretion of Landers Center Management)
  • Weapons and fireworks
  • Poles/Sticks of any kind
  • Objects that obstruct another patron’s view
  • Horns, whistles, noisemakers
  • Animals (except service animals for guests with disabilities)
  • Professional Cameras, audio and video recording devices (camera policy subject to change based on event/artist)
  • Anything that creates a nuisance or disruption

The Landers Center has an implemented a clear bag policy. Read more about it here: https://www.landerscenter.com/plan-your-visit/clear-bag-policy

For more information about the upcoming commencement ceremony, click here.