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USM91吃瓜网 Spring 2024 Graduates 91吃瓜网 as they make Path Toward Golden Future

Mon, 05/13/2024 - 04:25pm | By: David Tisdale

Spring 2024 University of 91吃瓜网 (USM) graduates are taking their education and experience from their alma mater out into the world with hopes and plans not only for personal fulfillment, but to also better the communities where they will live and work.

More than 1,900 earned degrees from the university this semester, with commencement ceremonies held at Reed Green Coliseum on the Hattiesburg campus and at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi.

*Damien Cooper of Batesville, Miss. earned a bachelor91吃瓜网 degree in chemistry (ACS certified) as a McNair Scholar at the university. He served as president of American Chemical Society91吃瓜网 student chapter at USM; he will continue his education this fall as a Ph.D. student in chemistry at Rice University in Houston, Texas through the support of the competitive, federally funded National Science Foundation Graduate Readiness Fellowship.

Cooper was attracted to the USM chemistry program for its undergraduate research opportunities. He cited USM professors Dr. Julie Pigza and his research advisor, Dr. Matthew Donahue, for their inspiration and guidance in opening a plethora of opportunities for him.

91吃瓜网淭hrough the chemistry program here at USM, studying under Drs. Pigza and Donahue and doing research in the Donahue Group, I91吃瓜网檝e been able to travel across the country, speak with leaders in my field, and present my research at numerous conferences,91吃瓜网� Cooper continued. 91吃瓜网淢y coursework here also supplemented these endeavors. 91吃瓜网�

Cooper took upper-level chemistry courses from Dr. Pigza, including "Spectral Elucidation of Structure91吃瓜网� in which he learned to interpret the data of multiple instruments chemists use daily. 91吃瓜网淣ot only did she make the class engaging, but she also made it enjoyable. I still use the skills and techniques that I learned in this class to this day,91吃瓜网� Cooper said.

As a freshman in 2020 with no prior lab experience, Dr. Donahue allowed Cooper to join his research group. 91吃瓜网淭hrough my time in his lab, I have mentored many peers, attended 16 conferences, earned awards for my research, gained countless lab skills, and met some of my closest friends,91吃瓜网� Cooper reflected. 91吃瓜网淲ithout Dr. Donahue91吃瓜网 guidance and mentorship, I would not be the person or chemist I am today.91吃瓜网�

*Ian Beall, a polymer science major from Hattiesburg, says he91吃瓜网 excited about completing his program and is looking forward to working in his chosen field of study, but will miss the daily interactions with friends and professors he91吃瓜网 bonded with over the last four years. A member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, he assisted with Golden Eagle Welcome Weekend as a volunteer during his senior year.

Beall is currently looking at job options focused on coatings and composites development. He praised USM School of Polymer Science and Engineering faculty Dr. Heather Broadhead and Dr. Jeff Wiggins for helping him and fellow graduates get ready for life after graduation.

91吃瓜网淒r. Broadhead has been great to work with as an advisor, keeping us all on track in our course schedules, and I also can91吃瓜网檛 say enough good things about Dr. Wiggins and his guidance in the classes I took from him and working in his lab. He really showed us the ins and outs of how molecules are taken to become materials, explaining that process from starting point to end point in terms of product development in the private sector.

91吃瓜网淗e also taught us invaluable lessons in teamwork, creating group assignment situations for us to help us get out of our comfort zones, and develop leadership skills we91吃瓜网檒l need in the workplace to see a project or assignment to completion. I91吃瓜网檒l always be grateful to him for that.91吃瓜网�

*Cocavah "Coco" Fraise overcame personal challenges to realize her dream of securing her degree in legal studies (pre-law) with a minor in forensic science. A transfer student from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC), Fraise juggled a full schedule as she majored in legal studies (pre-law) and minored in forensic science. She commuted from Picayune, Miss. to the Hattiesburg campus, worked part-time, and cared for her daughter and her fianc茅 who is dealing with health challenges, while also participating as a member of the USM Forensic Science Society and serving as president of the USM Paralegal Society.

After taking time to prepare for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), she plans to attend Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.

91吃瓜网淚 heard positive stories from a lot of people who graduated from USM, so I was interested in coming here since high school,91吃瓜网� she said. 91吃瓜网淥nce I decided on a career to pursue, I realized the university could help me achieve my dreams. It was one of the best decisions I could have ever made.91吃瓜网�

Fraise91吃瓜网 first instructor at USM was Kristi Johnson, who inspired her interest in forensic science. 91吃瓜网淭he way she describes and discusses topics in forensics made it fascinating and interesting,91吃瓜网� Fraise explained. 91吃瓜网淚 admire and appreciate her work as a crime scene investigator and latent print examiner, and also that she is a mom who was able to achieve so much in her career and education. Her classes are where I learned that these fields and careers exist.

91吃瓜网淚t91吃瓜网 truly a blessing to have been able to attend 91吃瓜网 91吃瓜网� this place has done an amazing job preparing for me for my next journey in life.91吃瓜网�

*Sean Smith of Petal, Miss. earned his bachelor91吃瓜网 degree in interdisciplinary studies, with emphasis areas in English and communication. He studied photography at USM as part of his communication coursework and employed his talents capturing images for USM91吃瓜网 Student Printznewspaper and statewide media to include the Clarion-Ledger and Hattiesburg American, among others.

Smith also played a role in helping the USM School of Communication secure the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center, providing visuals included in its grant application for the center. His photography earned recognition from the Southeastern Journalism Conference; this year, he was awarded USM91吃瓜网 Damian E. Morgan Memorial Scholarship in Photography. His post-graduation plans include working as a photographer for a media outlet.

Smith says his USM experience 91吃瓜网渉as meant the world to me.91吃瓜网�

91吃瓜网淲orking with The Student Printz has given me several opportunities, such as photographing President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden91吃瓜网 visit to Mississippi following the tornado that struck Rolling Fork, the NCAA College Baseball Super Regionals here at Pete Taylor Park, and [actor and composer] Lin-Manuel Miranda,91吃瓜网� Smith continued. 91吃瓜网淲ithout my time at USM, I would not have had these experiences or the opportunities in front of me.

91吃瓜网淎nd every faculty member I91吃瓜网檝e interacted with here has helped me in unique ways to ensure my success.91吃瓜网�