Education
Vicksburg man among many completing degrees at Hinds CC and transitioning to other schools
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Kojo Davis, 51, of Vicksburg, came back to Hinds Community College to take one class to finish his associate degree. He had previously been a student at the Utica Campus, and he sang with the Jubilee Singers under the direction of Dr. Bobby Cooper, now retired.
“This was in honor of Dr. Bobby Cooper. He was my mentor,” said Davis, who teaches at Warren Central Intermediate School and is working on a bachelor’s degree in psychology through an online program at Ashford University in San Diego.
His interest is in musicology – a scholarly study of music – and his goal is to get a doctorate degree and work with underprivileged children.
“Dr. Cooper really inspired a lot of us,” he said.
On Thursday, July 30, Davis was among more than 600 students participating in a drive-thru graduation ceremony over a four-day period.
For Will Eakes of Clinton, Hinds CC was the perfect place to kick off his college career.
“It was great. It was smaller, and I like that because it meant a lot more availability and being able to have teacher-student relationships,” he said. “If I had a problem, I wouldn’t have to go through a million people to get it figured out. Being at a smaller campus with people who seemed to really care about you made things a lot better, in my opinion.”
His next stop is the University of Southern Mississippi as a film major.
Because of social distancing restrictions with the COVID-19 pandemic, Hinds was unable to hold traditional ceremonies inside. The spring and summer ceremonies were combined and turned into a drive-thru event over three days at Eagle Ridge Conference Center in Raymond from July 29 through 31 and a fourth day at the Utica Campus Aug. 1.
Each graduate was greeted by the new college president, Dr. Stephen Vacik, who took office July 1, and was cheered on by members of the Executive Leadership Team, all of whom wore masks.
Tiffany Butler, 27, of Jackson is inspired by her mother, Beverly Young, who is a nurse at Baptist Medical Center. She finished a Hinds degree and plans to return for nursing school.
“After my son’s birth, I came back and I’m graduating. I had a good semester and great teachers,” she said. “My mom is my motivation.”
