Contact: Carl Smith

MERIDIAN, Miss.—Five graduates at Mississippi State University-Meridian are being recognized as outstanding students for the 2023 fall semester. They are among 84 students, including 10 honor graduates, receiving diplomas Thursday [Dec. 7] at 11 a.m. at the MSU Riley Center.

The honorees include:

—Erin Smith of Lawrence, Outstanding Undergraduate Student for the Division of Arts and Sciences and recipient of the Dennis J. Mitchell Award of Excellence. This summer, she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies degree. Smith is currently working toward a master’s degree in teaching at MSU-Meridian.

—Kristen Miley of Pulaski, Outstanding Undergraduate Student for the Division of Business. She is a Summa Cum Laude Bachelor of Business Administration graduate.

—Luke Shin of Hattiesburg, Outstanding Graduate Student for the Division of Business. Shin is a Master of Business Administration graduate who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in marketing in the future.

—Apryl Butler of Meridian, Outstanding Undergraduate Student for the Division of Education. This summer, she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a concentration in middle school education.

—Jeremy Chase of Meridian, Outstanding Graduate Student for the Division of Education. A clinical psychology doctoral student, Chase graduated from MSU-Meridian in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is receiving his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling this semester.

Thursday’s commencement ceremony may be viewed on MSTV, the MSTV app or at mstv.msstate.edu.

To learn more about MSU-Meridian, visit meridian.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.