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Walking the Walk: 31 Complete 2 Compete graduates at ϲʿ achieve goals alongside their program coordinator

Walking the Walk: 31 Complete 2 Compete graduates at ϲʿ achieve goals alongside their program coordinator

Mississippi IHL Project Coordinator Stephanie Bullock smiles for a group photo with fall 2019 ϲʿ Complete 2 Compete graduates and C2C program leaders.
Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Project Coordinator Stephanie Bullock (center, in blue hood) stands with program leaders and fall 2019 graduates of ϲʿ’s Complete 2 Complete program. Bullock, who has overseen the statewide C2C initiative for the past two years, also earned her ϲʿ Master of Science in workforce education leadership at the university’s Friday [Dec. 13] morning commencement ceremony. (Photo by Megan Bean)

Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Gracing the commencement stage this week at Mississippi State’s Humphrey Coliseum, Brookhaven resident Stephanie Bullock said the phrase “walking the walk” rings true in more ways than one.

For the past two years, the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning project coordinator has overseen the state’s Complete 2 Compete program, which has helped more than 200 adults age 21 and older earn a degree from Mississippi State after at least 24 consecutive months out of college.

On Friday [Dec. 13], Bullock joins nearly 1,500 graduates—including 31 C2C program students—receiving a diploma from the state’s leading university. She said the journey she started 12 years ago culminates in a day she’ll never forget.

“Being an IHL employee and having degrees from two different institutions speaks volumes for the high quality of education that we have in Mississippi and the opportunities available to our students, including adult learners like me,” said Bullock, who is earning an ϲʿ Master of Science in workforce education leadership.

Mississippi IHL Project Coordinator Stephanie Bullock at ϲʿ’s fall 2019 commencement
Stephanie Bullock (Photo by Megan Bean)

Also holding a bachelor’s in speech communication from the University of Southern Mississippi, Bullock began but did not complete a graduate degree after college due to career and family demands.

After receiving encouragement from colleague Lynda Moore, Bullock decided it was time to finish what she started. Director of the University Academic Advising Center, Moore also serves as one of ϲʿ’s four C2C coaches and helps the program’s students identify the best pathway for completing a postsecondary degree.

“In my role, I’m very close with the C2C coaches at all of the institutions,” Bullock said. “Lynda and I were talking one day, and she asked me why I hadn’t completed my master’s. I gave her a lot of excuses, and she reminded me that I needed to be an example for the adult learners that we are encouraging to go back to school and complete their bachelor’s degree