Jessica Barnhart of Charleston, Mo., will graduate with a bachelor of science in nursing degree with a major in nursing. She has been hired by the prestigious and world-renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where she will begin working in February. Barnart will be assigned to the Clinic's liver and kidney transplant unit. Eventually, she would like to work in the area of pediatric oncology. Barnhart says this is her dream come true. She gives credence to the motto, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." Last summer, she was just short of making a prestigious group of 50 students selected from among 3,000 applicants for summer externships at the Mayo Clinic. She was placed on a waiting list. This fall, she received a call, asking her to apply for a full-time position. "I am so unbelievably happy," she said. "This is one of my dreams to work at the Mayo Clinic." Barnhart is the daughter of James and Karen Barnhart of Charleston, Mo. She can be reached at (573) 332-7143.

Jennifer Mitchell of St. Louis, Mo., will graduate from Southeast with a bachelor of science degree majoring in criminal justice. She was awarded President Bush's Award for Outstanding Community Service in 2002. Her parents are Rich Mitchell of O'Fallon, Mo., and Joan Bretthauer of St. Louis, Mo. Jennifer Mitchell can be reached at (573) 332-5325.

Harlan Gerdes of Cape Girardeau, Mo., will graduate from Southeast with a bachelor of general studies degree and a minor in history. He is the third of three brothers to graduate from Southeast. Henry Gerdes III graduated in 1988 with a bachelor of science degree majoring in mass communication with a concentration in journalism and a minor in psychology. Hugh Gerdes graduated in 1993 with a bachelor of general studies degree. Harlan Gerdes' parents are Henry Gerdes of New Haven, Mo., and Susan Seeman of Festus, Mo. He can be reached at (573) 334-0709.

Jacquelyn Collins of Cape Girardeau, Mo., will graduate from Southeast with a bachelor of science in business administration degree majoring in accounting and minoring in economics. Although she got married and started a family after graduating from high school, she will be the first in her family to earn a college degree. Her husband is also a Southeast student, and plans to graduate in 2004. Collins also holds a national seat on the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) board and was part of a four-person team that recently won first place in the IMA National Video Showcase Competition. Her parents are Joseph Layton Jr. of Charleston, Mo., and Debra Durham of Memphis, Tenn. Jacquelyn Collins can be reached at (573) 334-7702.

Emily Brown of Cape Girardeau, Mo., will graduate from Southeast with a bachelor of science degree majoring in psychology and minoring in sociology and family studies. She is the third generation in her family to graduate from Southeast. Her father, Rodger Brown, earned a bachelor of science in education degree majoring in industrial arts in 1977. Her grandmother, Luta "Joy" Wolpers Brown, first attended Southeast for three semesters in 1944 before postponing her education in order to raise her family. She returned in 1965 and completed her bachelor of science in education degree in 1970 with a major in fine arts and a minor in home economics. Following her graduation, Wolpers Brown continued her education at Southeast by taking graduate level courses in art. Emily's brother, Gregory Brown, also graduated from Southeast with a bachelor of science degree in industrial technology with a concentration in electronics in 1993 and with an associate of applied science degree in computer technology in 1998. Emily Brown's parents are Rodger and Deborah Brown of Cape Girardeau. She can be reached at (573) 334-3945.