Last week marked the beginning of graduation season — a time to recognize students for their hard work and dedication.

Before we move our tassels to the left side, let’s remember some of the highlights from last week.

• Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Natchez campus graduated 139 students Friday, and Alcorn State University graduated 647 students Saturday. The commencement ceremonies marked the closing of one door, but the opening of another for the students. We congratulate them on their success and wish them the best moving forward.
• Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne paid a visit to Frogmore Plantation as part of a tour for National Travel and Tourism Week. Dardenne touted statistics about tourism, saying that Louisiana saw its highest rate of tourism ever in 2012, taking in $10.7 billion. We all know how important tourism is for the Miss-Lou, but it’s good to see officials helping to promote tourism more.
• Make sure you’ve brushed, flossed and rinsed if you ever meet Raven Proby, a Cathedral senior hoping to turn her fascination with teeth into a career in dentistry. Proby was awarded a $1,000 scholarship, which she’ll use to pay for her books at college next year. Congratulations and keep on smiling.

Summer is right around the corner, so let’s welcome the week ahead, which is forecasted to be mostly sunny and clear with a preview of the heat coming our way in the coming months.