MSU-Meridian’s Truhitt follows unwavering path to graduation

The Meridian Star invited some community leaders to write about their top three priorities for 2018. This column is from Terry Dale Cruse, administrative director and head of campus of Mississippi State University-Meridian. The completion of each year provides a time to focus on the accomplishments of the past and opportunities for the future. It has been a great year for MSU-Meridian, and I am thankful for the work of our faculty, staff and students. Their dedication helped us reach new heights. As we loo — Kinesiology major, Amber Truhitt of Union, takes a break in the Mississippi Power Anatomy Lab in the Rosenbaum Building on MSU-Meridian’s Riley Campus.

MERIDIAN, Miss.— Amber Truhitt credits her eighth grade career discovery class for igniting her passion to become an occupational therapist.

As the 21-year-old kinesiology major from Union walks across the stage at Mississippi State University-Meridian’s fall commencement Thursday [Dec. 7] on the College Park Campus, she will be one step closer to achieving her goal.

Not once since that dream began in middle school did Truhitt waver from the path she set for herself. After high school, she attended Meridian Community College before transferring to MSU-Meridian, where she said the rigorous university coursework, along with a semester-long internship, helped her combine what she learned in the classroom with real-world application.

“The therapists I worked alongside at Anderson Regional Health System were so knowledgeable and compassionate,” said Truhitt. “Seeing the patients when they were at their most vulnerable, when they not only needed our help but wanted it – and helping them overcome whatever injury or illness that kept them from doing the things most important to them – was immensely gratifying,” she added.

In addition to being a university Riley Scholar, Truitt is the only MSU-Meridian student that will be recognized during the Thursday ceremony as a Stephen D. Lee Scholar, an honor bestowed on Mississippi State graduates who earn a 4.0 grade-point average throughout their college career.

After the holidays, she will begin the final stage in her journey to become an occupational therapist. Accepted into the occupational therapy program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Truhitt is scheduled to start her graduate studies in January.

“Even though I chose to stay close to home for my undergraduate studies, I am excited about living in Memphis and moving another step closer to achieving my dream,” she said.

For more on MSU-Meridian, visit www.meridian.msstate.edu.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.

MSU-Meridian’s Truhitt follows unwavering path to graduation

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