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Messia E. Ellis trusted her process and graduated from Auburn University-Montgomery last weekend.

Ellis, a Selma resident, earned a psychology degree in two years and took classes online. She finished with a 3.83 grade point average GPA was 3.83 and graduated summa cum laude. She landed a scholarship to AUM. She was a member of TAU Sigma, an organization for transfer students.

“I was very excited to graduate,” Ellis said. “I took a lot of extra classes. I’m so proud of myself.”

Ellis took a unique route to academic success. She spent two years at Wallace Community College-Selma and took dual enrollment at Judson College. At WCCS, Ellis finished with a 4.23 GPA.

“Going to WCCS helped tremendously,” Ellis said. “I was able to get my basic classes out of the way.”

Ellis said the chance to attend college out of state was tempting but in the end is glad she stayed with AUM.

“I wanted to go to college outside Alabama, but I chose AUM because they gave me a full scholarship,” Ellis said. 

Ellis said she doesn’t regret attending Marion Academy over the other high schools in Dallas County. She graduated in 2022 with a 4.0 GPA, winning Veterans of Foreign Wars in Marion three times. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa.

“I started out in elementary school, but I wanted to do something different for high school,” Ellis said.

Ellis said her next step is to attend graduate school.