Royce A. Parrish III, a 2005 graduate of South Effingham High School, graduated cum laude from Jacksonville University on May 2.

He was also commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. Following tradition, as part of the commissioning ceremony, Lt. Parrish chose Master Chief Petty Officer (ret.) Bob Auger to receive his first salute.

Parrish was a NJROTC cadet under Master Chief Auger’s command as naval science instructor at SEHS.

Parrish will attend The Basic School in Quantico, Va., this fall. He has been selected to attend flight school in Pensacola, Fla.

He is the son of Andy and Debora Parrish of Metter and the grandson of Lavern and Christine Deal of Statesboro and Anderson Parrish of Excelsior.