Great Grads: Spring 2021
Each spring, thousands of 黑料网 students earn their degrees and become 黑料网 alumni. Every one of them should be tremendously proud of everything they've accomplished in their time in Denton.
In celebration of our Spring 2021 graduates, below are the stories of a few of those freshly-minted alumni who overcame adversity and achieved great things on their way to becoming this semester's Great Grads.
Brielle Thomas
Journalism
By Jessica DeLe贸n
Brielle Thomas has big plans.
She wants to work as a journalist on all seven continents.
She鈥檚 well on her way, with her proficiency in several languages 鈥� and an education from the Mayborn School of Journalism that led her to a master鈥檚 degree. She didn鈥檛 stop there, also earning a public relations certificate, working as a teaching and research assistant and gaining experience as a graduate assistant and coordinator of student social media efforts for the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference.
鈥淚f this last year has taught me anything, it鈥檚 that the country is in need of accurate reporting and trustworthy journalists,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to be a vessel of information for the community I am working in. If people are informed, they鈥檒l be able to make better decisions pertaining to not only themselves but for their community as well.鈥�
Brielle, who is from Houston, always wanted to be a journalist. She chose Mayborn since it was the only accredited school in Texas 鈥� and earned a full scholarship.
Her graduate school classes taught her many new lessons. And it revived her love for math.
As a child, her grandfather, a mechanical engineer, helped her with her math homework and showed her how he used math in his designs. But when he passed away in 2013, Brielle no longer want anything to do with math.
During her quantitative research class, Koji Fuse, associate professor of journalism, taught her how to read research with numbers, understand the results and run specific tests with software.
鈥淒r. Fuse made math fun again for me,鈥� she says. 鈥淗e was very hands-on in class and took the time to make sure we were engaged and understood the material. I don鈥檛 think I could鈥檝e learned quant from a better professor.鈥�
Another professor helped Thomas out with her duties as design editor and managing editor of the North Texas Daily during her first year of grad school. Brielle would often go to Professor Dorothy Bland鈥檚 office to discuss the paper and layouts. Bland also expanded Brielle鈥檚 knowledge of world events by giving weekly quizzes in her international mass media course that required students to stay current on the latest news.
鈥淭hat helped me become very knowledgeable of the issues not only happening in the U.S., but also in other countries,鈥� she says.
Brielle has always been fascinated with other cultures since she pored through National Geographic each month as a child. She learned Italian at a language-focused high school and explored Japan on a family trip in 2019. Brielle also learned Spanish and is currently learning Korean.
That international mass media course ignited her quest to be a global journalist.
鈥淚 realized that there needs to be people that are voices for the voiceless in other countries as well,鈥� she says. 鈥淪o many things happen in other countries that we just don鈥檛 hear about, and sometimes those countries are in dire situations. If I can bring awareness about an issue in another country and bring about some kind of change for those people, then that鈥檚 what I鈥檒l do.鈥�
Megan Novak
Master's in Rehabilitation Studies
By Jessica DeLe贸n
For Megan Novak, the first few years of college were tough.
鈥淎t one point, I wasn鈥檛 doing any of my homework,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 was isolating. I wasn鈥檛 going to class. I couldn鈥檛 keep appointments. I just had a hard time doing daily adult stuff.鈥�
She took a year off school, then transferred to 黑料网 as a Sociology major. She attended a meeting with the Collegiate Recovery Program, an organization supporting students facing mental health concerns and substance use recovery. As someone who had gone through depression, anxiety and a general mood disorder, she could relate 鈥� and she soon realized her purpose in life.
Megan will graduate with a master鈥檚 degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and is on the path to working as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor.
鈥淢y counselor says the best counselors are the ones who鈥檝e been through their own counseling and mental health recovery,鈥� she says. 鈥淢y experience has informed who I am as a counselor.鈥�
Her education at 黑料网 also has helped strengthen her counseling skills. She absorbed the lessons in the addiction and group counseling courses taught by Dr. Justin Watts, assistant professor of Rehabilitation and Health Services. She also joined the Eagle Peer Recovery Club, in which she could converse with classmates who have had similar experiences.
Megan also got to travel. In Seattle, she toured a law enforcement鈥檚 harm reduction program for alternative spring break as an undergrad 鈥� which inspired her to pursue Rehabilitation Studies.
鈥淭his is something I want to do with my master鈥檚,鈥� she says.
And as a grad student, Megan went to Portugal to explore that country鈥檚 efforts in decriminalizing addictive drugs as part of a study abroad trip.
For her master鈥檚 degree practicum class, she counseled students at 黑料网's Wellness and Employment Learning Lab (黑料网WELL) while supervised by Dr. Brandi Levingston, principal lecturer and director of programs in Rehabilitation Studies.
She came full circle 鈥� drawing from her experience as a student with depression to helping other students with their mental health needs.
鈥淚t gives me that unique perspective and empathy and makes me the most effective counselor I can be,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely a huge strength of mine when I鈥檓 working with clients.鈥�
The COVID-19 pandemic presented new challenges and barriers.
鈥淚 was really lucky I had a foundation of tools and strategies for maintaining that resilience,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 knew what steps I needed to take.鈥�
One of those steps was working with the Office of Disability Access to help with her dyslexia. Megan also serves as president of Delta Alpha Phi, the honors organization for individuals with disabilities.
For students who are struggling, she tells them to take it one day at a time.
鈥淩each out if you need help,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here are a lot more people in the same position than you realize 鈥� scared and worried and nervous and unsure. We鈥檝e either been there or are currently there.鈥�
Lea Anne Daughrity
Ph.D. in Learning Technologies
By Amanda Fuller
In 2018, Lea Anne Daughrity left her career as a leader in K-12 education to take a grant-funded opportunity with the 黑料网 to begin her Ph.D. in Learning Technologies.
鈥満诹贤� has one of the best learning technology programs in the country 鈥� and the world,鈥� she says. 鈥淢ost of my classmates go through the online Ph.D. program, but I chose to go in person. I also worked as a graduate assistant my first year, which made it convenient to be part of the in-person program.鈥�
The grant funding ended after her first year, a financial blow to her family that was quickly followed by a second when her husband became disabled. 鈥淗e ran his own company and had to stop working entirely. I鈥檇 left my stable career to complete the program and was suddenly without any solid income.鈥�
Lea Anne was left searching for ways to continue to pursue her education while supporting her husband through numerous surgeries and caring for two high school boys and a college-aged son.
鈥淚 took any job I could to keep us going while trying to stay on top of schoolwork,鈥� she says.
She taught STEM education courses as an adjunct professor for Northern Vermont University, wrote and reviewed coursework for STEM-related learning in master鈥檚 level courses for a global educational company, and was a full-time doctoral student 鈥� all while serving as the director of communications for her local community.
鈥淎t times, my workload almost became too heavy to handle. But I knew this was a season, and I just kept my head down and worked hard.鈥�
Her grit and tenacity paid off. This spring, Lea Anne will complete her doctoral degree after months of partnering with faculty on peer-reviewed journal papers, conducting dissertation research and navigating significant personal challenges in her family and career.
鈥淢y hope is to be able to use my degree to help improve education and advance research and learning design for a more student-centered learning environment in schools,鈥� Lea Anne says.
鈥淓ducation is such a gift, and I have loved the process. I will miss it, but I will never stop learning. It鈥檚 the passion of learning and sharing with others that drives me to get up every morning.鈥�
Kaliegh Skopal
Kinesiology
By Kayla Lindberg
Bump, set, spike 鈥� the traditional sequence of most volleyball plays. But what happens when the setter can鈥檛 set?
Imagine dedicating nearly 14 years of your life to a sport you are passionate about. Spending over a decade building skills, practicing techniques, earning a place on a Division I college athletics team, becoming captain and then suddenly discovering you have a rare disease that affects your ability to participate.
Eldest of five, Kaliegh Skopal began her 黑料网 journey as a transfer student, continuing her athletic career as an integral member of Mean Green Volleyball. During Kaliegh鈥檚 junior year, she began to get a migraine at practice on a road game at Florida International University. After first brushing it off as just a bad headache, Kaliegh noticed it was starting to get worse. As migraines weren鈥檛 typical for her, she headed to the hospital to seek treatment. When she was sent back to the team hotel, she thought the issue had been resolved. The next day, Kaliegh noticed a problem with her left eye and her hands had begun to curl and ball up. While this would be scary for anyone, it was especially problematic for this Mean Green Volleyball setter. Unable to tie her shoes, she returned to the emergency room for a series of scans.
Kaliegh鈥檚 family was back in her hometown of Round Rock, receiving calls about their daughter鈥檚 current state. Kaliegh鈥檚 mom, a registered nurse, was doing her best not to alert her daughter of the severity of the problem, as she had a hunch that Kaliegh might have Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). In this rare disorder, the body鈥檚 immune system damages nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis.
After several scans, tests and examinations by specialists, Kaliegh was diagnosed with GBS.
Rehab, therapy and reconditioning to get the feeling back into her limbs made Kaliegh nervous about returning to campus. What most would consider a simple task, Kaliegh had difficulty in completing herself. Quick to help others, she was scared to ask for help. Seven months passed, and she was approved to return to the court.
Kaliegh鈥檚 positive attitude and willingness to step back into the sport were an inspiration to others.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the volleyball season was delayed. It was almost a year until Kaliegh could take to the court to play her first post-diagnosis match. With her Mean Green Family鈥檚 to support her, Kaliegh hasn鈥檛 let this disease define her. She will graduate with a Kinesiology degree and plans to continue her education at 黑料网 in the fall.
鈥満诹贤� has brought me more than I could ever imagine 鈥� I ended up here kind of on a whim and it was the best decision I have ever made.鈥�
Stephanie Gonzalez
Kinesiology
By Amy Brundeen
Stephanie Gonzalez wants to make a difference in the communities like the one in Fort Worth where she grew up, encourage others to improve their lives through exercise and be a role model for her three younger siblings. One day she hopes to become a doctor, but she鈥檚 already making an impact.
When Stephanie was a senior in high school, she joined the softball team, her first attempt at organized sports. When she saw the difference it made in her life, she decided she wanted to study that connection in college. She wanted to know more about how the body moves in connection with the brain.
鈥淚 saw how it impacted me. I was less stressed. I had more energy,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 introverted, so it made me get out of my comfort zone to talk to people and work as a team.鈥�
Stephanie decided to come to 黑料网 to study kinesiology after visiting campus because it felt like home. She liked the diversity. It seemed like a perfect fit for her.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not too big, and it鈥檚 not too small,鈥� Stephanie says. 鈥淓veryone has a community.鈥�
Her community is her McNair Scholars cohort and the Pediatric Movement and Physical Activity Lab where she conducts research. One of the few kinesiology majors in the McNair program, she was surprised at just how much she got involved in her research.
鈥淚 never thought I鈥檇 be so passionate about it,鈥� Stephanie says. 鈥淚 like to do research and read articles.鈥�
Stephanie began studying the use of virtual reality technology combined with equipment like stationary bicycles. When COVID-19 shut down the lab and forced exercise out of gyms and into homes, she pivoted to examine the use of virtual reality exercise and its impact on the physical and mental health of college students during the pandemic.
Now, admitted to three graduate programs 鈥� including 黑料网鈥檚 Ph.D. program in Exercise Physiology 鈥� Stephanie plans to continue studying connections between the body and the brain in exercise. There are many connections she wants to explore. For example, seeing her younger brother struggle to sit still at school has made her interested in looking at how exercise can help kids with ADHD.
鈥淚鈥檓 trying to see if I can help him release that energy into something else instead of fidgeting at school because that鈥檚 been a problem,鈥� Stephanie says.
She brings a lot of what she learns home to her family, encouraging them to exercise as well. Diabetes and cardiovascular disease run in her family, and she鈥檇 like to help them combat that. Likewise, she wants to help improve the health and wellness of her community. Stephanie says she came from a good high school and wants to help make a difference there as well.
鈥淚 want to become Dr. Gonzalez to improve low-income communities, such as my own,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 want to help improve physical activity in high school; I went to P.E. class, and all we did was sit down on the benches and watch other kids.鈥�
Stephanie spent her freshman year working weekends at a restaurant near her home in Fort Worth. Since she didn鈥檛 have a car, she would take DCTA鈥檚 64 North Texas Xpress train at 5 a.m. on Mondays to campus for a 9 a.m. class. Once she got a job at the Business Leadership Building computer lab, she was able to participate more in other opportunities on campus.
Stephanie says growing up she didn鈥檛 have a lot of role models for success in college. As a first-generation college student, one of the biggest challenges for her was knowing who to go to with questions, not knowing who or what to ask and what resources were available. The McNair Scholars Program and the Professional Leadership Program provided Stephanie with tools for success, but it still took her a while to learn things students from a different background may already know.
鈥淢y parents give me emotional support, but when I had a question, it was like, 鈥榃e can't help you. You're in college, you have to find that out yourself,鈥� Stephanie says. 鈥淚 want to be a role model for my siblings, so they don鈥檛 have to struggle as freshmen.鈥�
Moneerah Alayar
Ph.D. in Art Education
By Jessica DeLe贸n
When Moneerah Alayar entered an undergraduate metal arts class in Kuwait, she was eager to learn.
After all, she had been making jewelry since her mother had taught her at age 13.
But, in that class, she was only allowed to learn one metal technique. And she couldn鈥檛 even use the equipment.
鈥淎s a woman, I was told I was not allowed to use the drill because it was too dangerous for me, and I had to give my metal piece to the male teacher鈥檚 assistant who would make the needed drill holes for me,鈥� she says. 鈥淣o other discussion was had, and I simply had to accept that as a logical answer.鈥�
That began her journey as a feminist metal artist. With her newly earned Ph.D. in Art Education, Moneerah Alayar will become the first Kuwaiti woman to teach metal arts in her homeland this fall as assistant professor at The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, Kuwait.
鈥淭his incident from 11 years ago has influenced me immensely as an artist and teacher, pushing me to want to understand, explore and eradicate gender oppression in Kuwait,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 want to be able to teach and to provide a model for other women in Kuwait to see what they can accomplish. I also want to help give a voice to women artists in Kuwait, especially in the field of metal arts, which is a very uncommon field for women to enter.鈥�
Moneerah came to the U.S. to learn more in her field. As she pursued an M.F.A. at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, she was able to learn new techniques that increased her skills in metalworking and expanded her creative ability that includes jewelry, textiles and sculpture.
But she knew a Ph.D. would challenge her, as well as teach her how to become a better art educator and a stronger advocate for women. She enrolled at 黑料网 because of its reputation for critical inquiry into social issues and its wealth of artistic and scholarly resources that allowed her to conduct research and practice her craft.
But the differences between the U.S. and Kuwait challenged her to see how different nations treat their artists, and it allowed her to interact with new disciplines and media.
鈥淎t 黑料网 I have 鈥榳oken up鈥� and grown as a student, artist and teacher who is also a woman, a wife and a mother,鈥� she says. 鈥淢y classes have pushed me to see things in new ways and consider philosophies that I had never been exposed to.鈥�
And that includes her craft.
鈥淲hat got me interested in being an artist is that I want to be able to express and feed my creativity to expand my imagination,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 want to share my message with the world, and see my art touch someone鈥檚 soul.鈥�
Jack Beaumont
Finance
By Jill King
There were some real bright spots in Jack Beaumont鈥檚 first two years with the Mean Green cross country and track teams 鈥� like a conference championship and a memorable individual performance. The next two years, though, did not go as planned.
A long-distance runner from Winton, New Zealand, with a specialty in the 3000-meter steeplechase, Jack has been running since he was 6 years old. Some of his biggest accomplishments came in the World Mountain Running Championships, where he placed ninth in the under-20 group and had his best race in 2017, finishing No. 13 in the world in the elite senior division.
黑料网 was one of the first colleges he heard from that year 鈥� it turned out he knew two New Zealanders on the team 鈥� and he made the decision to attend soon after. He vividly remembers arriving in Texas.
鈥淚 get off the plane at DFW 鈥� huge airport, big roads 鈥� and I get to the university and Apogee Stadium is bigger than most of our international stadiums,鈥� he says. 鈥淓verything was just amazing to me.鈥�
He also was impressed with the resources 黑料网 offers and the helpful people. Those included Dr. P.R. Chandy, the business professor who inspired his interest in finance and was more like an 鈥渁cademic coach鈥� than a professor.
In Jack鈥檚 cross country career, the men鈥檚 conference championship in 2018 was definitely a highlight.
鈥淲e had a good sense that we could do well, but to actually achieve that and have every single guy run amazing? It was just awesome to be a part of that,鈥� he says.
And his performance at the conference track meet in spring 2019, where he missed out on going to the national first rounds by one spot, was a personal high point.
But his luck went downhill in November 2019 with a stress fracture of the femur. He was back to form in a few months and set to compete in his first track meet of the spring 鈥� unfortunately it was spring 2020, and COVID-19 dashed those hopes as the season was canceled and classes moved online.
鈥淲e were actually at a meet when it was canceled. So, we went back to Denton and that was it. Season over. A week or two later, I was on a flight back to New Zealand,鈥� Jack says.
He was required to quarantine for two weeks 鈥� his family passed food down to him in the basement. Then New Zealand went on lockdown for two months. And the 17-hour time difference made online classes interesting.
鈥淚 got up at 2 to 3 a.m. to do classes and also had to make sure I was taking tests on the right day,鈥� Jack says. 鈥淚 ended up taking most exams early, just to be safe.鈥�
Returning to 黑料网 in August for the shortened cross country season, he competed in just two races before injury struck again in October. This time a stress fracture of the sacrum required three months of little to no running.
鈥淚 was thinking there was no way I would be racing this year,鈥� Jack says, but with help from a new training regimen, he worked his way back in time for outdoor track. He started competing again this April and set a new stadium record when he won the steeplechase at the North Texas Classic.
And he still has eligibility left due to being redshirted for the injuries and sidelined by the pandemic. After earning his B.B.A. in May, he鈥檒l work on an M.S. in Finance while continuing to compete 鈥� a silver lining he鈥檚 quick to point out.
鈥淚t鈥檚 something I鈥檝e started to think more of in my life, that things that might look like a setback don鈥檛 always have to be a setback if you take the right approach to them,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 have any sadness about those injuries. I鈥檓 just excited to still be here.鈥�
He鈥檚 also been thinking of the way he鈥檚 balanced being an athlete and a student when, prior to 黑料网, he 鈥渄idn鈥檛 have a passion for schoolwork.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e gone from making C鈥檚 and B鈥檚 in high school to making A鈥檚 and really loving studying and learning,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 starting a master鈥檚 degree! If you鈥檇 told me that four or five years ago, I鈥檇 have said you were talking about the wrong person.鈥�
It鈥檚 another of the things he鈥檚 learned about himself in college.
鈥淚鈥檝e always known that what makes me successful at running is a great motivation to push myself, but now I know that doesn鈥檛 just apply to sports,鈥� he says.
After earning his master鈥檚 and certification as a financial analyst, he might work in analytics or business strategy and perhaps become an entrepreneur down the road. One thing is definite: Running will be in his future.
鈥淥h, yes, for sure, 100% yes,鈥� he says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no way I could stop running.鈥�
Emma and Kathy Earhart
Biology
By Kris Muller
Mother and daughter duo, 41-year-old Kathy Earhart and 17-year-old Emma Earhart, aren鈥檛 letting anything, including age, stand in the way of earning their college degrees.
Not your typical high school student, Emma had already taken the SAT by the time she was 12 and at age 14, the Denton native decided to enroll in dual credit classes at North Central Texas College, earning both her Associate of Science and high school diploma in one year.
Kathy, who had not attended college as a young person, was inspired by her daughter鈥檚 success. She enrolled with Emma at NCTC and graduated alongside her daughter with her own Associate of Science degree.
鈥淲e have a shared dream to become physicians,鈥� Kathy says. 鈥淓mma wants to be a surgeon and I want to practice dermatology. When we enrolled as Biology majors at 黑料网, Emma was only 15 and didn鈥檛 have a driver鈥檚 license, so we decided to enroll in the same classes to make commuting easier.鈥�
鈥淚 was kind of nervous to be in class with my mom,鈥� Emma says. 鈥淚 wondered if people would think I needed my mom鈥檚 help to get through college. But most people didn鈥檛 even realize we were mother and daughter and those that did, thought it was really cool that we were getting our degrees together.鈥�
Along with pursuing her degree, Kathy also is a small business owner and mom to three children, Emma and her two younger siblings.
鈥淚t is really challenging to wear all those hats,鈥� Kathy says. 鈥淲hen COVID hit, we were all at home in virtual classrooms. I had to help my younger children in their online schooling, attend my own classes, work and do all the mom things. It sounds chaotic, but we all grew closer and it was fun when my younger two children would watch a class lecture with me and Emma and learn something new.鈥�
Kathy and Emma say they were both inspired by their organic chemistry professor Sushama Dandekar.
鈥淲hile Professor Dandekar鈥檚 classes were my most challenging classes, her passion and encouragement helped me to grow,鈥� Kathy says. 鈥淪he shared personal stories and helped us realize anything is possible if we want it badly enough and are willing to put in the work.鈥�
鈥淓ven though Professor Dandekar鈥檚 classes were really hard, she taught with a fiery passion,鈥� Emma says. 鈥淪he is a wonderful woman who has experienced many hardships in her life. Her stories inspired me to work harder and continue to follow my passion no matter how tough it gets.鈥�
Kathy and Emma are both dedicated to excellence and have earned many honors in their two short years at 黑料网. Kathy will be the first in her family to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree and is a member of four honor societies: Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Sigma Pi, Sigma Alpha Pi and Golden Key. Emma is a member of three honor societies: Phi Sigma Pi, Sigma Alpha Pi, Golden Key and made the 黑料网 Dean鈥檚 List three times. Both Emma and Kathy will graduate with bachelor鈥檚 degrees in biology and minors in chemistry and psychology. They have plans to earn master鈥檚 degrees while preparing to take their Medical College Admission Tests.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud to be a part of such an open-minded community of students and professors,鈥� Emma says. 鈥淚 am proud of what I have accomplished at my age. I am proud to be doing something so meaningful with my life.鈥�
鈥淚t is never too late to learn,鈥� Kathy says. 鈥淚t was scary going to college after 20 years, but I realized I鈥檇 never know if I could do it if I didn鈥檛 try. I am proud to attend 黑料网 and be a part of such a diverse, loving, intelligent and passionate community. I am proud to have completed my degree despite the challenges I faced.鈥�
Kayla Aikins
Digital Retailing
By Amy Brundeen
Kayla Aikins has taken college by the horns and excelled inside the classroom 鈥� and out. She is an example of why college is about much more than just being in the classroom.
The creative spring grad has a lot of interests. Before college, she thought about being a Theatre Arts major because she wanted to be an actress. But she already knew a lot about acting. What about fashion design, she thought? She made clothes and entered them in competitions. She decided that she already knew a lot about that as well. Then she learned about merchandising. She researched colleges, learned about 黑料网鈥檚 Digital Retailing program and decided that seemed like a good fit. She could learn the behind-the-scenes side of fashion.
鈥淢y high school had a summer college tour. 黑料网 was one of the places we toured, and I just loved everything about the campus,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was beautiful. It was green with nature. I liked what it offered. It鈥檚 a very creative school and diverse.鈥�
Kayla has been on the President鈥檚 List since her first semester, with the exception of one semester on the Dean鈥檚 List 鈥� that鈥檚 the one B on her transcript from 黑料网, putting her on track to graduate Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor鈥檚 in Digital Retailing and minor in Consumer Experience Management, Marketing and Spanish.
Outside the classroom, Kayla worked her first two years at an event venue before landing a position with the Dallas Cowboys as an e-commerce specialist in August 2019. It was not as an intern initially. She applied for a full-time position and received an interview.
鈥淢y job was not from any connection,鈥� Kayla says. 鈥淚 applied like anyone else on indeed.com. There were 400 applicants, and they chose me, a junior in college.鈥�
At first, they allowed her to work part-time around her class schedule, but since that first semester, she has been working full-time and taking a full load of classes at 黑料网. She was allowed to use her position there to satisfy internship requirements for digital retailing as well. She has a passion for both.
鈥淢y advice for freshman is to find a way to balance the things that you love and you're passionate about,鈥� Kayla says. 鈥淒on't just be caught up in one thing.鈥�
Kayla says 黑料网鈥檚 winter, summer and May semesters have helped her fit classes and her internship with the Dallas Cowboys into four years. She didn鈥檛 enter 黑料网 with any credit from high school. Instead, she鈥檚 worked hard and doesn鈥檛 plan to stop any time soon.
She will continue to work for the Cowboys after graduation and has her eyes on bigger things in the e-commerce world.
鈥淚t allows me to work my way up because I started younger than most people,鈥� she says.
In addition to her work, Kayla has held leadership positions in the National Retail Federation Student Association and the women鈥檚 empowerment group Women of Gold, served as an ambassador for the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Kayla throws herself into everything she does. She particularly enjoys helping women through Women of Gold, even though it鈥檚 been a challenge keeping the group active with remote events during the pandemic.
鈥淲e bring girls together to empower them, to give them knowledge about women鈥檚 health, relationships, etc. We are a sisterhood,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e have been doing our best to do that virtually.鈥�
Kayla wants to mentor others to be successful and encourages people to reach out to her.
鈥淚f anyone ever needs help or advice, they can connect with me on LinkedIn because I would love to help people,鈥� she says.
Kayla has the drive to climb her way to the top of the corporate ladder but also has an entrepreneurial streak. She started her own business making custom body scrubs and lotions in her kitchen. She created a website to sell the products but found she was more interested in creating the business, and especially the website, than the bath products. So, she鈥檚 building a side business in website development.
鈥淚 love websites and the graphics and all that. I want to do my own freelancing, making startup websites for businesses,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut I also like working nine to five because I want to be a CEO or director of e-commerce somewhere.鈥�
And Kayla adds, it鈥檚 important to her to balance having fun and working hard.
鈥淚 get bored easily,鈥� Kayla says. 鈥淎nd I like to juggle.鈥�
Lazayvion Hammick
Business Computer Information Systems
By Brittney Dear
Throughout his time at 黑料网, Lazayvion, a third-year undergraduate majoring in Business Computer Information Systems, has been involved on campus. During the summer of 2019, he was hired on as a building manager at the Union, and during his freshman year, he joined MARTIAL Eagles, which helped introduce him to many other organizations. He was a member of the Black Student Experience, and served as a facilitator during his second year and also was involved with the Dedicated Men; the Progressive Black Student Organization; the Professional Leadership Program, where he also served as a student director; the Association for Information Systems; the Student Government Association election board; and NT40.
鈥淚鈥檓 a big believer of what you put in is what you鈥檙e going to get out of it,鈥� Lazayvion says. 鈥淭here are a lot of benefits to getting involved, so I decided to try a bit of this, try a bit of that, and once I started getting into these organizations, I started taking on leadership positions within them.鈥�
MARTIAL Eagles, a community designed to promote academic success and leadership among African American freshmen males, was one of the most impactful organizations for Lazayvion. In June 2020, as a former member, he was asked to assist with the program. Initially, the program took him on to help with a few small tasks, but they liked the work Lazayvion was doing so much, he now works 20 hours a week for MARTIAL Eagles.
鈥淏eing a member of MARTIAL Eagles exposes you to a many people who will stand up for you when you鈥檙e not in the room,鈥� Lazayvion says. 鈥淭hrough MARTIAL Eagles, I was able to meet Joe Greene at a school fundraiser. I would not have had that same experience without MARTIAL Eagles.鈥�
NT40, a group of 40 students who are actively involved at 黑料网 and hold leadership positions in organizations, has also been incredibly impactful for Lazayvion, as it has exposed him to like-minded people with similar drives.
鈥淭he members of NT40 are the people who want to be involved in everything, and it shows,鈥� Lazayvion says. 鈥淚 really, really have enjoyed being a member of NT40. If you鈥檙e ready for it, I encourage anyone to apply.鈥�
Having taken five to six classes each semester, as well as summer classes, Lazayvion is graduating a year early. But, looking back on his college experience, he wishes he would have worked toward a minor in Criminal Justice, slowed down and truly soaked up college life in its entirety.
鈥淐ollege is an experience that you really can鈥檛 get back or replay. Graduating in three years versus four is great, you鈥檙e trading a good experience,鈥� Lazavyion says. 鈥淎fter college, you have a life, you have responsibilities and bills, but in college you get to have fun and do whatever you want 鈥� it鈥檚 your time. I would encourage anybody, if you can, to attend for four years, unless you have some real reason why you can鈥檛.鈥�
Wanting to eventually solidify a career in the IT field in the DFW area, Lazayvion saw 黑料网 as a good option for college. Additional schooling may eventually be required for his desired field, but as of now, he鈥檚 looking at companies to join straight out of college.
鈥淕raduating is bittersweet, but at the same time, I鈥檓 ready to go,鈥� Lazayvion says. 鈥淭his is the next chapter, and I鈥檓 a little afraid of leaving my comfortable space. You get comfortable here. You move through semesters, asking 鈥榃hat鈥檚 next?鈥� until you鈥檝e eventually reached the end.鈥�
Augustine Uzor
Master's in Drawing and Painting
By Erin Cristales
Augustine Uzor isn鈥檛 one to talk too much about his art, preferring to let it speak for itself. And, he'll tell you, he鈥檚 not looking for external recognition 鈥� drawing and painting are the outlets that allow him to explore and communicate a complicated personal journey, one that began in Nigeria and, nearly five years ago, led him to Texas.
Sometimes, the Studio Art graduate student 鈥� who will earn his M.F.A. in Drawing and Painting this spring 鈥� feels like a puzzle piece that鈥檚 been stored in the wrong box. He doesn't quite click into place anywhere.
鈥淢y story is always evolving 鈥� that鈥檚 the essence of being alive,鈥� says Augustine, who in July 2016 was granted a green card to move to the U.S. He returned to Nigeria for his sister鈥檚 wedding in late 2018, where he found that the home he had known for 25 years no longer felt so familiar. 鈥淪o in some ways, it鈥檚 like I鈥檓 just floating, just existing between two places. That made me want to discover a world of my own through art as a way to heal that trauma and to find solace in helping people understand what I鈥檓 experiencing and see it for what it is.鈥�
In 2013, Augustine graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and began building an impressive reputation as an artist. But he suspected Nigeria would never offer as many opportunities as the United States. So with his mother, younger brother and older sister in tow, he braved Dallas鈥� blazing hot summer to begin a new life.
For the first two years, he worked odd jobs. And though Augustine was able to pay the bills, he knew he wanted something more 鈥� specifically, to attend graduate school, where he could continue to develop his artistic talent. After learning about 黑料网鈥檚 nationally recognized College of Visual Arts and Design, he applied.
鈥淚 have these dreams and aspirations, and whenever I have those visions, I do not let anything get in my way,鈥� Augustine says. 鈥淚 want to see those dreams become a reality.鈥�
He began the Studio Art master's program in January 2019, and was selected to be a teaching assistant for Drawing II classes. In August 2019, he became a CVAD teaching fellow, where he has instructed Beginning Painting classes. His role as a teacher has required him to break down the artistic process, forcing him to ask the kinds of questions that have led to a deeper understanding of his own work 鈥� like how, for instance, do colors truly come together?
Teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic brought previously unconsidered challenges, though many were welcome, Augustine says. He learned to develop ways to make art accessible in an online environment.
鈥淭eaching remotely was something new and exciting 鈥� you have to push yourself to see how you can problem solve,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the kind of situation that can bring out the best in us.鈥�
As an artist, the pandemic further emphasized the isolation he often explores in his work and has helped others more deeply understand that feeling of disconnection. The walls of his Bain Hall studio are lined with dozens of paintings, all of them tapping into his experience of being an immigrant. As part of his M.F.A. thesis, he exhibited the pieces under the theme of 鈥淢emories of the Future鈥� at the Greater Denton Arts Council.
鈥淓veryone has their own experience 鈥� I鈥檓 very conscious about that, about not triggering anyone,鈥� Augustine says. 鈥淏ut if I share my art, people feel more comfortable relaying their own journey, and we can open up about those things."
That, Augustine says, is the true beauty of art 鈥� finding a home for your voice. And 黑料网 has been an exceptionally welcoming environment for that journey.
鈥淚鈥檓 super grateful for the people here 鈥� the students, the staff, the entire administration,鈥� says Augustine, who plans to continue his work as a studio artist after graduation. 鈥淒uring my last few weeks here, I鈥檝e been walking around campus thinking, 鈥業 wish I could stay longer.鈥� 黑料网 will always be close to my heart.鈥�
Marquita Foster
Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction
By Erin Cristales
Marquita Foster never wants her students to walk out of her classroom unprepared for the issues they鈥檒l undoubtedly face. As a 23-year veteran of education, she knows there are challenges that are far more complicated 鈥� and generally less addressed 鈥� than the more common conundrums discussed during educator preparation. After all, she says, education isn鈥檛 all tests and tardies.
鈥淲e always do these exercises where we talk about real issues 鈥� many of my students are on campuses, and they share with me the things they see,鈥� says Marquita, a doctoral student in Curriculum and Instruction who taught courses at 黑料网 such as Teaching Diverse Populations. 鈥淚 try to be very honest with them about what can be a racist and oppressive policy but doesn鈥檛 look like one. We talk about how should they approach this 鈥� how do they want to disrupt this?鈥�
That question was at the heart of Marquita鈥檚 dissertation, which explored the ways Black educators utilize notions of critical caring and Blackness as a disruptive pedagogy to combat oppressive policies and structures that often crush Black students鈥� spirits. As a former teacher, instructional coach and assistant principal in area school districts, including Lewisville, Duncanville and Lancaster, she鈥檚 seen firsthand the damage deceptively innocuous policies like dress code can do when inconsistently or aggressively applied to Black students.
鈥淚 guess all research, in a sense, starts out as personal. But having been in urban, suburban and rural districts, I鈥檝e seen how using some of those very traditional policies that you first learn in teacher prep and then are reinforced in the field can be very demeaning and psychologically damaging, particularly to Black students,鈥� says Marquita, who found many Black educators are confronted with the double consciousness of being both Black and part of a larger organization with policies that aren鈥檛 always equitable. How Black educators are asked to do their job, she says, may often put them at odds with culture and require them to enforce oppressive practices. 鈥淢any of these policies are putting teachers in the position not to nurture but to control because they have been weaponized to harm students. For example, dress code policies were intended to promote safety, but some teachers may approach dress code as violations or 鈥榗lassroom disruptions,鈥� which leads to disciplinary referrals 鈥� instead of giving students the chance to simply fix what鈥檚 wrong or consider mitigating circumstances.鈥�
She鈥檚 brought that personal experience into the classroom, even drawing on old referrals and paperwork to emphasize the need for disruptive approaches to discipline in the classroom 鈥� a student review of her Teaching Diverse Populations class noted, 鈥淪he taught me more about the education system than I could have ever imagined.鈥�
Now that she鈥檚 completed her dissertation, the next step, Marquita says, is looking at teacher preparation programs and what academia is doing 鈥� or not doing 鈥� to address on a deeper level issues of systemic racism that are found in schools across the country. She also hopes to see more acceptance and support of Black scholars at the Ph.D. level.
鈥淚 would love to see more space created for what we鈥檙e bringing to programs,鈥� says Marquita, who notes that 黑料网 College of Education professors such as Tran Templeton, Amanda Vickery and Misty Sailors have championed her ideas as a doctoral student and instructor. 鈥淲hen our writing or experience doesn鈥檛 necessarily follow the traditional paradigm, we shouldn鈥檛 feel as though our expertise doesn鈥檛 matter. It should be embraced.鈥�
Marquita enrolled at 黑料网 in 2015 because she had heard great things from many of her fellow educators 鈥� once she looked more into the programs and professors, she decided it was the right place to earn her advanced degree. Now that she鈥檚 reached the pinnacle of her academic journey 鈥� and plans to take a short break following graduation to 鈥渃atch her breath鈥� before figuring out what鈥檚 next 鈥� she has advice for those at the beginning of their own.
鈥淲hen I think back to my undergraduate experience, I didn鈥檛 speak up enough, I didn鈥檛 use my voice enough, I didn鈥檛 fight for what I needed as a scholar,鈥� says Marquita, whose daughter, Ki, is also graduating from 黑料网 this spring with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology, and whose son, Kaemon, is a sophomore computer science major here. 鈥淵ou have to learn to tell people what you need and what you want in order to make sure that you鈥檙e really learning.鈥�
Mandy Jordan
Anthropology
By Amanda Fuller
Fueled by her own experiences with disaster and loss, Mandy Jordan plans to use her master鈥檚 degree in applied anthropology to help communities like hers rebuild after tragedy.
In August 2017, just three days into orientation for her online program, Hurricane Harvey struck her home in Santa Fe, Texas, collapsing her roof and forcing her to find new housing for her family.
Eight months later, while many in the community were still rebuilding their lives, tragedy struck again with a mass shooting at Santa Fe High School, where one of Mandy鈥檚 sons was a student.
鈥淚t occurred across the hall from his first-period class,鈥� she says. 鈥淗e lost eight classmates and two teachers. It changed everything.鈥�
Mandy鈥檚 desire to help her family and community recover from this event would become the impetus for her future work and studies.
鈥淎fter mass tragedies, the FBI comes in, and the Red Cross. The Red Cross has a wonderful program, but they鈥檙e only in for a couple of weeks. When they leave, somebody else takes over 鈥� usually the city or school district or the United Way 鈥� and it just never really takes off. I want to research that at a higher level to find out what we need to do to make sure we have resilient communities that can survive these things afterward.鈥�
Jordan鈥檚 community work inspired her master鈥檚 thesis, which used ethnographic research involving surveys and intensive interviews with impacted community members to identify how organizations can counteract feelings of suffering and exclusion in the post-disaster community. She has presented her research at regional and national conferences and has been recognized with multiple grants and awards.
She also was named the executive director of Keep Santa Fe Beautiful and consultant to the Santa Fe Resilience Center. In her directorship of KSFB, she coordinated the effort to convert a city park into a therapeutic garden designed for those who have PTSD.
Jordan has been a member of the Graduate Student Council for the last few years, but this year she joined the anthropology department鈥檚 PADAWAN Society, which partners undergraduate students with graduate mentors who provide support and guidance on the path to postgraduate studies.
鈥淚鈥檝e had my own little Padawan all year, and it鈥檚 been really fun helping her and watching her grow,鈥� Mandy says. 鈥淪he'll graduate this year as well with her bachelor's.鈥�
During the pandemic, the transition to remote learning didn鈥檛 faze Mandy, who completed her bachelor鈥檚 degree online in 2017 and was well into her online master鈥檚 program when things first shut down last March.
鈥淚t鈥檚 harder to be an online student,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ou definitely have to be more dedicated. You鈥檙e not getting the social interaction that students on campus are, so you have to seek out those special opportunities to connect to your teachers and other students.鈥�
As a mother of two, student and active member of multiple communities, Mandy has learned that achieving big dreams is about more than perseverance 鈥� it鈥檚 about taking care of yourself and making time for the things that matter most, especially when things get hard.
鈥淕etting an education is important. It's one of the most important things I've done in my life. However, I've learned that my mental health and my relationships outside of academia are just as important. It's ok to have a bad day. It's ok to take a break to nourish and cherish what feeds your soul, then return full of strength. Just don't give up.鈥�
Marianna Seaton
Master鈥檚 in Drawing and Painting
By Jill King
Marianna Seaton has been an artist all her life, but she 鈥渇ell off the studio arts path鈥� after leaving art school as a young adult.
Instead, she earned a bachelor鈥檚 in Human and Family Development at Empire State College 鈥� State University of New York and then moved to Texas in 1998 with her husband, Lynn, who had accepted an appointment with the 黑料网 College of Music. She homeschooled their son Aubrey, who completed his 黑料网 Media Arts degree last spring, and she volunteered with La Leche League International for several years.
It was after serving as director of lay ministry at Horizon Unitarian Universalist Church in Carrollton that she decided to return to school 鈥� and studio art.
鈥淚t was just the right time to hit the re-set button,鈥� she says, 鈥渁nd get back to what had been whispering in my ear to do for many years.鈥�
At an art exhibition at 黑料网 on the Square, where she later worked, Marianna met a student who told her about her favorite art professors and encouraged her to apply. And she did.
Now seven years later 鈥� including four years of undergraduate classes as she developed a body of work 鈥� she鈥檚 receiving her Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art with a concentration in Drawing and Painting.
She works in graphite and mixed media, with a focus on 鈥渢he interrupted landscape鈥� and forgotten or discarded items like cardboard boxes that reflect commerce and consumption and our mark on the world.
She says she has loved being a student and found it easier to focus now than when she was younger. Navigating the technology was somewhat harder.
鈥淚鈥檓 an analog girl in a digital world,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 prefer pencil over keyboard.鈥�
Also challenging over the past year was the socially distanced learning, which required viewing artwork over a computer screen. It helped that she was able to have some face-to-face studio visits with her professors.
In another change due to COVID-19, graduate students could invite the public to their virtual thesis defense. Her exhibition Golden Anecdoche was presented on Zoom for a remote audience and in the Cora Stafford Gallery for her thesis committee.
Among the 鈥渕any great professors鈥� who had an impact on her were the members of that committee 鈥� Annette Lawrence, Matthew Bourbon, Christian Fagerlund and Andrew DeCaen. She also had the opportunity to study with art historians Dr. Nada Shabout and Dr. Jennifer Way.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 rave enough about the quality of the professors in CVAD,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hey model what it is to be a successful artist and are dedicated to their students鈥� development.鈥�
After graduation, as she continues developing artwork for exhibition, Marianna plans to build a working home studio and open the doors to the community for art classes and conversation.
Her advice to anyone considering returning to school is simple: 鈥淛ump in and do it. It鈥檚 invigorating to push yourself beyond your comfort zones.鈥�
鈥淲e only have one life to live,鈥� she says, 鈥渁nd we can re-invent ourselves as many times as we choose to. Follow your heart and say yes whenever you can.鈥�
Claire Dresselhuis
Master鈥檚 in Cello Performance
By Jill King
Claire Dresselhuis thought attending 黑料网 for graduate school wouldn鈥檛 be a big transition considering she was coming from Canada. But her music school in British Columbia had about 200 students and 黑料网鈥檚 College of Music had 1,600.
It was her cello professor and mentor Eugene Osadchy who got her connected with other musicians inside and outside of school. Within a week of landing in Texas, she was auditioning for orchestras around the area. Over the course of her degree, she would play in four orchestras, including one with her mentor.
Osadchy was the reason she was at 黑料网. She first met him when she was an undergraduate at the University of Victoria and he was a visiting guest artist for one of her cello masterclasses.
鈥淚 knew I needed to study with him,鈥� she says, 鈥渁nd because of that, 黑料网 came on my radar as my top consideration for grad school, and I followed him to Texas.鈥�
It was Osadchy who strongly recommended her for a teaching fellow position in the college 鈥� not usually given to master鈥檚 students 鈥� and she considers it the highlight of her degree experience. She gives weekly, individual lessons to about 10 undergraduate cellists.
鈥淚 remember initially being terrified by the responsibility, but that changed quickly,鈥� she says. 鈥淢y students each have their own interests and strengths and ways of learning. Often I feel they teach me just as much as I work to teach them.鈥�
Claire soon discovered the benefits of a larger music school, like 黑料网鈥檚 on-campus luthier and the variety of courses and departments. Her involvement in the vocal jazz ensemble provided an emotional outlet from her classical studies and inspired her own cello improvisations and compositions.
Claire had once considered a career in nursing. When she learned about 黑料网鈥檚 Performing Arts Health program on her first day of graduate orientation, she knew she had found 鈥渢he perfect marriage鈥� of her interests in music performance and medicine.
鈥淭here is a prevailing misconception in the music world that playing with pain is 鈥榩art of the job,鈥欌�� says Claire, who has personally struggled with physical issues from playing the cello. 鈥淏ut there are ways to play more effectively and long-term, and it is important that teachers practice sustainable playing habits with their students as early as possible.鈥�
A teaching experience as an undergraduate also helped inspire her interest in this area, when an adult student who had lost much of her hearing after a surgery wanted to play cello again.
鈥淚t really was quite a powerful responsibility to become music teacher and therapist,鈥� Claire says. 鈥淭here was a lot of encouragement and creativity involved in overcoming her physical limitations, by means of music-making.鈥�
Claire also has conducted in-depth research inspired by her interest in how phone use affects music students鈥� academic performance and focus during practice.
鈥淭urns out, life stressors 鈥� like a move to a new country and bigger music school 鈥� are triggers for increased, and problematic, phone use,鈥� she says.
Her research is the first to survey musicians about this issue and investigate possible solutions. The study was accepted for presentation at the Performing Arts Medicine Association Health Conference, an international symposium.
These were welcome opportunities Claire had not known would be a part of her 黑料网 experience. Unfortunately, not every surprise was a good one.
Last spring as the pandemic hit, Osadchy was diagnosed with late-stage cancer. His death six months later was particularly hard for the students he worked with closely. The day he died, Claire found herself developing the symptoms of COVID-19, and the isolation combined with her grief was extremely challenging.
鈥淭he loss of his mentorship was a huge setback on many levels, and I was also grieving the loss of what I thought a master鈥檚 in performance should have looked like. I remember feeling extreme disillusionment,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was God who sustained and comforted me. During my isolation, that inner grief and defeat became an outer appreciation and care for the people and things that were still in front of me.鈥�
After graduating in May, Claire will continue her research and prepare for her symposium presentation. She plans to build her own studio of private students, continue to play in orchestras and pursue more specialized teachers鈥� training to serve her students better.
Her inspiration is bittersweet.
鈥淭he only thing serious about Mr. Osadchy was his fierce love and respect for music. Otherwise, he was always meeting the responsibilities of playing, performing and teaching with humor,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat blend of finding reverence and humor in music and teaching is something that will be forever etched in my memories of him 鈥� and it鈥檚 what I hope to balance in my own life.鈥�
Maddie Cook-Saunders
Criminal Justice
By Kayla Lindberg
If graduating on time, and with honors, wasn鈥檛 hard enough, imagine finding out you have ovarian cancer.
This is Criminal Justice graduate Madeline Cook-Saunders鈥� story.
During her senior year in high school, Maddie was unsure of what path to take. Enrolling in Austin Community College seemed like the perfect fit while she set goals for her future. After her inaugural year at ACC, Maddie began looking into four-year colleges and knew 黑料网 was the ideal fit for several reasons -- an outstanding Criminal Justice program, a reasonable proximity to home and a chance to gain more independence. 黑料网 checked all the boxes for Maddie and her family, who value the importance of continuing education.
Adjusting to life on campus, performing on game day with the North Texas Dancers and studying for classes all came to a halt when Maddie received a call from her oncologist in January 2019. Maddie was told she had ovarian cancer, news that would change the next eight months of her life.
Moving back home, multiple surgeries, a rough recovery and figuring out the next steps were all taking their toll. Finding joy was starting to be difficult.
鈥淚 somewhat lost that joy, and my positive mindset started going downhill,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 until later on during my recovery, I realized that you have to choose joy and then it will find you. That鈥檚 when my whole mindset shifted.鈥�
Once Maddie chose joy, she began to recover and returned to 黑料网 as a full-time student cheering on the Mean Green from the sidelines with her fellow North Texas Dancers. This is something that seemed so distant upon hearing the news eight months prior, but after receiving an outpouring of love and support from the community, she knew 黑料网 was her family.
With the help of her academic advisor, Amanda Devaney, Maddie is graduating on time, with honors.
鈥淪he was so understanding of my unique situation when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer,鈥� Maddie says, 鈥渁nd assisted me in any way she could to ensure I graduated on time.鈥�
While this past year has been challenging for many, that didn鈥檛 stop goal-oriented Maddie. To better prepare herself for life after graduation, she worked two jobs while completing a full load of classes. She plans to take a full year off from school next year, then return to 黑料网 to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in psychology.
鈥淭imes goes by extremely fast. Take advantage of these next four years. Get involved in organizations, go to as many sporting events as you can and take the long way to class so you can walk around campus more. Before you know it, you鈥檒l be on the outside looking in.鈥�
Lindsey Anderson
Hospitality Management
By Heather Noel
Life鈥檚 blessings are sometimes in disguise. After the year Lindsey Anderson has lived, she鈥檚 taking nothing for granted.
The Dallas single mother of three girls will be the first in her family to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree this Spring 鈥� a moment nearly 11 years in the making. This milestone achievement comes during an especially challenging time.
Last spring, Lindsey was furloughed from both of her jobs in a hotel and restaurant due to COVID-19 cutbacks. Unsure about the burgeoning global pandemic, Lindsey took her girls to her dad鈥檚 cabin in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, for some time away. As summer set in, she saw the first signs of trouble 鈥� blurriness and limited vision in her left eye.
She didn鈥檛 think too much about it. She accidentally splattered bacon grease in her eye and thought maybe she scarred it, and it needed time to heal. But the days only worsened her symptoms, so she decided to visit the doctor.
鈥淗e advised me to go to the Parkland ER because he thought I had a detached retina,鈥� Lindsey recalls.
After weeks of visits to Parkland, doctors still didn鈥檛 know what could be causing her vision problems.
Faced with uncertainty in her health and career, Lindsey decided to re-enroll at 黑料网 after years away from her studies. She thought classes would be a good distraction and finishing her bachelor鈥檚 degree in Hospitality Management in the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism could open new doors.
Just weeks into the fall semester, an MRI revealed she had a tumor in her left eye and she needed immediate surgery to remove it, and her eye, completely. Testing confirmed the tumor was a rare eye cancer.
Lindsey didn鈥檛 let cancer hold her back.
In the fall, she took five classes and her final two this spring. She even improved her GPA and was inducted into the Eta Sigma Delta International Hospitality Management Honor Society.
Though she鈥檚 still at high-risk for recurrence, medical tests have found no more cancer since December. Through financial assistance, she received a prosthetic to replace the eye that had to be removed.
鈥淓verything being virtual at 黑料网 has allowed me to keep up with my doctor鈥檚 appointments and take care of my girls,鈥� Lindsey says. 鈥淎nd the professors have been understanding. Dr. [Young Hoon] Kim always checked on me. He was concerned with keeping me on track in school, but also he cared about my well-being and my family.鈥�
Lindsey found her calling in hospitality at Plano East Senior High School when she did a work-study at a restaurant as part of her coursework.
鈥淓very day is different and you get to meet a variety of people. The whole energy of it, the celebration and making people feel special 鈥� it鈥檚 always been my passion,鈥� Lindsey says.
She originally came to 黑料网 in 2010 to study Hospitality Management, but had to leave school before finishing her degree to raise and support her family.
Equipped with a completed bachelor鈥檚 degree, she hopes to further her career by possibly working in sales, human resources or event management in the hotel industry. She鈥檚 considering continuing her education with a Master of Science in International Sustainable Tourism, a joint degree between 黑料网 and The Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center in Turrialba, Costa Rica.
Lindsey鈥檚 path to graduation hasn鈥檛 been a straight one, but she鈥檚 been thankful for the journey and the opportunities it has brought along the way.
鈥淚f it is your desire to finish school, make it happen no matter what. Life happens, and we鈥檙e not all going to be on the same path. No matter how long it takes you to finish, it鈥檚 still an accomplishment and you should still feel proud of yourself.鈥�
Jesus (Zeus) Gochangco
Marketing
By Trista Moxley
As a Student Ambassador for 黑料网 at Frisco, Jesus Gochangco II does what he can to help anyone visiting 黑料网 at Frisco鈥檚 Hall Park campus.
While the 21-year-old Filipino American describes himself as 鈥済entle and goofy,鈥� his goals are anything but. With his Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and acceptance to 黑料网鈥檚 accelerated M.B.A. program, he hopes to use his influence as a business leader to support environmental and humanitarian efforts across the globe.
鈥淚 traveled a lot, thanks to my parents, and so I got to experience all kinds of cultures and levels of poverty,鈥� Jesus says. 鈥淚t is because of the things I witnessed on my travels that I now have the determination to become a successful future business leader, so I can go back to those developing countries and do things like fund programs that clean beaches, rivers and lakes and use my influence to build new and safe infrastructures to match the environment. I hope to become Earth鈥檚 greatest ally.鈥�
Despite feeling out of place in Texas after moving to the Dallas-Fort Worth area from Virginia as a high school junior, Jesus鈥檚 family found 黑料网 welcoming. His sister Jacquelyn is now an alum, while his brother Jazzys is expected to graduate in 2023.
鈥淚 went looking for a college with the most traditional-feeling atmosphere and environment because Virginia schools had the typical college-movie campus with the old Greek houses, tall trees and school pride. 黑料网 was the only college in Texas that caught my eye and fit everything I was looking for,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 love what 黑料网 stands for, for most students, alumni and others. 黑料网 is seen as a school that loves its students, is an incredibly diverse campus and is open/tolerant of 鈥榙ifferent鈥� people. It feels safer to be a part of the 黑料网 community, and that鈥檚 my favorite part.鈥�
Jesus jumped into life at 黑料网, joining several clubs his freshman year and eventually starting his own campus organization called FENT.C, which is focused on connecting students interested in entrepreneurship, 鈥渂y happenstance.鈥�
鈥淭o really get the full college experience, find a way to join the 黑料网 spirit through clubs, events, campus activities and even working for the university. Being a part of something helps you see it from an inside angle and allows positive opinions and pride to grow,鈥� he says. 鈥淢y connection to 黑料网 at Frisco and experience there as a student and employee solidified my pride in 黑料网. Being a part of the experience to make every visitor鈥檚 day and being a part of the solution was beyond rewarding. I often get phone calls from distressed students and parents, and after I work my magic, I almost always feel unrivaled satisfaction when they tell me how relieved they were to be able to talk to me.鈥�
Jesus admits that he struggled to find motivation to stay as engaged in his classes after the pandemic hit. However, he pushed himself to find a way to engage, determined to get his degree.
鈥淚 needed to know that I could finish,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut I had to prove to myself that I could finish and see it as an investment. I hope to one day be able to look back at the time I spent at 黑料网 as a critical moment in my growth to adulthood. The people I met and the experiences I shared as a member of the Mean Green Family are irreplaceable. I found myself for the first time, and I attribute it to my friends, family and loved ones. I could not have done it all by myself, and always had someone to motivate me to keep going, every step of the way.鈥�
The Klipsch family
Andrew 鈥� M.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies
Melanie 鈥� M.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies
Nastassja 鈥� M.B.A. in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management
Lillie 鈥� B.S. in Psychology
By Heather Noel
黑料网 is more than a workplace for Andrew Klipsch.
Since joining the university鈥檚 Dining Services as Bruceteria chef/general manager in 2014, the former corporate chef and restaurateur has been able to further his education 鈥� first with his bachelor鈥檚 degree in Hospitality Management in 2017 and now a master鈥檚 degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
He didn鈥檛 do it alone though.
Studying at 黑料网 has been a family affair and the Klipsches have quadruple the reason to celebrate this semester.
Andrew, his wife Melanie and daughter Nastassja will all earn master鈥檚 degrees while daughter Lillie will earn her bachelor鈥檚 degree using the Faculty/Staff/Retiree/Dependent Educational Scholarship program.
The simultaneous graduation wasn鈥檛 planned, but it鈥檚 a fitting tribute to their educational journey. Whether taking classes together, borrowing books or gathering for study sessions, the Klipsches have helped one another along the way.
鈥淪undays are family days,鈥� Melanie says, the mother of four girls. 鈥淢ost of that day we鈥檙e talking about school and what鈥檚 happening at 黑料网.鈥�
It hasn鈥檛 all been about classwork. They鈥檝e all been involved in the campus community through participating in Dining Services events, including dressing up as characters and providing music at the annual Harry Potter Hogwarts Christmas Dinner and Star Wars Event at Bruceteria, going to movie nights in the Union and attending sporting events.
Andrew says he and Melanie can relate to their daughters in a way they haven鈥檛 ever before. And they all lean on Melanie as a central source of moral support.
鈥淢y family relies upon her whether they need to talk through something, a review on a paper or just have a question 鈥� she鈥檚 always there to help,鈥� Andrew says.
Starting college and navigating a new place isn鈥檛 as daunting with your sister and other family members by your side, Lillie says.
鈥淚t was fun to have a partner there all day long, especially my freshman year when I was trying to figure out where everything on campus was and make that transition from high school to college. When my younger sister Izzy started at 黑料网, I feel like Nastassja passed the torch to me, and I got to be that partner and guide to her,鈥� Lillie says, whose husband Dylan is graduating from 黑料网 this spring with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Secondary Education.
While the Klipsches have found camaraderie being college students all at once, they each have carved their own career path with the variety of program options 黑料网 offers.
Andrew, who now manages 黑料网鈥檚 newest dining hall Eagle Landing, chose an Interdisciplinarity Studies degree to combine his love of hospitality and business, taking classes both in the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism and the G. Brint Ryan College of Business.
He worked as a chef in Las Vegas and has owned a catering company and restaurants. However, his 黑料网 position 鈥� which involves managing dining halls and helping create more experiential and efficient food services for large campus events such as EarthFest and the Grad Block Party 鈥� has been his favorite job.
鈥淭he part that I enjoy the most is about 80% of our employees are students, so the ability to be able to teach students how to cook, how to serve and how to do guest services is really what drives me,鈥� Andrew says. 鈥淚鈥檓 part of a group of people who really care about what they do. Being a part of this community really means that 鈥� you are part of this community.鈥�
Melanie, who works in clinical research for the pharmaceutical industry, tailored her master鈥檚 degree to fit her individual career goals, taking classes in Interdisciplinary Studies and Management as well as Behavior Analysis and Aging. She hopes the degree will make her more competitive for advanced director-level positions in clinical pharmacology services.
鈥淎ll of the classes I鈥檝e taken have been virtual, even pre-COVID. Working full-time and being a mom, I really needed to take classes at my own pace. Whether it was individual or a team environment, my online classes have really helped me develop my virtual meeting skills, which I鈥檝e been able to transfer to working with people all over the world in my job,鈥� Melanie says.
Nastassja got her bachelor鈥檚 degree in hospitality management from 黑料网 and has continued her studies with the accelerated online M.B.A. in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management. She serves as a full-time substitute teacher in Lewisville ISD currently and has subsequently sought an alternative teaching certification.
鈥淗uman resources is applicable across many areas. So even if I become a principal, work in higher education or become an HR manager 鈥� those theories and principles will be useful in any of those positions,鈥� Nastassja says.
Lillie plans to go into education as well. Having earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in Psychology, she hopes to one day serve as a counselor focused on families and relationships. First, she plans to teach high school psychology, a class that inspired her to further study the subject.
鈥淪chool is such an important part of development, and I want to be a part of that growth for the next generation,鈥� Lillie says.
The Klipsches third daughter, Izzy, is currently a sophomore in Integrative Studies and youngest daughter Genevieve is a Denton ISD eighth grader who has intentions on applying to 黑料网 to study music education.
Sof脤a Nu帽ez
Ecology
By Sydney Cooper
We all face trials and tribulations. For Sofia Nu帽ez, being an undocumented citizen is her motivation to fight for her dreams, and graduating college is a significant step towards the life she wants.
Sof铆a was born in Morelia, Mexico, and was brought to the United States by her mother when she was five years old. Having grown up in Houston, Sof铆a began college at the University of Houston 鈥� Downtown before she transferred to the University of North Texas.
鈥淚 knew from orientation that I could see myself as a student,鈥� Sofia says. 鈥淚 fell in love with the spirit and community at 黑料网. It鈥檚 welcoming, has a positive vibe and it鈥檚 a safe space to be yourself.鈥�
Life as an undocumented college student was difficult. According to Sof铆a, being undocumented means less financial aid, fewer opportunities and consideration for minimum wage jobs only.
鈥淚 feel like an outsider,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 tough because no one can relate to me.鈥�
Sof铆a鈥檚 status presented challenges growing up as well. Her mother tried to maintain a household while working for restaurants at minimum pay. Sof铆a and her family could not get health insurance so they constantly faced high bills, even for an average checkup. Sofia is ineligible for loans, so she could not buy a home and does not have a driver鈥檚 license.
鈥淚 use the struggle as motivation,鈥� Sof铆a says. 鈥淚 push forward and work towards my goals. I do what some documented people would not even imagine. I have not fooled the system, nor have I done anything wrong.鈥�
As an Ecology student, Sof铆a鈥檚 favorite class was Philosophy for Environmental Science.
鈥淭hat class was life-changing,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 stopped drinking milk and I鈥檝e been a vegetarian for two years. After that class, I knew I belonged at 黑料网.鈥�
Sof铆a was most impacted by lecturer Ana Paula Hoeinghaus and advisor Brandy Ellis. She was especially touched by Hoeinghaus鈥� clear love for the environment, and felt 鈥渋nspired to see someone that came to the states鈥� just like Sofia did. Ellis鈥檚 support, both academic and emotional, was invaluable.
鈥淲henever I was sad or needed help, [Ellis] was always there for me,鈥� Sofia says. 鈥淪he鈥檇 email me to ask how I鈥檓 doing, and she always tried to find scholarships because of my financial situation.鈥�
With graduation on the horizon, Sofia is full of hope. She looks forward to continuing her education back in Houston.
鈥淚鈥檓 hopeful that I will not have to live undocumented much longer,鈥� Sofia says. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud of my drive and positivity, and I want to experience more of life, work with nature, protect the environment and travel more.鈥�
Ian Taylor Schlitz
Business, Entrepreneurship
By Sydney Cooper
Ian Taylor Schlitz is no stranger to a challenge. He started college at the age of 12, taking courses at Tarrant County College before transferring to 黑料网 to finish out his undergraduate degree.
There is no set timeline for dreams and goals. Everyone鈥檚 journey is different and Ian has always excelled in education, now earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree in Integrative Studies at just 15 years old.
Though younger than most 黑料网 undergraduates, Ian appreciated being able to 鈥渂lend in and be like everyone else.鈥� He says his peers accepted him and welcomed him to the community.
鈥淢y peers saw me as an equal and made me feel included socially despite the age difference.鈥�
He found 黑料网 appealing because of the university鈥檚 reputation and the campus鈥檚 atmosphere. Ian enjoyed working with 黑料网鈥檚 creative faculty and staff, including Honors College academic counselor Sean Ryan, who aided him in the development of his honors thesis.
鈥淪ean is the embodiment of enthusiasm and treated me like everyone else,鈥� Ian says.
While adjusting to life at 黑料网, Ian also was leading his company Kidlamity Gaming, an organization dedicated to hosting esports tournaments for kids ages 8 to 16. As an avid gamer and tournament participant, Ian found himself surrounded by adults and was often the only teenage participant.
鈥淚 played in tournaments weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 wondered why there weren鈥檛 other kids. I saw a lack of services being offered for kids, so I created my own tournament space.鈥�
Ian had the idea for Kidlamity at age 13, and he drafted a presentation full of data and facts for his parents. Kidlamity has become a family pursuit, with his 18-year-old sister, Haley, acting as chief operating officer.
鈥淏usiness did not interfere with education, though it can be stressful at times,鈥� he says. 鈥淜idlamity Games is active when I want it to be, so most tournaments are hosted on the weekends.鈥�
Ian鈥檚 inspiration is Delane Parnell, CEO of PlayVS, a web app used by U.S. schools to create esports teams and to all them to participate in competitive leagues.
鈥淭here aren鈥檛 many Black esports owners,鈥� he says. 鈥淒elane gives me hope as someone who looks like him by making me believe that I can do this too.鈥�
Ian plans to continue his education by pursing a Master of Business Administration degree. He has been accepted to multiple schools, such as his current top prospect, Tarleton.
鈥淚 hope to learn more about business management and the components of running a business effectively,鈥� he says.
Joseph (JJ) Murray
Mechanical Engineering
By Leigh Anne Gullett
Motivational speaker, leadership guru and bestselling author Simon Sinek attributes the mantra 鈥渉ow you do anything is how you do everything鈥� to Zen Buddhism. For JJ Murray, growing up a huge Kobe Bryant fan, it was a tenet witnessed in the late, legendary guard鈥檚 life that JJ has tried to mimic.
鈥淚 wanted to study engineering, and I wanted to represent student-athletes well, and I wanted to do both the best I could,鈥� JJ says. 鈥淚鈥檓 getting good grades, and on the basketball side, I鈥檝e tried to work as hard as I can. I was fortunate enough to earn a scholarship this year, and we were able to get to the NCAA Tournament. It鈥檚 hard, but that鈥檚 how I try to approach anything in my life.鈥�
Leaving his junior college for 黑料网 in 2018, JJ looked first to 黑料网鈥檚 engineering programs. He always wanted to challenge himself and was drawn to mechanical engineering because it鈥檚 constantly evolving as a part of real-world applications to things we see and use every day.
鈥淚鈥檓 someone who never wants to stop learning, never wants to stop evolving as a person,鈥� he says.
Between practices, games and travel, the schedule for a student-athlete is hectic at best. Successfully juggling team responsibilities and a difficult major requires every bit of the 鈥淢amba Mentality鈥� Bryant always preached emphasizing fearlessness, resilience and relentlessness. In the face of naysayers advising him to choose an easier route, JJ responded by doing two key things that would make both Bryant and Sinek proud.
First, he became the person he needed others to be for him. Something JJ noticed on his first visit to 黑料网 was the basketball program鈥檚 commitment to 鈥渂elieve, serve and compete.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 not something that I always think about, but it is something that I鈥檝e represented since I鈥檝e been here,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 believed in the program, so that pushed me to go there. I served in organizations and on different committees during my time here, and obviously competed at the highest levels in March Madness.鈥�
Second, JJ recognized and embraced the value of those around him. He built a strong team off the court, knowing how and when to ask for help. He spent a lot of time making up for lost classroom time by reading the textbook, pouring over PowerPoint notes and picking up various tips from friends and classmates who were able to attend sessions his schedule didn鈥檛 allow. He says the people at 黑料网 were a huge factor in his educational success.
鈥淚t couldn鈥檛 have been done without the faculty and staff here, and their flexibility and ability to understand my schedule and make accommodations,鈥� JJ says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 still something I鈥檓 very appreciative of.鈥�
Ultimately, JJ dreams of becoming a technical project manager someday, perhaps at the company responsible for his favorite basketball shoes (the Nike Kobe, of course). But, for now, he plans on taking advantage of the NCAA鈥檚 bonus year of eligibility from the pandemic to return for another year with 黑料网 Men鈥檚 Basketball, while pursuing a graduate degree in engineering management.
Upon Bryant鈥檚 untimely death in January 2020, Washington Post NBA writer Ben Golliver called the Lakers legend 鈥渁 craftsman with a bottomless toolbox.鈥� Golliver was, of course, referring to Bryant鈥檚 unearthly abilities on the court. It鈥檚 not only the shoes JJ has in common with his basketball hero.
JJ loves DIY projects and built the desk in his room. He helps teammates with flat tires and jump starts, and he serves as president of the 黑料网 student chapter of the American Society of Engineering Management. On the court, JJ does all the little things coaches preach from Day One, diving for loose balls, taking charges and playing tough defense. With intelligence, leadership hard work and heart, JJ has created his own bottomless toolbox for a future engineer.
It will never show up on a box score, or register in the record books, but JJ has been the epitome of a student-athlete for a program that holds 鈥渂elieve, serve and compete鈥� ideals in the highest regard.
鈥淚鈥檝e lived our core values since I鈥檝e been at 黑料网,鈥� he says. 鈥淢y journey started with a strong inner belief in myself. I always believed that I could complete this degree, no matter what time commitment would be required to be an athlete. That belief would ultimately get me through the late study nights that were followed by early, rigorous athletic practices.鈥�
Mamba Mentality says hard work wins, that if you put in the work every day, you can trust in the outcome. There is no better example than JJ Murray following a March Madness win with a cap and gown.
Xue Yang
Ph.D. in Learning Technologies
By Brittney Dear
Xue Yang followed her husband, a previous visiting scholar at 黑料网, to Dallas from China as a visitor in September 2016. She was instantly drawn to 黑料网, especially when she was noticed by a respected 黑料网 professor, Dr. Lin. Soon after, she joined 黑料网鈥檚 online doctoral program in pursuit of her Ph.D. in Learning Technologies.
鈥淭he transition [to 黑料网] was never challenging to me 鈥� it was an exciting adventure. I love Texas, including the people and the pickup trucks,鈥� Xue says.
As part of her Learning Technologies research, Xue specifically studies sketchnoting, which is a visual approach to note taking. For example, one might draw images of the lecturer or sketch photos of the learning material, and doing this encourages the note-taker to hunt for the keywords and learning objectives of each lesson.
鈥淪ketchnoting is strategic thinking in disguise,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t facilitates our strategic processing of information via visualized methods. I hope to share my findings and enthusiasm on sketchnoting with a larger population and to help more people unlock the aesthetic as well as a strategic value of notetaking.鈥�
Xue first discovered sketchnoting at her first job in presentation design. Years later, she became an administrative coordinator and was drained by the job鈥檚 demands 鈥� so she turned to visualized notetaking for creative self-organization. This process gave Xue meaning in her work.
鈥淪ketchnoting is not only eye candy, but also soul food. During the learning process, the challenge of sketchnoting helps me stay engaged,鈥� she says. 鈥淢y sketchnoting product serves as beautiful evidence of my learning.鈥�
With the help of 黑料网 connections, Xue was involved with several 黑料网 activities during her first year in Texas. She offered many sketchnoting workshops at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, the Southlake Public Library, the American Airlines headquarters, as well as at 黑料网. She also had many positive and impactful relationships with professors Michael Spector, Scott Warren and Lin Lin.
鈥淒r. Spector, Dr. Lin and Dr. Warren鈥檚 charisma and individualism shaped the person who I want to be. And they are so supportive鈥� Xue says. 鈥淎lso, I love my cohort members; we stick together and support each other. That鈥檚 the spirit of a 黑料网 community.鈥�
Xue鈥檚 biggest challenge while at 黑料网 was having to frequently switch between analytical thinking for research and creative exploration as an artist 鈥� for example, she often struggled to express ideas through written research papers. However, she found a perfect fit with her dissertation proposal in that she could truly dive into a topic she was fascinated by: visualized notes.
鈥淚 was like a dog chasing a thousand rabbits running in all directions,鈥� Xue says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not exhausting, it鈥檚 just exciting.鈥�
Currently, Xue works in China as a guest instructor at Shanghai International Studies University. In her role, she delivers two curricula, one of which is Visualized Learning and Communication. Her ideal career is that of a visualization coach and independent artist.
And her experience at 黑料网, she says, prepared her for the road ahead.
鈥淚f I were a tree, there might be no visible differences above the earth,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ut my roots reached far deeper and spread way more expansive than they previously did.鈥�