STEPHENVILLE, Texas — For Tarleton State University commencement speaker Calleigh Archer, thinking two steps ahead helped expedite completion of her degree, which she will receive later this week.
Her plan started as a high school student, where she set out to take as many dual credit courses as possible in order to finish college early. As a result, it only took her two years to earn her degree in agriculture services and development. She’ll share her experience as she delivers the student address at Tarleton State’s commencement at 9 a.m. Friday.
“I had originally planned to finish in three years,” said Archer, “but I fast-tracked my dual credit courses and got my degree in two.”
The Prosper native graduated from Rock Hill High School in 2023 with both her high school diploma and an associate degree from Collin College, which she earned thanks to those dual credit courses.
She was active in FFA during high school, showing rabbits and plants. One of her teachers was a Tarleton State graduate, and he helped her decide to come to Stephenville.
“I wanted to be an ag teacher like him,” said Archer. “He was very much someone I looked up to. So, I decided to go to here.”
Working to that end, she planned to pursue a degree in agriculture education, but a part-time job pushed her into another area of study.
“I work with Six String Development, a local company,” said Archer. “I started working there through a friend of my dad, and I really got interested in that aspect of things. I decided to switch my degree to one I could benefit from a little bit more. This degree could, hopefully, help me own my own development company one day.”
After serving as the office manager for the business, she realized following a construction project from conception to completion was a career she’d love.
“I’ve been able to get hands-on experience in different areas of the business, reading plans and working with different trades. I really enjoy the work.”
Her academic record at Tarleton State includes being named to the Dean’s List in fall 2023 and the President’s List the next three consecutive semesters.
In her speech, she plans to share some of her educational challenges, her experiences at Tarleton State, the pride she takes in her alma mater, and her faith, which she credits for helping her achieve her goals.
“God has different plans for everybody, and it’s sometimes hard to trust in those plans,” she said, “but you just have to trust and persevere. We might go through hard times, but we’ll always have the pride and community of Tarleton by our side, no matter what.
“We’ll always be Tarleton graduates wherever we go, and we have to represent.”
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of more than 21,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For over 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.