FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 14, 2017
STEPHENVILLE, Texas—When Tarleton State University graduates walk the stage this Friday and Saturday, a number of outstanding students will embody the core values of the school and exemplify the power of higher education to open doors to new ideas and change communities—and families—for the better.
The 1,190 graduates receiving diplomas at this year’s fall commencement exercises include students who held down full-time jobs while earning their degree, overcame challenges and followed their hearts to embark on a lifelong dream.
Here’s a sampling:
Dalerie Lamphere
B.S. in Applied Science
College of Business Administration
Dalerie continued her fulltime job as director of testing at Hill College while earning her bachelor’s degree in applied science from the College of Business Administration. A grandmother, she is this fall’s Outstanding Graduate in her program.
“The opportunity to make a difference in a student’s life is definitely humbling and leaves you wanting to do more,” she said.
Earning a bachelor’s is a step forward in Dalerie’s pursuit of higher education. Her heart is set on a graduate degree.
Between work, classes and spending time with her grandson, Dalerie trains and trials Border Collies. She’ll be a judge at the 2018 Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo sheep dog trials.
Marily Considine
M.A. in English
College of Liberal & Fine Arts
Life has been anything but easy for Marily Considine, wife of Tarleton Distinguished Young Alumnus U.S. Army Maj. John Considine.
A few years back, Marily received a heartbreaking diagnosis: stage three advanced breast cancer. That hasn’t kept her from earning a master’s degree in English with an almost 4.0 GPA and a spot in Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society.
The mother of two children, Marily isn’t one to feel sorry for herself. She’s helped build a house for a wounded warrior and been part of the USO’s United Through Reading’s military program that helps children of deployed parents.
During husband John’s military career, he deployed to several dangerous places—including Iraq and Afghanistan—and received numerous medals. A 2001 graduate, he was a member of the Texan Reps, Tarleton Army ROTC Texan Battalion, Wainwright Rifles and the Tarleton Plowboys.
Jessica Alexander
B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies
College of Education
A first-generation college student, Jessica Alexander transferred to Tarleton’s Fort Worth center from Tarrant County College. She is this fall’s Outstanding Graduate in the teacher preparation program.
Jessica served as president of Tarleton Professional Educators and was selected for Alpha Chi Honor Society and Kappa Delta Phi International Education Honor Society.
She’ll follow her dream of teaching this spring and has plans to pursue a graduate degree.
Terren Moore
B.S. in Agricultural Services and Development
College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
When Terren Moore signed up for an agriculture class to fulfill his high school’s elective requirement as a freshman, he had no idea that decision would change his life.
Along with playing drums at Winona High School and running track, Terren served as treasurer of his FFA chapter during his sophomore year and was elected secretary for both his chapter and district as a junior.
Throughout his time in FFA, Terren grew peas in a small garden on his family’s property. Today, he owns and operates Moore Peas Co., a five-acre farm that produces purple hull peas, cream peas and okra.
Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural services and development—with a concentration in agri-industries and agencies—Terren’s interested in a career as an agent with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Smith County, where he interned during his time at Tarleton.
Watch this weekend’s commencements live at www.tarleton.edu. Look for link information prior to the event.
On Friday, the colleges of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences and Health Sciences & Human Services conduct graduation ceremonies at 1 p.m., followed by the colleges of Liberal & Fine Arts, and Science & Technology at 4 p.m. Ceremony for the College of Graduate Studies takes place at 7 p.m., when all master’s and doctoral candidates are hooded and receive their diplomas.
Ceremonies continue on Saturday beginning with the College of Business Administration and its Department of Management graduates at 10 a.m. The colleges of Education and Business Administration’s departments of Accounting, Finance & Economics and Marketing & Computer Information Systems conduct ceremonies at 1 p.m.
Tarleton will award 1,002 undergraduate, 173 graduate and 15 doctoral degrees during the fall commencement ceremonies.
Tarleton, celebrating 100 years as founding member of The Texas A&M University System, provides a student-focused, value-driven educational experience marked by academic innovation and exemplary service, and dedicated to transforming students into tomorrow’s professional leaders. As a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) with campuses in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian and online, Tarleton engages with its communities to provide real-world learning experiences and to address societal needs while maintaining its core values of tradition, integrity, civility, leadership, excellence and service.
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Contact: Cecilia Jacobs, News & Information Director
817-597-6040
[email protected]
