Tyler Junior College has recognized 696 graduates earning 777 awards for the Fall 2022 semester.
TJC President Dr. Juan E. Mejia conferred the degrees and certificates on the graduates during four commencement ceremonies held Friday in Wagstaff Gymnasium.
“This is the most special day for all of us,” said TJC President and CEO Dr. Juan E. Mejia as he greeted the graduates.
“In my 35 years of serving in higher education, I have participated in countless graduation ceremonies, but which one has been my favorite? This one. The one that I am actively participating in right now. Why? Because you are here. You are heroic students who have gone through so many trials, tribulations, challenges and opportunities — and now, here you are as candidates for graduation.”
Mother-daughter duo Melissa Burt (left) and Kaelyn Toone, both of Tyler, walked the TJC stage together. Burt graduated summa cum laude with an accounting degree and Toone graduated magna cum laude with a psychology degree, with both earning their degrees mostly online.
Mother-daughter duo Melissa Burt and Kaelyn Toone, both of Tyler, walked the TJC stage together on Friday.
Burt graduated summa cum laude with an accounting degree and Toone graduated magna cum laude with a psychology degree, with both earning their degrees mostly online.
“What really made it possible for me was being able to do this online,” Burt said. “With COVID, plus my other daughter being special needs, we needed to be really careful. Also, my dad was also living with us. So, it’s been really crazy for two years. If not for the online option at TJC, there would have been no way for me to be able to come to class regularly.”
Both enjoyed their TJC experiences, some of which included taking a few classes together, but now their college journeys are taking different directions.
Burt is planning to continue her education to earn her bachelor’s degree in accounting and then hopefully become a staff accountant at an area business. Toone is headed to either UT Tyler or Dallas, where she will pursue her bachelor’s degree in psychology.
“Right now, I work with people with autism in behavioral therapy using applied behavioral analysis (ABA),” Toone said. “I want to continue to work my way up in the behavioral side of psychology and work with mostly youth. I will definitely remember the kindness that radiated around the TJC campus almost every time I was there.”
Daisy Salgado, of Tyler, graduated magna cum laude with a degree in social work. She is continuing toward her Bachelor of Social Work degree at Stephen F. Austin State University.
Daisy Salgado, of Tyler, graduated magna cum laude with a degree in social work. She is continuing toward her Bachelor of Social Work degree at Stephen F. Austin State University.
“I am not your traditional college student,” Salgado said. “I came back to get my degree at an older age after my life choices put me in a situation where I could not provide for my daughter. I am first-generation college student, and, because of this, I was accepted in the TRIO program. Their services were a big impact on my success at TJC and beyond.”
She continued, “Earning my associate degree magna cum laude was my first success in my education. It was validation that I could do it. It made me confident that I would be able to earn the degrees I needed, to work in the field I loved, and be able to provide for my daughter Camila, who is 5 years old.”
Jazmin Dominguez, of Tyler, graduated summa cum laude with her associate degree in accounting. She will continue her education at UT Tyler, with eventual plans to start her own accounting firm and help Hispanics in her community.
“I was fortunate to receive the Presidential Honors scholarship as well as the TJC Promise scholarship, which took care of all my college expenses,” she said. “College is very expensive, so having the opportunity to have two years of college paid for was an advantage that I did not want to pass on.”
Jazmin Dominguez, of Tyler, graduated summa cum laude with an associate degree in accounting. She will continue her education at UT Tyler, with eventual plans to start her own accounting firm and help the Hispanics in her community.
Dominguez continued, “I love TJC because it’s such a tightknit community, especially the honors program. They had so much to offer. Being in the program kept me really steady with my grades because we all supported each other. Honors Director Dave Funk was also super helpful in helping me transfer to the honors program at UT Tyler.”
Daisy Moreno, of Tyler, earned her criminal justice degree and has been accepted into the Texas Department of Public Safety Academy to become a Texas State Trooper.
“I have always wanted to be a criminal justice major, and I heard really good things about TJC,” Moreno said. “I just want people to know that at first it can be a challenge; but if you commit to it and be consistent, you will make it — maybe even farther than you could have imagined.”
TJC Fall 2022 graduates and their hometowns
ALBA: Corena McCormack, Irene Ramirez and Trinity Ramirez
ARLINGTON: Joshua Bolden, Courtlan Byrd and Christen Friday
ARP: Andrea Davis
ATHENS: Jasmine Castaneda, Amber Huckabee, Jansyn Hughes and Heather Wilson
AUBREY: Marcellus Rivers II
AUSTIN: Ngoc Tuy
BEN WHEELER: Matthew Catlin, Dylan Goodman, Brianna Lemus, Paulina Lopez Castillo, Danielle Miles, Ashton Simpson, Joshua Stegall and Kristin Webb
BIG SANDY: Stacey Hamberg, Allison Harroff, Suzette Phillips and Bobby Tharp
BLOSSOM: Charles Whipkey Jr.
BROWNWOOD: Juan Zamora
BULLARD: Amanda Bolton, Brody Bradshaw, Christopher Cochrane, Kaitlynn Crowston, Clint Gardner, Lyndsi Hathaway, Daija Mayes, Landen Medley, Ashlea Olson, Danielle Parker, Bobby Ragon, Alicia Silvas, Charley Sneed, Summer Stone, Gary Valentine Jr., Rebecca York and Christian Zavala
CAMDEN: Jalen Moore
CANTON: Morris Green, Juan Guajardo, Karen Nance, LeAnn Schwindt, Kyla Shook, Halle Souers, Hailey Travis, Emilee Vasquez and Khail Volhov
Daisy Moreno, of Tyler, earned her criminal justice degree and has been accepted into the Texas Department of Public Safety Academy to become a State Trooper.
CARROLLTON: Kemberley Dvornik
CARTHAGE: Micaela Cotton and Melia Sutherland
CEDAR HILL: Kenneth Kemp
CENTER: Diamondnique McCullough
CHANDLER: Juan Gonzalez, Macy Bagby, Anna Bragg, Alexandra Brown, Ashlyn Castro, Jessica Martinez and Gabrielle Reed
CLARKSBURG, Maryland: Kemon Ko-Bloomfield
COMALCO, Mexico: Jesus Pardo
CONROE: Jonathan Torres
CROCKETT: Christina Strban
CUSHING: Sara Whisenant
CYPRESS: Dylan Crippen
DAINGERFIELD: Brianna Precise
DALLAS: Kobe Lloyd
DENTON: Yigermal Dalge and Kyra Warren
DIANA: Cooper Holland and Kylie Porter
DIBOLL: Abisag Saucedo
EDOM: Leah Crow
ELKHART: Marion Martinez
FARMERS BRANCH: Joshua Roeland
FLINT: Cinsere Baker, Collin Boyd, Jamar Campbell, Kaitlyn Campbell, Timothy Carpenter, Kelly Clark, Madison Edge, Kwame Freeman, Elijah Gilliam, Triston Gladhill, Chris Harris, Brittany Heyder, Jessica Hopkins, Andrea Langley, Lanedira Long, Amanda Loper, Karina Mancilla, Myles Massanelli, Amanda Meek, Gelsey Romero, Jacqueline Saucedo, Amelia Strout, Russell Waterman, Alexa Wehrman, Arianna Williams and Erica Wishnow
FORNEY: Iazzhane Fleming and James Prestwood
FORT HOOD: Edith Wineland
FORT WORTH: Sage Carruthers, Joshua Landrum, Kaleno Levine, Eva Smith, Mason Thompson and Amber Zedlitz
FRANKSTON: Brittaney Allen, Caitlyn Medlin, Kayla Pizano and Lacey Strother
GAINESVILLE: Skye Farr
GARLAND: Esther Martinez
GILMER: Kharli Clemens, Caleb Gongre, Kaylee Hart, Avery Jackson, Kyndall Thornton and Caimbre Worley
GLADEWATER: Jadyn Hippard and Mallory Moffeit
GOLDEN: Christina Hippe and Michele Kruse
GRAND SALINE: Macie Browning, Alexia Collins, Sarah Fisher, Corey Gaston, Emily Gonzalez, Molly Martin, Diana McLean, Ashlee Pate, Israel Rivera and Molly Whatley
GRANDVIEW: Dylan Dailey
GRAPELANE: Ashley Knowles
GREENVILLE: Jenifer Santos
GROESBECK: Trevor Menzel
GULFPORT, Mississippi: Chelsie Boyden
HALTOM CITY: Jorge Martinez
HAWKINS: Miranda Barron, Theodora Davis and Issaka Salifu
HEARTLAND: Tynia Evans
HEATH: Ashley Jeffrey
HENDERSON: Layla Bazaldua Morales, Tontiana Boone, Skylar Hutchings, Christian Patino, Victoria Sinclair and Annie Smith
HOLLY LAKE RANCH: Jacey Coe, Logan Mrdak and Haley Wigington
HOUSTON: Faizal Akinlusi, Emma Chancellor, Christopher Grace, Ja’Laia Macon, Jakob Mosvold, Juliet Philpott and Earon Wallace
HUNTSVILLE: Kayla Harbin
IRVING: Caleb Russell
JACKSONVILLE: Laura Barajas, Amanda Bellanger, Karen Casas, Rylan Clakley, Shelby Fann, Steven Gonzales, Michelle Hayes, Cristian Hernandez, Dinorah Hernandez, Ashley Hill, Luis Lopez Dorado, Noemi Lozano, Paul Maldonado, Priscilla Matauribe, Alexis Medellin, Rebecca Mejia, Jesus Mendoza, Isai Santamaria, Makenzie Sexton, Cherrissa Southerland, Jasmine Suarez, Carlos Yebra and Yesenia Zuniga
KARNACK: Kenya Pineda
KEMP: Michelle Maldonado
KENNARD: Natysha Toliver
KILGORE: Jennifer Jaime, Sara Kenna, Natalie Long, Brenda Martinez, David Moreno, Dayana Sanchez and Emma Taylor
KINGWOOD: Trevor Pope
LARUE: Krystle Burns
LEAGUE CITY: Cameron Crawford, Christopher Lomax and Amanda Newell
LICHFIELD STAFFORDSHIRE, UK: Tai-Reece Chisholm
LINDALE: Lauryn Blackwell, Sheila Burt, Chelsie Cagle, Sheryl Cervantes, Alison Cheney, Keslie Cook, Ashley Droblyn, Sarah Fowble, Lyndon Golden, Zoe Hamm, Jennifer Hinton, Madeline Kimble, Amie Kuntz, Camryn Malone, Jennifer Martin, Camryn McAdams, Rebekah McFadden, Hannah Nichols, Madison Ortiz, Chloe Page, John Park, Thomas Pettway, Antonio Ramirez, Lisa Reed, Reyna Robledo, James Romine, Mary Simmons, Taryn Stark, Alissa Stewart, Copeland Taylor, Joanna Voyles and MacKenzie Yancy
LINDEN: Adrain Patterson
LITTLE ELM: Avery Glover
LONGVIEW: Shavica Barron, MarKendrick Beall, Brandy Branch, Chrystal Carter, Sahira Corona, Vanessa Gonzales, Simon Griffith, Alissa Harper, Terrance Head, Jorge Juarez Vega, Chevelle Keith, Caitlin Kelley, J’La Maloy, Brad Mull, Perla Nunez, Eric Sanchez, Emily Savinon, Tia Taylor, Jacorey Valentine, Megan Wall and Timothy Wright
LUFKIN: Aaliyah Beason, Caleb Brown, Angeles Cortez, A’Tia Fredieu, Emily Medina and Kathy Rodriguez
MABANK: Autumn Baker and Brittany Dyer
MARSHALL: Keyundra Cartwright, Zephaniah Putnam, Keven Saucedo, Maria Sierra-Soto and Yadira Solache
MAUD: Brynn Sultz
MAYDELLE: Kelsey Baker and Andre Sattler
MELISSA: Isabella Giannantonio
MESQUITE: James Collins II and Vaniecia Thomas
MINDEN: Derek Abner
MINEOLA: Lacy Bartlett, Alyssa Bussell, Jimena Chavez, Daniel Clower, Jacob Ford, Shauntel Greaves, Madison Hartzog, Autumn Hill, Luz Licona, Rosalinda Marquez, Lizbeth Melgarejo Vazquez, Jiselle Miranda, Helen Salguero Najarro, Lane Smith, Landon Stanley, Kiara Williams, Kyle Williams and Amy Young
MONROE: Graceson Jackson-Smith
MOUNT PLEASANT: Sara Cantrell
MURCHISON: Nathan Rumbo
NACOGDOCHES: Carrie Williams
NEW BOSTON: Cortland Haskins
NEW SUMMERFIELD: Juan Mendoza
OMAHA: Seth Ashley
OVERTON: Brenda Alcantar, D’Artagnan Gomez, Dylan Landry and Charlsie Ward
PALESTINE: Monia Bradford, Robyn Fort, Rachel Fulgham, Kayla Hall, Savannah Sanders, Kassidy Turner and Monica Wilson
PARIS: Jayme Orion
PICKTON: Hanna Brown
PITTSBURG: Adrieannia Easley
PLEASANTON: Montanna Stutts
POINT: Shelby Johnson, Jasmine Robinson and Carley Sale
POWDERLY: Harli Kelley
QUITMAN: Lucy Brannon, Kimberly Griffith, Amanda McKinney, Stephanie Ramirez, Maria Rowland and Helen Woods
RED OAK: Marquita Paschall
RICHARDSON: Hannah-Grace Berkau Maria Morales
ROANOKE: Luz Toro
ROCKWALL: Ryan Tuttle and Brandi Willis
ROYSE CITY: Nadine Rabino
RUSK: Mariela Cruz, Shauna Goff, Kimberly Lewis, Devon Nelson, Valeria Olguin, Chelsea Smith-Byrom, Jaheim Upshaw and Ethan Womack
SALTILLO: Eric Marcum
SAN ANTONIO: Jonathan Hatton
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: Nadechka Reyes Laccen
SCURRY: Deisy Galindo Soto
SHREVEPORT, Louisiana: DeQuavious Anderson
SPRING: Coleby Hamm
SULPHUR SPRINGS: Kimberly Arciga, Jessica Hooker and Ricardo Torres
TERRELL: Ivet Gama Gonzalez and Brittany Koons
TEXARKANA: David Warmack
TEXAS CITY: Shelbee Brewer
TOOL: Elizabeth Hammack
TRAVIS AFB, California: Katryna Cole
TROUP: Kelsie Benge, Alexandra Flora, Nikki Hassell, Sherry Jones, Lauren Kelly, Audree Martin, Morgan McDaniel, Gwendetric Montgomery, Dusty Neely, Rakiah Pierce and Emily Teague
TYLER: Genesis Acevedo, Jennifer Aceves, Lauren Adams, Cereniti Adkins, Anayeli Aguilar, Jazmyne Aguilar, KayLynn Akers, Natalie Alfaro, Risa Alger, Arturo Alvarado, Chellsey Alvarez, Emily Aparicio, Lori Aparicio, Amanda Arteberry, Ka’Darian Asbell, Catheryn Austin, Vanessa Avila, Valeria Ayala, Jayden Bagley, Yvette Barham, Colin Barron, Francisca Bassey, Alyssa Bennett, Benjamin Bennett, James Bennett, Bryan Berver, Nya Bickham, Alex Bonachea, Gabriel Borunda, Cody Bournival, Shelby Bowers, Maria Bravo, Edward Brice, Kendra Britton, Aryana Brons, Christina Brons, Theresa Broussard, Austin Bruce, Tristan Bunch, Stefany Burden, Maura Burket, Emmalee Burris, Melissa Burt, Keyna Caltrider, Diana Campo, Austin Carter, Charla Carver, Alondra Castillo, Mishell Cervantes-Lopez, Caleb Chometa, Kyle Christian, Worth Clark, Dorothy Clutter, Soria Contreras, Jason Cooks, Stephanie Cooper, Kimberleigh Cox, Maria Cruces, Sarahi Cruz Renteria, Haley Curbow, Miyah Currie, En’Tavias Curry, Raven Daniels, Megan Daugherty, Heather Davis, Ellyse Daye, Lizbeth De La Cruz, Jacqueline De Nova, Brandon Deever, Shantae Dews, Jazmin Dominguez, Jamiqua Duarte, Genesis Duenas, David Duran, Nadia Edwards, Sharnecia Elliott, Mario Enriquez, Laquana Ervin, Jesse Espinoza, Ashley Estrada, Benjamin Ezernack, Todd Florey, Collin Fuller, Elena Fults, Julia Fults, Tasheena Gales, Jessica Gannon, Jarmy Garay, Dalelasha Garcia, Kaithlyn Garcia, Kayla Garcia, Shanna Garcia, Sinthia Garcia, J’Tavia Gardner, Lillian Gargus, Madeleine Gifford, Danielle Gilbert, Keisha Gillaspie, Sh’Angela Glenn, Maranda Godlock, Sarai Gonzalez, Yoselin Gonzalez, Margarita Gonzalez Valdez, Hannah Gowin, Jonathan Greenwell, Meagan Griggs, Delaney Guhlke, Crystal Gutierrez, Zayra Guzman, Kathy Hamilton, Tawanna Hamilton, Skylar Hamons, Makayla Harp, Maria Hernandez, Savonda Hewitt, Rebekah Howard, Lakinger Howland, Hannah Hubner, Anna Hudson, Alex Ibarra, Braniya Jackson, Danielle Jacobo, Ashley Johnson, Deasha Johnson, Jakayla Johnson, Ta’Nia Johnson, Lamesa Jordan, Katie Kennedy, Brandy Knight, Michelle Koranda, Ble Heliket Kouadio, Matthew Kuhl, Adrian LaCasse, Tyra Land, Aidan Leak, Joshuah Lee, Jeremiah Lopez, Cruz Lozano, Sarah Malim, Anna Marquez, Alejandro Martinez, Esmeralda Mata, Vanessa Mattingly, Riley May, Ernest Mbewe, Elizabeth McMakin, Irene Medina, Fernando Mendoza, Arlinda Meta, Jordan Miller, Ruth Montes, Erica Moreno, Hector Moreno, Caitlyn Morris, Kayla Mosbey, Jamesia Murry, Kendria Murry, David Mutinda, Kalli Nichols, Daniel Nieto, Ariana Nong, Araceli Noyola, Evelyn Ocampo, Joselyn Olivares, Frida Olivas, Victoria Oliver, Yesenia Ortega, Carlos Palacios, Danielle Parker, Jacqueline Parker, Ammye Parks, Genoveva Pasillas-Andrade, Josue Paz, Abigail Penn, Jasmine Perdomo, Nathali Perez, Quinton Pierce, LaShanda Polk, Olivia Price, Everett Pudwill, Areli Ramirez, Taylor Rapp, Armando Rios Tellez, Donna Rivera, Keith Rivera, Chauncie Roberts, Aymele Rodas, Isabel Rodriquez, Evelyn Rosales, Perla Rubio, Allyson Runk, Gabriel Russell, Ruby Russell, Maria Sanchez, Christian Sandoval, Jessica Scott, Yonie Sernal, Carlie Sessions, Randall Setzler, Deborah Shoemaker, Terrance Sirles, Carlisha Smith, Collin Smith, Sarah Smith, Jaclyn Snelling, Tori Snyder, Luis Sosa, Shanece Spikes, Lucas Stanovic, Jolee Stuart, Samantha Susewind, Hannah Taylor, Hosia Taylor, Vickie Tennyson, Ty Terrell, Alexis Terry, Whitney Thompson, Ty Tidwell, Kaelyn Toone, Fatou Touray, Yessica Valdez, Sarai Valencia, Luis Vallejo, LaKendra Vann, Maria Vargas, Jeremy Vaughn, Debora Vega, Jesus Vega, Daniel Vera, Manuel Viramontes, Charleese Wade, Adriana Walker, Zack Ward, Kavon Washington, Dustin Whisenhunt, Dylan White, Jailien White, Samuel White, Christopher Wiley, Daniella Wilken, Aleeya Williams, Halie Williams, Kelsey Williamson, Kinley Wilson, Monica Wilson, Karrington Wise, De’Kyra Wright, Jesus Yanez, Diana Zavala, Iriana Zavala, Jesse Zavala, Jason Zhu and Shanequia Flowers
VAN: Kiley Fitzgerald, Joshua Jarman, Kaylee Reddy, Keren Vazquez, Christopher York and Kristian Youngblood
WAHIAWA, Hawaii: Kyle Parker
WASKOM: Brandon Galles
WAXAHACHIE: Sara Rodriguez
WEATHERFORD: Lindsay Bosley
WEST TAWAKONI: Alicia Chappell
WHITE OAK: Mary McGrew
WHITEHOUSE: Brittany Alexander, Shelby Ardoin, Matthew Bockover, Kelsie Bowins, Aspen Buckner, Gloria Bustos, Kaden Casey, Spencer Clay, Bailey Corbett, Miranda Davis, Jamie Ellis, Caitlin Gillean, Dianna Gregg, Kenneth Hamilton Jr., Haylee Haxton, Kelli Hefner, Tamia Isabell, Sleta Kendall, Asja Lewis, Haley Morris, Anthony Neeland, Adrienne Scott, Jeanette Torres, Ellexis Whitfield, and Brady Wilson
WILLS POINT: Michael Lenamond
Kendall Moore and Gissel Rodriguez
WINNSBORO: Heather Bryant, Jason Garrison and Jasmine Perez
WINONA: Zackary Austin, Ezekiel Espinoza, Jason Ford, Nadine Hurlstone, Jessica Jones, Rachael Lay and Blake Welborn
YANTIS: Carlos Lopez