TJC celebrates Fall 2023 graduates


TJC President and CEO Dr. Juan E. Mejia conferred the degrees and certificates on the graduates during four ceremonies held Saturday, Dec. 16, in Wagstaff Gymnasium on the TJC central campus.
 
“This is the most special day for all of us,” Mejia said in his remarks to the graduating class.
 
“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. It is our honor to celebrate you and your achievements today.”
 

Perry Burchfield, Associate Degree Nursing major from Bullard.

After earning her associate degree in nursing (ADN), Perry Burchfield, from Bullard, plans to work as an operating room nurse and pursue her BSN degree from UT Tyler. Her ultimate goal is to become a Registered Nurse First Assist (RNFA), a nurse who helps to perform surgeries.
 
“TJC helped me reach the first step of my journey to becoming a nurse and I am very thankful,” Burchfield said. “All of the professors I had during the ADN program made a huge impact on the nurse that I hope to be.”
 
As the parents of five adopted children, Zona Edwards and her husband, Willie, returned to college as adults to support their large family. She earned her associate degree in English, with plans to pursue a teaching career; and he graduated with a degree in history.
 
Zona admits that the thought of returning to school as an adult and a parent was daunting, and she fully expected to be the uninvolved student sitting in the back of the classroom. 
 
“I thought I’d be in and out and do what I’m supposed to do, not really establishing relationships with other students. But that wasn’t the case at all,” she said. “I made friends in every single one of my classes. Each one of my professors was amazing, and anytime I had an issue or something came up with one of my kids, they were very understanding.”
 

Willie (left) and Zona Edwards, of Tyler. Willie earned an associate degree in history, and Zona earned an associate degree in English.

She continued, “I did not get my family in the most traditional way. It’s just a blessing because I’m showing my kids that it doesn’t matter where you come from or how you grew up — if you want something bad enough, you can do it.”
 
Sam Harrison, of Tyler, earned an Associate of Applied Science in network technology.
 
After graduation, Harrison will begin his career as a telecommunications engineering designer in the Tyler area, while also working on an accelerated bachelor’s/master’s degree program at Western Governor’s University.
 
“The professors were reasonable and understanding while maintaining a rigorous curriculum,” he said of his TJC experience. “They wanted every student to actually learn and understand the material. They always happily gave advice, help and connections to the workforce.”
 
According to tradition, a college mascot must keep his real identity a secret until graduation.
 

Jordan Carnegie, psychology major from The Colony.

As Jordan Carnegie graduated on Saturday, he was proud to finally reveal to the world that he was TJC’s first-ever Harry the Hawk mascot and even wowed the crowd by performing a perfect backflip as he walked across the stage to receive his diploma.
 
Carnegie, a psychology major from The Colony, was named TJC’s first Harry the Hawk in Fall 2022.
 
“TJC has given me such an amazing experience,” he said. “Because of that, I’ve dedicated myself to giving an amazing experience to the TJC community for generations to come. I’m proud that I could be the one to usher in the era of Harry the Hawk.”
 
TJC Fall 2023 graduates and their hometowns
ALBA: Melissa Petillo
ALLEN: Rachael Peters
ALTO: Landon Grammer and Areli Perez-Ramos
ARLINGTON: Alexa Hayes, Moses Ongeta and Joseph Serenko
ARP: Ethan Anderson, Esther Dotson, Kortlyn Hayley, Shayla Lawson, Rebekah Lyon, Rachel Mason, Victoria H. Roach and Alixa Rodriguez
ATHENS: Brenda Arenas Perez, Dewey Barnett, Savanna Benner, Callie Boswell, Timothy Harrison, Michelle Hernandez and Dalton Tracy
BEN WHEELER: Amber Blackmon, Kaitlin Bourque, Laura Cristobal, Alec Edmondson, Sara Mefford, Kaitlyn Rocha and Jose Sanchez
BERTRAM: Abigail Salazar
BIG SANDY: April Bateman, Willie Edwards, Zona Edwards and Trey Gunn
BROWNSBORO: Austin Evans, Carrie Miller, Rebecca Odom, Alyssa Pollmann and Taylor Ray
BUFFALO: Molli Doss

Sam Harrison, of Tyler, Associate of Applied Science in network technology.

BULLARD: Kaitlyn Chang, Alexander Constante, Leah Davidson, Kylie Ferrara, Sydney Garland, Davis Hanson, Donald Hopkins, Caroline Lee, Lindsay Longino, Anna L. Meyers, Jessica Perez, Aidan Reynolds, Eslendi Salazar, Jensen Shrode, Anja Terho-Streck and Naomi Weaver
CADDO MILLS Brettney Callan and Macie Sevier
CANTON: Courtney Armenta, Paul Crayton, Brandy Grinstead, Jesalyn Grizzell, Enrique Guerra, Steven Massey, Koree Perry, Caleb Phillips, Angela Rodgers and Kayla Waymire
CARROLLTON: Bethany McMillon
CARTHAGE: Jyah Cooksey and Rubi Flores
CENTER: Erick Lucio
CENTERVILLE: Evan Neubauer
CHANDLER: Raelyn Johnson, Jessica Martinez, Cody McFadden, Stacie Puckett, Gabrielle Reed, John Walsh, Sarah Weesner and Adam K. Woolverton
CLEVELAND: Dranalon Burnett
COCHRAN, Georgia: Christy Floyd
COMMERCE: Lashamalar J. Lane
COMO: Kayla Clayton
CRANDALL: Fernanda Roel
CROCKETT: Antonio Cruz and Liliana Gonzalez
DALLAS: Arabia Bradford, Roberto Guerrero, Tae’kiria Jackson and Donnelly Mekondo
DIANA: Avery Holcomb
EDGEWOOD: Desmond Dye
ELKHART: Taylor Clark and Andrea Ramos
EMORY: Ashley Cortes and Carmen Hutchings
ENCHANTED OAKS: Gabriel Evans
EULESS: Tonga Lolohea
FAIRFIELD: William Ferguson
FERRIDAY, Louisiana: Willie McCoy
FLINT: Kiandria Cain, Mary Angelie Fullo, Mary Jane Garcia, Isai Govellan Jr., Taylor Harris, Hannah Hunter, Kellye Johnson, Milagros Lesser, Christine Noble, Stellina Pannitti, Julian Ramirez, Henry Richardson-Currey, Noah Rickelman, Chloe R. Russell, Marissa Spence, Kamie Stenberg, Matthew Wakefield and Dyikerria Wallace
FORNEY: Lauren Esquivel
FRANKSTON: Cullen Jones, Brianna Morrison, Payton Presley, Jessica Rickard, Macy Rosenau and Antonio White
FRISCO: Nicholas Sestito
FRUITVALE: Justin Davis
FORT WORTH: Keondra Bailey, Jose Barrios, Brendan Flanary, Wiktor Golebiewski, Traci Jenkins, William Mobley, Kandyce Richardson, Ariel Robinson and Alexandria Torrance
GARLAND: Natalie Hughes
GATESVILLE: Crystal L. Hodge
GILMER:  Carrie Bailey, Keylan Bowens, Shannon D. Haynes, Courtney M. Lage, Aylin Ortiz, Kimberlyn Smith, Dulce Suell and Morgan Williams
GLADEWATER: Elizabeth Bryant, Karla Hobgood, Alexa Jones, Josie Martin, Josie Mensing and Lacey Parr
GLEN BURNIE, Maryland: Ayanna Bell
GLENN HEIGHTS:  Kendal Perkins
GRAND PRAIRIE: Kamariah Simmons
GRAND SALINE: Jacob Brown, Abigail Cortes, Morgan Coughlan, Hunter Daniels, Jessica Gordon, Brittany Koons, Rebeca Lopez, Gavin Malone, Emily Moreno and Timothy Powers
GRAPELAND: Oralia Leal
GUN BARREL CITY: Anjelica Cortez and Laura Hammonds
HALLSVILLE: Emily Gonzalez, Miranda Middleton and Russell Stuart
HARKER HEIGHTS: Ericka Poinson
HAWKINS: Jade Countryman, Candace Pope and Kylie Ross
HENDERSON: Madison Barrientez, Andrea Cobb, Jacob Kendall, Lenna Moore, Tacara Odum, Taijah O’Quinn, Jamashia Polk, Patricia A. Price and Braylee M. Reneau
HIDEAWAY: Gabriel Fortune and Aaron Maxwell
HIGHLANDS: Sarah Muir
HOLLY LAKE RANCH: Tyler Toland
HOMEWOOD, Illinois: Noah Kimbrough
HOUSTON: William Hatter, Demond Rose and Diasya Simmons
HUDSON, Illinois: Katie E. Nussbaum
HUNTSVILLE: Sydney Frazier
HURST: David Hensley
IRVING: Caleb Russell
JACKSONVILLE: Mikayla Arellano, Alexander Barco, Timothy Blanton, Sarai Castillo, Alexis Chavez, Shawayna Frye, Esmeralda Gonzalez, Tiaundria Hatton, Dinorah J. Hernandez, Lindsey Hernandez, Shuntrevia Horn, Emily Loyola, Sarah Mapes, Madison Martinez, Heather Ness, Estrella Padron, TeOddrick Ragsdale, Yoana Rios, Erizbel Sandoval, Emiley Tapia and Jayanna L. Yates
JEFFERSON: Trent Foster, Samuel Seals and Ma’Kayla Williams-Pierson
JOPLIN, Missouri: Nicholas Ballard
KAUFMAN: Emily Rodriguez
KEMP: Daisy Villanueva
KENNARD: Tracy Cole and Keithrick Griffin
KILGORE: Miranda Cook, Mae DeWeese, Katelyn Smith and Erica Thornton
LANCASTER: Hosia Taylor
LANEVILLE: Kayla Springfield
LaRUE: Yamonica Street
LATEXO: Joshua Owens
LEONARD: Jesse Marshall
LINDALE: Afraiem Abdelshahid, Madison Beaird, Caitlin Bethany, Lacey Bonds, Jermone Bowser Jr., Alyssa Camarena, LaQuandriel Cooper, Cory Crowell, Cody Davis, Dillon Derfelt, Naomi Estrada, Joshua Findley, Haylee Flores, Deborah Gomez, Laura Gray, Tierra Griffin, Antoinette Hardin, Adelaide R. James, Chance King, Ronda Knight, Nathalie Kramer, Brianna M. McHam, Jose J. Ramirez, Mary Ray, Maribel Rivera, Harold Roldan, Victoria Rosas Romo, Jennifer Schalik, Eden G. Small, Rena Stevens, Ashley Thrush, Macy Turner, Levi Watson, April Watters, Alyssa Williams, Kevin Willis and Ashlyn M. Wright
LONGVIEW: Madalyn Alexander, Kayleigh Ammons, Shamaria Blanton, Miles Booth, Daijia Carr, Carlos Davila, Alexia Escobar, John Garcia, Vanesa Garcia, Carla Gonzalez, Tamesha Green, Sloan Griffin, Alexis Hill, Aaliea Johnson, Alda Lim, De’Asia T. Mumphrey, Litzy Pascual, Madison Plasterer, Amy Rodriguez, Taylor Toliver, Jacorey Valentine, Matthew Windom and Sarah Yount
LUFKIN: Ashley Cooper, Taide Cortez, Casey Dallas-Orr, Mia Hall and Ashlyn Redwine
MABANK: Jennifer Dean and Elexis Franklin
MALAKOFF: Laura Taylor-Simmons
MANDAN, North Dakota: Janie Triller
MANSFIELD: Jett D. Schnackenberg
MARSHALL: Noemi Acuna, Orlando Garrido-Cabrera, Yareli Miranda, Maricela Rodriguez and Ruby Vazquez
McKINNEY: Citlali Martin
MESQUITE: Landon Davis-Hall, Blessing Hanson and George Jalloh
MIDDLEBURGH, N.Y.: Kaitlynn Geremonte
MILWAUKEE, Wisc.: Arissa Cunningham
MINEOLA: Abigail Acosta, Adam Blalock, Omar Camacho, Ernestina Candelario, LaTasha Collins, Sarah Cordova, Sawyer M. Littlefield, Katherine Mullins, Jaleesa Pitts, Orion Rogers, Lindsey Savage, Brandy Taylor, Triona Davis and Ebony Griffin
MOSCOW: Julissa Jasso
MOUNT PLEASANT: Amy Rosales
MURCHISON: Lisa Black and Kirsti N. Harris
NACOGDOCHES: Ja’Quesha Skinner, Martin Vazquez and Kayla Whitaker
OAKWOOD: Morgan Mulson
ORANGE: Alexandra Ramos
OVERTON: Kevin Chaffa and Sarah Groff
PALESTINE: James Bambeck, Laura Cabrera, Emory Caldera, Bobbi Coffin, Jimmy Davis, Tyler Denton, Jonah Ellison, David Harris, Francisco Hernandez Jr., Marysol Ortiz, Brandy R. Ponder, Melissa J. Rigsby, Luis O. Rodriguez, Kealie Soileau, Jessica D. Valdez and Mel’chizedek Williams
PARIS: Scott Bishop
PEARLAND: Eduardo Delgado and Michael Samson
PENSACOLA, Fla.: Cody Brown
PITTSBURG: Justonni Farmer and Keairra Grant
PONDER: Courtney Bridges
PROVIDENCE VILLAGE: Jaiden Jones
QUANTICO, Va.: Katelyn Maylor
QUITMAN: Drew Deatherage, Kaleb Mosley, Hannah Smith, Matthew S. Smith and Emily Wallace
RED OAK: Jaylen Nangle
REKLAW: Crystal Martinez and Michelle Moore
RICHARDSON: Kaylea Campbell
RICHMOND: Jaden Pete
ROCKWALL: Colton Widemon
ROTAN: Cody Cope and Hunter Elrod
ROUND ROCK: Victoria Clark
ROYSE CITY: Tanesha Dennis and Marco Stewart
RUSK: Kelvin Brooks, Donna Chain, Cody DeBord, Kiyuna Foreman, Jacob Goodwin, Jenna Goodwin, Jasmine Harris, Shelby Higgins, Camisha D. Hunter, Jakayrion T. Porter, Yadira Santiago, Marcos Torres and Jazmin Vences
SAN AUGUSTINE: Yessenia Valenciana
SEATTLE, Wash.: Nashelle Gonzales
SEVEN POINTS: Blanca Guzman-Martinez
SULPHUR SPRINGS: Jacquelyn Bocanegra, Shakoja Mosley and Mackenzie Ragan
TATUM: Cristal Azpeitia and Jennifer Pea
TENNESSEE COLONY: Elizabeth Thorn
TERRELL: Kurt Hall, Jacklyn Ryder and Jennifer Zuniga
TEXARKANA: Alexis Giffin
THE COLONY: Jordan Carnegie
TROUP: Hannah Breland, Jamichael Brown, Kourtney Brown, Kaitlyn Hahn, Kayla Howell, Charles Watson, Ashley Wilson and Jayme Zavala
TYLER:  Eldrin Abston, Elizabeth Adams, Jahade’ Adams, Gustavo Alejo, Tiffany Allen, Giselle Alvarez, Genesis Ambriz, Angelica Aragon, Sammy Arellano, Anna Arellano, Abigale Arteaga, Josefa Artigas, Ka’Darian Asbell, Stacy Avila, Francisco Ayala-Campuzano, Dara Bahena, Jacob Barefield, Felipe Barrera, Laura Barrios, Ralph Bautista, Magaly Benitez, Benjamin Bennett, Kinsleigh Berry, Ma’Niyia Billington, Krescenda Bircher, Y’Vecia Birks, Tambreka Black, Melissa Blight, Alex Bonachea, Courtney Botzong, Kelly Boyken, James Brooks, Kariah Brown, Jessica Bruton, Perry Burchfield, Stefany Burden, Amelia Burris, Anna Burton, Osvaldo Campos, Neyda Cardona, David Carreno, Ellie Carreno, Kristal Carrillo, Norma Carter, Sarah Carter, Keyundra Cartwright, Gracie Casey, Christa Castillo, Jennifer Cervantes, Marcela Chavez, Hannah Childress, Justine Chua, Ayanna Cleaver, Conor Coker, Madelaine Contreras, TaNara Cooks, Stephanie Cooper, Enmanuel Cornelio, Jaqueline Corona, Omar Cortes, Yessika Cortez, Destiny Crayton, Emma Crossley, Aleesa Daniels, Makayla Daniels, Aqueelah Davis, Brittani Davis, Rodrigo De Almeida Rocha, David De La Garza, Jack Delaney, Diana DeLuna, Jacquelyn Dennis, Devin Dial, Gabriela Diaz, Britney Dickson, Kaitlyn Dubose, Angela Duncan, Madison Dunn, Emma Easterling, Dillyn Elliott, Jonathan Ellsworth, Jesse Emberley, Noe Espinosa, Angel Estrada, Michelle Evangelista, Kayla Fenwick, Marlondos Fields, Aaliyah Flores, Elida Flores, Jessica Flores, Christan Ford, Jimmy Fortune, David Frisby, Jillian Fry, Rochelle Fuller, Halle Galbraith, Oscar Gamez, Esau Gandarilla, Angelia Gandy, Nadia Garcia, Rosa Garcia, Wendy Garcia, Javier Garza, Jasmine Geter, Chandler Gifford, Andrea Gonzales, Amber Gonzalez, Gladys Gonzalez, Jose Gonzalez, Veronica Gonzalez, Jenna Griffith, Emily Groff, Jaylon Gude, Gabriella Hammitt, Tyler Hannan, John Harber, Sam Harrison, John Hartmann, Amanda Hayes, Harrison Hebb, Holly Hendrix, Jennifer Hernandez, Karla Jessenia G. Hernandez, Leslie M. Hernandez, Nohemi Hernandez, Osvaldo Hernandez, Solia Hernandez, Maria Herrera, Vianney Herrera, Garrett W. Herring, Dixie Hester, Cristopher Hidalgo, Stephanie K. Hopkins, Jackson Hug, Taylor Ihlenfeldt, Candi Jackson, Devon Jensen, Jessica Jimenez, Timothy Johnston, Chambria Jones, Lakeesha Jones, Karla Juarez, Haylee Kennedy, Travis King, Meghan Knott, Michelle Koranda, Tabitha B. Kozlowski, Joshua Kriechbaum, Tucker Lacey, Amber Ladrini, Michael E. Lagess, Logan Land, Connor R. Landrum, Adrian Lara, Jordyn Lawson, Kari Lee, Emily Lively, Alyssa Llano, Kaleb A. Lockett, Isabella Lofties, Francisco Lopez, Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Lopez, Sandra Lopez, Isai Loredo, Madisyn Loviette, Chyanna Loyd, Edgar Lozano Hernandez, Sasha Lucas, Jose Macedo, Billy Maddox, Brittley A. Maddox, Milka R. Maman, Juan J. Mancilla, Elizabeth Marquez, BreeAnna Marsh, Myisha Marsh, Barbara Martin Moro, Carlos Martinez, Crystal Martinez, Gaby C. Martinez, Jaquelin Martinez Gavina, Treasure Massenburge, Mya Massey, Madison Matlock, Maiana L. Mauga, Lizette Maya, Ken’Tavian McDade, Treylan McFarland, William McNeer, Heldai Mederos, Alondra Medina, Daniel Medina, Omar Mejia, Arianna Mendoza, Danica Merrill, Sharznee Middlebrooks, McKenzie Minor, Isai Miranda, Carina Mojarro, Stephanie D. Molina, Joel Monama, Rebeca Montoya, Jackelin Morales, Ezra Morris, Maci J. Morris, Adrian Mosley, Rosalinda G. Moya, Kassidy Mumphrey, Sydnie Murrell, Jillian Musson, Adizatu Mustapha, Kevin Naylor, Kyla Negre, Jesse J. Newman, Laila Nguyen, Ngoc Nguyen, Collins Nnoli, Harrison Nowell, Angie N. Ochoa, Janely Olvera, Sandra Olvera, Shawanna O’Neal-Thompson, Kylie Ordorica, Cynthia Ortega, Luis Ortega, Jesse Ozorneo, Joseph Packard, Temeshia Page, Hannah Parker, Brittany Parramore, Natalie Penalosa, Jennifer Perdomo, Emilio Perez, Jakob Perez, Tara Perez, Milo L. Perry, Ryan Peters, Nam Phan, Lydnie Pierre, Brayden L. Pike, Marely Pimentel, Meraida Pineda, Julia Ponder, Jayden Price, Gregory Price II, Kiara Pullins, Edgar Ramirez,  Kiyan Randle, Linda Rasugu, Michael Reed, Zachary Reed, Mary Renteria, Isais Reyes, Kaitlynn Rhea, Joshua Richardson, Shelby Richardson, Yeini Rivera Perez, Karson Rivers, Lacy Robertson, Abraham Rodriguez, Dulce Rodriguez, Juan Rodriguez, Olivia Rodriguez, Jennifer Rogers, Juana Rosas, William Routon, Xavier Salinas, Kerrigan Sanders, Riku Sano, Susannah Scott, Abdalla Seni, Yesica Sepulveda, Marlene Serna, Alexandria S. Sessions, Tanisha Sheffield, Madelyn Shelton, Itzel Silvas Romero, Makayla J. Spink, Randall Starkey, Jennifer Stockwell, Fernando Tapia, Allen Tarango, Signe G. Tarmey, Katherine Tate, Jeremiah Tatum, Ashley Terry, Amauri K. Thomas, Deveren S. Thompson, Tammy L. Thompson, Kadaja Tilley, Samuel D. Tinker, Jazmin Toledo, Holland Towler, Hien D. Tran, Juan Trujillo, Charles Truskosky, Matthew Tryon, Ashley Turner, Gilbert Valdez Jr., Emily Valle, Madison Valley, Etta C. Vanzandt, Lesley Vasquez, Noe Vazquez Santillan, Jami Verhage, Joel Villalobos, Alejandra Villegas, Britney G. Villela, David Vo, Joseph M. Walker, Marc L. Walker, Ashlee Watterson, Kaylee Weikel, Courtney White, Joey Williams, Zackary Wood, Britten Woodard, Emily Yancey, Carla Zavala, Carlos Zavala, Cynthia Zavala, Esperanza Zavaleta, Frederick Zielie Jr. and Troy Zimmerman
VAN: Abisai Cordova, Macy Frazier,
 Adriana McLester, Jackson Rainey, Jayden Russell, Abigail Shaw and Jessica Turner
WASKOM: Berenice Vences
WEST MONROE, La.: Justin Bradley and Dustin Ezell
WHITE OAK: Mallory Clinnard
WHITEHOUSE: Nicholas Benedict, David Browning, Jazmin Cantu, Nikolai Dobbins, Dayna Gomez, Breana Green, Lillian Jackson, James Meredith, Vanessa Molina, Cheyenne Mott, April O’Quinn, Kyle Parrish, Samantha Scott, Lynsey Smith, Shelby Smith, Abigail Stafford, Jolane Toups, Miranda Turnbow, Samuel Turner and Cole Wallace
WILLS POINT: Cindy Fernandez
WINNSBORO: Ashten Cantu
WINONA: Zackary Austin, Kienjanae L. Hooper and Kolton Junek
YANTIS: Kathie Choeun