Most graduating university students complete their courses, take their finals and walk the line at an on-campus commencement ceremony to receive their degree. For one student, the University of Tennessee at Martin brought the commencement exercise to her, 5,000 miles from campus.
Jada Curlin of Drummonds officially graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture May 6 via Zoom, four days after her classmates received their diplomas in Martin in the scheduled formal ceremony in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.
Curlin was on one side of the Atlantic at the Società Dante Alighieri di Siena of the University of Siena, Italy, taking a study-abroad course in agricultural education with Dr. Will Bird, associate professor of agricultural education and Curlin’s college adviser.
“Since I am an ag education student, my last semester consists of just student teaching,” Curlin said in an email. “Therefore, I completed most of my student teaching in the United States in my hometown at Munford High School. This study-abroad program did not end until May 12, so that is why I was unable to attend graduation in person.”
Bird said that it was his pleasure to arrange the special commencement for his student.
“(Jada) has been one of the most reliable and hard-working students I’ve ever worked with,” Bird said in an email. “Moreover, she has worked in our (Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources) office the last two years until she began student-teaching this spring.”
Chancellor Yancy Freeman Sr. was on the other side of the ocean in UT Martin’s Hall-Moody Administration Building when he presented her degree. Curlin and Freeman were dressed in cap and gown, but Curlin did not know about the special arrangement until she saw the Zoom setup.
“The hardest part was coordinating the surprise on our end in Siena,” Bird said. “Jada brought her graduation robe and hat with her to Siena to take pictures. The other UTM students tricked Jada into bringing those items to our ‘farewell dinner’ with our Italian host school (Dante Aligheri). It was just a matter of getting her out of the room long enough to set up the Zoom call and arrange the room.”
Curlin was joined by friends in Siena, while Freeman was joined by members of the Office of the Chancellor and the Office of University Relations. Dr. Todd Winters, dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, and other guests also joined the ceremony virtually.
Curlin said she was unaware of the surprise commencement until she saw Chancellor Freeman on the computer screen.
“My mouth dropped when I realized what was going on,” she said. “The biggest emotion that comes to mind is complete gratitude. I am so grateful to attend a university that truly cares about their students.”
Curlin is a first-generation college graduate, which made her graduation even more meaningful.
“I’ve had a very difficult senior year,” she said. “My dad passed away in September, so having this graduation that my dad always wanted me to achieve meant the world to me. I know it made him proud, and it is a moment that I was always cherish and remember.”
Freeman opened the May 6 ceremony much the way that he did May 2, encouraging those attending live or virtually to applaud for the graduates – or, in this case, one graduate – and opening with a quote.
“One of my favorite quotes comes from Mark Twain, and he said, ‘The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.’ This famous saying emphasizes finding your life’s purpose or meaning,” he said.
“My hope for you, Jada, is as you prepare for the next step in your life’s journey, that your time at UT Martin has helped you discover your ‘why.’”
Winters formally recommended Curlin for conferral of her degree to Freeman, who then invited Curlin to reflect on her parents, teachers and others who helped her get to this point in her life. Freeman then conferred the degree upon her:
“By virtue of the authority of the state of Tennessee vested in the board of trustees of the University of Tennessee and, by them, delegated to the president and me, I hereby confer upon you the respective degree for which you have been recommended, with all rights, privileges, honors and obligations appertaining thereto,” he said.
“You are hereby recognized as a university graduate and an alumna of the University of Tennessee at Martin. Congratulations, Jada!”
Curlin graduated magna cum laude from UT Martin, and was one of two students to receive the Sam and Gladys Siegel Agricultural Award at UT Martin’s Honors Day on April 12.
Curlin said she has two plans for the next year.
“I am currently applying for teaching positions in West Tennessee – specifically, as an agricultural teacher and FFA adviser,” she said. “I do not have a job yet, but I am actively seeking and applying.
“I am also applying for an online graduate program through UT Knoxville, a master’s degree in agricultural education, leadership and communications. I want to be teaching while doing my master’s online. My future goal is to one day get my doctorate.”
Curlin said her career dreams fit in with her UT Martin studies. She always wanted to pursue a career that made a positive impact in the community and, while in high school, she decided to get a degree to agriculture education.
“I just completed my student teaching this past semester, and that experience confirmed to me my love for the classroom,” she said. “I saw that I was able to make that positive impact on students’ lives just like many teachers did for me.”
Curlin said that she was pleased with the work she put into getting her degree and with where it is bringing her.
“I feel very proud and happy to receive my degree,” she said. “I have worked hard for four years with many trials in the middle. Being the first in my family to receive my degree is also a huge accomplishment.
“I am forever thankful for my family, friends and UTM for helping me achieve this goal I’ve had since elementary school. I cannot wait to get into the classroom this upcoming year.”
For more information about UT Martin, visit www.utm.edu or call 1-800-829-UTM1 (-8861).
PHOTO: UT Martin graduate Jada Curlin is shown on-screen on the left after receiving her degree in agriculture, with Chancellor Yancy Freeman Sr. in the foreground. Also shown on-screen is Dr. Todd Winters, dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, who officially recommended Jada Curlin for the degree as part of the online ceremony.
