Family, Friends Celebrate Accomplishments of Newest Graduates
“I can’t even explain my gratitude for the Terry Foundation for allowing me to graduate debt free,” said Laurel Ann Mohrman, who earned a bachelor’s in computer science. Laurel Ann Mohrman had decorated her mortarboard with bright yellow duct tape and green and orange puff paint to display something she is most proud of: being debt free.
The computer science graduate had heard about students at other schools displaying their debt amount on their graduation caps – for some, it was up to $50,000. “They inspired me and I wanted to celebrate UTD,” she said.
UT Dallas has gained recent attention for having an affordable bottom line. Both The Princeton Review and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance have ranked the University among the best college values for the past two years.
Mohrman’s education was supported by the Terry Foundation. “I love school, I want to keep going,” said Mohrman, who will pursue a master’s degree in computer science.
Tra Tran also benefited from scholarship help. An Academic Excellence Scholarship brought her to UT Dallas for an economics degree, and she leaves with a full scholarship for her first year at the Graduate Institute, Geneva in Switzerland, where she will pursue a master’s degree in international economics.
Originally from Hanoi, Vietnam, Tran established the Vietnamese International Network of Culture, Education and Friendship (VINCEF). She also initiated Vietweek, a series of events that promote Vietnamese culture.
“I am very proud that I created something meaningful during my time at UTD,” Tran said. “I hope these groups will continue to connect Vietnamese students and promote our culture on campus.”
