A&M Central Texas holds August graduation

By KATELYN ROBERTSON 
Cove Leader-Press 

Fifteen graduates from Copperas Cove were among the nearly 140 students of Texas A&M Central Texas to walk the stage at the Bell County Expo Center on Saturday to receive their degrees. 
Of those 15, five received master’s degrees, while 10 more received their undergraduate degrees. 
For Kermaine Lockett, it meant a new chapter in his family history. Lockett was the first in his family to attend college. Saturday, he walked across the stage to receive his Master’s degree in business. Lockett’s parents worked multiple jobs for much of his childhood. Lockett received a scholarship, which paid for his undergraduate degree; but he was not stopping there. He saved up his money while completing his undergraduate degree and used it to further his education. 
 “It means a lot to me to be here today,” Lockett said. “I’m happy because it means I’m finished with school for now, but I’m excited to take what I’ve learned here and get started in a career. It just really means a lot to be here, and it’s an awesome experience.”
Texas A&M University Vice Chancellor Emeritus Dr. Stanton Calvert delivered the address to the graduates. 
 “This university bears the letters of the namesake of our university system,” Calvert said. “This university and Texas A&M University share some common values. Among those values is one we celebrated a moment ago with the posting of the colors.” 
Calvert went on to congratulate the graduates on their determination and perseverance. 
“I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that with the faith and the support that has been given to you by the faculty and staff, and by your families, you are capable of achieving great things,” Calvert said.
Several groups of graduates were recognized, including those with military service backgrounds and those with perfect grade point averages. 
This diversity was also recognized in the messages to the graduates, as a story was retold of a man who believed he was too old to pursue a higher education. To this, he was met with a reply of, “Well, how old will you be in that number of years if you don’t go for it?”
As the graduates sat on the floor of the Expo Center, ready to receive their hard-earned diplomas and begin the next chapter of their lives, they were told never to be afraid to reach for their dreams. They were told to believe in themselves, and not to let anyone talk them out of pursuing their passion.