MURFREESBORO, Tenn. —
Darrell Wright II served his country from 1992-2001, started a family,
entered college as a freshman at MTSU in 2013 and helped fellow student
veterans in the Daniels Veterans and
Military Family Center.
En route to graduating Saturday, Dec. 16, with a bachelor’s
degree in business (3.4 GPA and double major in finance and economics), Wright
and nearly 20 fellow student veterans took a break between classes, work and
their families to receive a special red stole they will wear at commencement.
In a Tuesday (Nov. 28) Graduating
Veterans Stole Ceremony in the Miller Education Center’s atrium, the
university recognized student veterans for not only their service to their
country, but for finishing their dream of college graduation.
A native of Anderson, Indiana, Wright, 48, said he now
“plans to get a job and go to graduate school in the fall.” His plan includes
moving from Murfreesboro to Bloomington, Indiana, to attend the Kelly School of
Business at Indiana University.
“This has been a good experience,” said Wright, who has
served as a counselor in the MTSU veterans center. “As a nontraditional
student, when people find out you are a veteran, every one of them will say,
‘Thank you for your service.’ They would ask what is different in America,
compared to where I have been overseas. Everyone is always very caring, giving
and understanding.”
At the veterans center, when a student veteran shows up,
Wright said he would assist them “if they had trouble signing up for classes or
were having trouble in a class. We try to get the resources he or she needs to
be successful.”
Wright’s final Army job was as an X-ray technician at Joint
Base Balad in Iraq. Overseas, he also served in Africa and Afghanistan.
He and wife DeAndra
are parents of four daughters, Dariayn
of Murfreesboro, DiAnna and Darra at the University of Memphis and Annesia at Indiana University.
Keith M. Huber,
senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives, was joined by MTSU
President Sidney A. McPhee and
Provost Mark Byrnes in
congratulating the soon-to-be graduates.
“Thank you for choosing our university,” McPhee said. “You
made our institution a better place.” He also thanked them for the sacrifices
both they and their families made.
Huber, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general, talked about
trust and commitment.
Byrnes said the student veterans are part of a diverse
student body and thanked them “for their presence in our classrooms.”
Huber introduced David
Corlew, a board member and Journey Home Project co-founder along with
Country Music Hall of Fame honoree Charlie
Daniels.
Hilary Miller,
director of the veterans center, gave them a commemorative coin, symbolizing
continued contributions to the Daniels Center and the university as alumni.
Student veterans in attendance have served in the U.S. Air
Force, Army, Navy and Marines, and some continue to serve in the National
Guard. Nearly 120 will graduate in December.
Representatives from Waffle House, Pinnacle Financial
Partners, Barrett Firearms, Mission BBQ, Operation Stand Down Tennessee, state
and federal Veterans Affairs and others also attended to potentially meet
prospective job-seekers.
For more on the veterans center, call 615-904-8347 or visit http://www.mtsu.edu/military/index.php
online.
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