By Jeremy Moore/ se news editor

With commencement right around the corner, SE Campus’ April 21 Graduation Festival could not have happened at a better time for upcoming graduates. 

Students received their caps and gowns as well as gifts from SE’s transfer center. They also could have photos taken in their caps and gowns and with TCC’s mascot Toro.

“This is important because it is recognizing those who are graduating,” SE transfer center coordinator Terrell Shaw said. “From those that it’s taken no time at all to those that it may have taken a couple more years to finish their degree, this is a way for us at SE Campus to say congratulations.”

SE student Saran Kaba looks forward to graduating this semester. She has been accepted into several universities, but she hasn’t decided which she wants to attend. She believes graduation festivals are helpful to students.

“A lot of students don’t really know what university they want to go to,” she said. “Having this grad fest on campus helps them get an understanding of what school will be the best fit for them.”

Many universities from around the state came to the festival to provide students with transfer information.

Northwood University’s associate director of admissions Donna Card-Sessoms came to inform students about Northwood’s articulation agreement with TCC and all the school has to offer. According to Card-Sessoms, many TCC students transfer to Northwood.

“We have a very generous transfer policy,” she said. “We accept up to 92 credit hours, and we have courses in the evenings, online and on the weekends. We offer a lot of flexibility to students that may be looking to work after they get their associate.”

When preparing to transfer, Southern Methodist University transfer admissions director Jen Lasagna believes students should time everything perfectly.

“If you know you want to get that four-year degree, plan ahead,” she said. “Take advantage and go ask four-year schools about things like financial aid, job placement rates and housing.”

Lasagna said SMU prides itself on the return students get after choosing to attend. She believes SMU’s statistics show its success with internship opportunities, job placements and starting salaries.

Abilene Christian University transfer admissions counselor J.B. Gibbs believes students would appreciate ACU’s high-level academics with a Christ-centered environment. He thinks students should take advantage of graduation festivals to learn as much as they can.

“I think the biggest thing is that students should just be students,” he said. “Go around to each university and learn about what makes those schools unique. You can never have enough information when it comes to choosing the university you’re going to go to.”

Shaw believes students can get so caught up with studies around this time, they get absent-minded when it comes to transferring.

“This festival is kind of a last chance for students to put a game plan together and meet different university reps if they haven’t made their decision,” he said. “If you have made a decision but may be having second guesses of where you may want to go, it’s OK to compare some other universities.”