{"id":888,"date":"2023-08-09T20:14:41","date_gmt":"2023-08-09T20:14:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.stthom.edu\/encounter\/?p=888"},"modified":"2023-08-15T16:07:56","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T16:07:56","slug":"first-pragmatic-studies-graduates-celebrate-with-pizza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.stthom.edu\/encounter\/2023\/student-stories\/first-pragmatic-studies-graduates-celebrate-with-pizza\/","title":{"rendered":"Pragmatics And Pie"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Made from Scratch<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"Blog_600x300_Pragmatics\"
Left to right,\u00a0front row:<\/strong> Luke Domingue, Keldon Fifer, Tommy Hughes, Emily Mannikko, Christian Arias.\u00a0Middle row:<\/strong> Sosh Goehringer, Dean Kolbe School <\/em>Dr. Nicole Walters, Chris Borgman, Pragmatic Studies Adjunct Professor <\/em>Dr. Beth Barrette. Back row:<\/strong> Kasem Fletcher, Jason Quintanilla, Dalton Jaggers, Chair of Pragmatic Studies Program<\/em>, Dr. Tera Torres, Pragmatic Studies Adjunct Professor<\/em> Kamal Malik, Daniel Wilson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Never was there a more enthusiastic group of students than the one that held a celebratory pizza party March 8 at the University of St. Thomas. The 12 students with learning differences comprised the first graduating cohort from The Kolbe School<\/a>\u2019s landmark Pragmatic Studies Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Program<\/a>. Such a wish-come-true accomplishment even drew the attention of the Houston Chronicle\u2019s education writer.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cameras flashed. Amid balloons and red streamers, the extraordinary students beamed with pride.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pragmatic Studies Students Capture Hearts <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese students have my heart,\u201d Pragmatic Studies Program Chair Dr. Tera Torres said. \u201cWe call them \u2018the game changers\u2019 because they have completely changed the way higher education functions. Each of them does life just a little bit differently than the rest of the world, and that makes each of them inherently creative and delightfully ambitious.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the Mouths of This Cohort <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When asked how he felt about graduating with his two-year degree, Jason Quintanilla theatrically declared with a grin, \u201cFinally!\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A victorious Keldon Fifer confidently predicted, \u201cI\u2019m going to get a job. Whatever God has for me.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several of the students already work. Kasem Fletcher has a job with a landscaping and sprinkler system company. Quintanilla teaches creative arts with Young Audiences of Houston. Chris Borgman runs his own pet-sitting and house-sitting business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emily Mannikko, an engaging conversationalist, continues working on campus in Student Activities and plans to enroll in UST\u2019s trailblazing Pragmatic Studies Bachelor for Applied Science (BAAS) in Social Innovation and Human Services, the only program of its kind in the country.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited and looking forward to earning my degree,\u201d Mannikko said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tommy Hughes was riding the celebration excitement too, but the moment felt bittersweet for him. \u201cI get a little sad and emotional about leaving my friends, but this is part of life, and you\u2019ve got to move on,\u201d he pointed out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Independent and with a Thirst for Learning <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese students have learned more about themselves than they or we ever could have dreamed,\u201d Torres explained. She reflected on the unforgettable moment, observing, \u201cThe Kolbe School is exceptional, doing what others only talk about in higher education. We accept them for who they are and where they are, and we help them go from their own \u2018Point A\u2019 to their own<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Point B.\u2019 We\u2019re living out the mission of UST.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 13, UST\u2019s first Pragmatic Studies cohort walked across the commencement stage as college graduates with work experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd their families watched these game-changers do it, and we were all crying buckets,\u201d Dean of The Kolbe School, Dr. Nicole Walters said.\u00a0 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The first graduating cohort from The Kolbe School\u2019s landmark Pragmatic Studies AAS program\u2014an enthusiastic group of UST students with learning differences\u2014held a celebratory pizza party on campus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":889,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[6,153],"tags":[814,816,823,818,817,289,821,819,820,813,815,762,690,11,760,822,183],"class_list":["post-888","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-stories","category-student-stories","tag-aas-degree","tag-associate-in-applied-science-in-pragmatic-studies","tag-christian-arias","tag-dr-beth-barrette","tag-dr-nicole-walters","tag-dr-tera-jean-torres","tag-emily-mannikko","tag-jason-quintanilla","tag-keldon-fifer","tag-learning-differences","tag-learning-disabilities","tag-pragmatic-studies","tag-summer-2023-issue","tag-summer-issue","tag-the-kolbe-school-of-innovation-and-professional-studies","tag-tommy-hughes","tag-university-of-st-thomas"],"yoast_head":"\nFirst pragmatic studies graduates celebrate with pizza<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Celebrate UST-Houston's first pragmatic studies graduates as they party with pizza. 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