Join us as student speakers share inspirational stories
Dallas, Texas -- Dallas College will honor its 2025 graduates with six commencement ceremonies May 15–17 at the Curtis Culwell Center, 4999 Naaman Forest Blvd. in Garland. More information for graduates and families about the commencement ceremonies can be found here.
Among the 11,001 graduates, 186 are earning bachelor’s degrees – 161 in teaching and 25 in nursing. Seven students have been selected to serve as commencement speakers. These graduates will share personal stories about their journeys, highlighting perseverance, transformation and the support they received along the way.
2025 Commencement Speakers and Schedule
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May 15, 6 p.m. – Jersey Jasmyn Glass
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May 16, 1 p.m. – Erika Ramirez
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May 16, 6 p.m. – Ariana D. Dewberry
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May 17, 9 a.m. – Beckett Potter
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May 17, 9 a.m. – Sheree Simone Peart
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May 17, 2 p.m. – Aranza Daniela Ortega Vargas
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May 17, 7 p.m. – Rapeeporn “Yuka” Saekow
Ariana D. Dewberry
Associate of Science
Dewberry, a 2017 Lancaster High School graduate, began college at Sam Houston State University. In 2018, she unexpectedly lost her vision. Rather than let that define her, she dedicated five years to regaining independence and educating others about accessibility. Supported by family and campus allies, she returned to school in 2024 and now plans to enter the Dallas College Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.
Rapeeporn “Yuka” Saekow
Associate of Science
Originally from Thailand, Saekow moved to Dallas in summer 2023 to pursue new opportunities. Adjusting to a new culture and community wasn’t easy, but she found mentorship and support at Dallas College. Maintaining a 4.0 GPA, she is applying to universities to study computer engineering, electrical engineering or computer science.
Beckett Potter
Associate of Science
Potter’s academic journey began outside of traditional schooling. After completing high school coursework at age 11, he enrolled at Dallas College as a dual-credit student in March 2024. With strong family support and mentorship, he will graduate with an associate degree at the ripe age of 13. He plans to continue studying science and aerospace.
Erika Ramirez
Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education and Teaching
During COVID, Erika realized she wanted to restart her education. She came to Dallas College as a first-generation student raising three children — Lilianna, 10, Luis, 6, and 3-year-old Austin, who has a rare genetic disorder. She credits her family’s support and student teaching in Garland ISD—where she once attended high school—for her success. She has accepted a teaching position and plans to pursue a graduate degree.
Jersey Jasmyn Glass
Associate of Arts in Business Administration and Management
Hailing from Delta Junction, Alaska, Glass moved to Texas to play volleyball and pursue academics at Dallas College’s Richland Campus. She earned First Team All-Dallas Athletic Conference honors and maintained a perfect GPA.
Glass is transferring to Union Commonwealth University in Kentucky to major in accounting and marketing and continue her collegiate volleyball career.
Sheree Simone Peart
Associate of Applied Science in Business Marketing
Peart’s journey began in Jamaica and included time in Florida’s foster care system and periods of homelessness. Arriving in Texas at 28, she found support at Dallas College Brookhaven Campus. Diagnosed with autism and ADHD, she received mentorship, career guidance and personal empowerment. She plans to transfer to Texas A&M University–Central Texas to pursue a bachelor’s degree in marketing.
Aranza Daniela Ortega Vargas
Associate of Arts
Originally from San Luis Potosí, Mexico, Vargas and her family moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area in 2022. Through the Dallas College Promise scholarship and involvement in groups such as Phi Theta Kappa, LULAC and Student Ambassadors, she found her voice and confidence. Vargas plans to transfer to get a degree in business marketing.
About Dallas College
Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025, Dallas College consists of seven campuses — Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield, El Centro, Mountain View, North Lake and Richland — plus a dozen centers located throughout Dallas County. As one of the largest community colleges in the U.S., Dallas College offers online and in-person learning, serving more than 127,000 credit, workforce and continuing education students annually. Students benefit from partnerships with local school districts, four-year universities, industry and community leaders. Dallas College offers associate degrees and career/technical certificate programs in more than 100 areas of study, as well as bachelor’s degrees in education, nursing and software development. As the largest provider of dual credit in Texas, Dallas College serves 30,000 high school students through 63 dual credit programs.
