STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Things are changing for Jonathon Evans.
He graduates Saturday with a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering technology, he’s preparing to enter grad school in January, and, oh yeah, he just became a father for the first time.
Jonathon, the commencement speaker for Saturday’’s 3 p.m. graduation ceremonies at Memorial Stadium, grew up in nearby Glen Rose, where he was home schooled. He began his college career at Weatherford College when he was 16, to get a feel for college life and a start on credits toward his degree.
Though he toured other universities, his transfer to Tarleton State was cemented after he visited the Stephenville campus. He really liked Tarleton’s engineering approach. “It’s more hands on and what I consider to be more family oriented. Instead of 100 kids to a class, there were 20. I could ask all the questions I needed to.”
He starts his master’s program in quality and engineering management in January with the career goal of pharmaceutical manufacturing.
“That wasn’t always my dream,” he said. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I started at Tarleton, but I found my passion.”
His work on a Presidential Research Grant project with the Department of Kinesiology tripped a trigger. He learned that he can use manufacturing knowledge for the common good. “Since then, my goal has been to use pharmaceutical or medical equipment manufacturing to help people.”
Jonathon received guidance from faculty members that makes him confident in his future. “My father and I are really close, and I feel like my teachers were almost that close — close enough to go to them and say, ‘I’ve got this career goal. What are the steps I need to take to get there?’
“It’s not just the classes, I learned a lot there, but I learned almost as much just being around the professors and mentors.”
He gets melancholy thinking his time as an undergrad at Tarleton is almost over.
“I will miss it,” he said. “I cried at my buddy’s graduation in May. I have truly loved Tarleton. I’ve loved being here, studying here, the friends I’ve made. I have phone numbers for all my teachers. Part of the reason for coming back for the master’s is in 25 or 30 years I’d like to teach here.”
In his commencement address he will recount his Tarleton experience and specifically how it has impacted not only his time as a student but also his personal life.
“It’s been an environment for learning,” he said. “Sure, we spent a lot of hours in textbooks and working in labs, but more importantly, Tarleton has allowed us to hone our skills.
“It’s more than, ‘Read the textbook and answer questions.’ It’s more like, ‘Read the textbook. Now what questions do youhave?’ It’s teaching us to go beyond the usual, to ask the questions that aren’t being asked.”
Since he and his wife, Samantha, became parents to daughter Jordyn just a few weeks ago, Jonathan has a new appreciation for the personal aspect of college.
“Tarleton has not just been a school for my engineering studies. I can ask things of the faculty. I went to an economics teacher my first year here to help me formulate a budget. I can ask any of them for guidance in personal decisions and they’re there.”
Guess that’s one thing that hasn’t changed for him.
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of approximately 18,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.