Freshman student is 11,000th enrolled
With A&M-Commerce surpassing its previous record of 10,000 students enrolled last year with this year's 11,000, there are plenty of new faces on campus, but only one of them is lucky enough to be the 11,000th student to enroll.
That student is freshman Dakota Griffin. During his high school days, Griffin was involved in the band program as well as doing volunteer work for churches in his hometown, Greenville. Griffin told The East Texan that he chose A&M-Commerce because of the good reputation and its proximity to his home.
Although he does not intend to get involved with the A&M-Commerce music program, he does plan to get involved with other activities on campus.
"To be honest I really don't know a lot of activities going on right now," Griffin said. "A lot of my friends are involved in the Baptist Student Ministry, so I plan to be getting my feet wet there."
While Griffin has not yet declared a major, he is interested in psychology classes, and looks forward to this semester.
"I was very last minute so they kind of just shoved me into classes," Griffin said. "[I'm] mixing up my schedule and seeing what pops out at me. Also getting other students opinions of courses."
Vice President for Student Access and Success Mary Hendrix was pleased to receive the news of the university's achievement.
"We are thrilled that our university has set an enrollment record for the second year in a row and we are particularly proud that we have the highest retention rate of first-time, full-time freshmen in our history," Hendrix said. "I would like to thank our entire university community for the many hours they have devoted to this effort and for the special care and support they provide our prospective and current students."
When asked about her reaction to the record-breaking 11,000th enrollment, Hendrix explained that it was not something that the university took lightly.
"We were watching the numbers closely and anticipated reaching 11,000," Hendrix said. "What we did not know was whether the 11,000th student would register on campus, online, or at one of our off-campus sites. We had a photographer in our One Stop Shop lobby just in case. Dakota Griffin was a great sport about all the attention he received and joked that if he knew it was going to be his lucky day, he would have bought a lottery ticket."
Griffin is living off campus at home with his mother, Kim Griffin, but he says that he likes the commute, because it gives him, "time to think about things."
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
Recent The East Texan News Articles
Discuss This Article
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
LATEST THE EAST TEXAN NEWS
- 'Expendables 2' epitomizes dumb but fun action
- 'The Bourne Legacy' disappoints with same old thrills
- Tasteless 'Total Recall' remake leaves audiences underwhelmed
- Actor chemistry saves 'The Watch' from being boring waste
- Batman goes out strong in final 'Dark Knight' film
- 'Ted' marks promising film career for McFarlane
- Stylistic choices sink 'Savages'
RECENT THE EAST TEXAN CLASSIFIEDS
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- Tips For Improving Mental Health
- New Writers and Illustrators Win Decades-Old Science...
- Moving Resources For Military Families
- Historic Agreement Signed By Red Cross and Armed Forces
- Salonpas® Brand Stands the Test of Time
- Tips to “Yard Your Way” This Spring
- Upgraded Upstate Power Grid Will Deliver a Smarter,...
- A Story To Sing About
- The Gap in Gum Care: Why Caring For Your Teeth’s F...
- Top Tips for Signature Scents and Better-Smelling Laundry
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- La Semana del Aprendizaje Juvenil destaca las oportunidades
- BookTrib's Bites: Four Captivating Spring Reads
- Moms Kick Back with Mamaritas
- Generac Urges Americans to Prepare for Power Outages Early
- Youth Apprenticeship Week Spotlights Opportunities
- New Expo Showcases AI Innovation
- Self-Care and Mental Health Tips for Caregivers
- Adventure Awaits: Discover the Playset that Brings...
- Need Auto Glass Repair? Don’t Despair
- Pioneering Fast and Affordable Broadband for the Underserved
COLLEGE PRESS RELEASES
- NOW Available: Comcast Launches NOW Brand Prepaid Internet and Mobile Services Nationwide
- Guidenar Launches New Career Test for Gen Z
- GotIt! Education Offers MathGPT Free to All State & Community Colleges
- Shoff Promotions Comic Book & Sports Card Show
- Semiconductor Research Corp unveils 2024 Research Call, $13.8M Funding