Damphousse Delivers Diplomas, while Commencement Draws Siblings Together

LAKE CORMORANT, Miss. – Principal Carol Smith told her fifth-grade class they had a special speaker set for noon following their picnic.

What the children and teachers Tasha Blaylock and Stacey Morgan didn’t realize was that most of the teachers and staff of Lake Cormorant Elementary School were working on an elaborate plan to award Blaylock and Morgan, recent graduates of Arkansas State University’s online program, with their own commencement ceremony.

“We are so proud of Tasha and Stacey, and when we heard about the idea, we all jumped in to help make it happen,” Smith said.

Tasha’s husband, Scott, had contacted Chancellor Kelly Damphousse during April to ask if he could make a degree delivery.  An organ-transplant candidate, Scott’s condition did not allow the Blaylock family to make the drive to Jonesboro for the Saturday, May 11, Spring Commencement.

While planning the event, Smith let Arkansas State officials know that Morgan also had a conflict and was unable to walk across the stage at First National Bank Arena.

“All year we have been emphasizing going to college to our fifth graders, and we said we were going to have a speaker talk to them about that,” Smith said.

Smith introduced Damphousse as the speaker, and the chancellor took a few minutes to tell his story of how going to his local two-year school in Canada, then on to university in America, changed his life.

But standing in full commencement regalia should have been the hint this was more than a pep talk for the soon-to-be middle schoolers.

“You know, all your teachers, they went to college; and in fact, two of them, Tasha Blaylock and Stacey Morgan, just graduated from Arkansas State,” he told the group.

Inviting family members who were hiding off-stage to bring out caps and gowns, Damphousse presented their diploma covers and class challenge coins to Blaylock and Morgan, complete with Principal Smith serving as the commencement announcer while “Pomp and Circumstance” played on the elementary gym’s PA system.

“We tell our students and our graduates that Every Red Wolf Counts, and when I can take a moment to honor the work and sacrifice of graduates, I am thrilled to do so,” Damphousse said afterward.  “For many of our online students, the only time they visit Jonesboro is at commencement.  I want them to feel connected to their alma mater.”

After each commencement since his arrival at A-State, Damphousse has made a series of “degree delivery” visits to recent alumni whose circumstances prevented them from attending.  This year, he also assisted a brother and sister to graduate together in Jonesboro.

Erin Gately reached out to the chancellor prior to commencement to see if her brother, Wesley, could walk with her.  Both of their parents, Neil and Bridget, were A-State graduates, and Wesley had told the family that he wanted to attend Erin’s commencement rather than his own at Washburn University.

“I reached out to Chancellor Damphousse to see if he could help,” Erin said.  “Wesley decided he’d missed his regular graduation window, but he’s not one to draw attention to himself.  I’m excited that he will get the graduation he deserves.”

Damphousse surprised Wesley when he deviated from his usual commencement remarks to recognize him and welcome him to join into A-State’s ceremony.  Damphousse coordinated with President Jerry Farley from Washburn to allow A-State to grant his diploma.

“It was more important for me to have the whole family together, and I knew it would be special for my parents to be here,” Wesley said afterward.  “It was a shock, and it was an honor.  Three of my family graduated from Arkansas State, and now, we can say that all four of us graduated at Arkansas State.”

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