Midland College announces student graduation speakerMay 06, 2019

Midland College (MC) has announced that its 2019 student commencement speaker will be Tatum Dotson. She will receive her associate degree during the ceremony and will be recognized as an MC Honors graduate.

Faculty, staff and friends encouraged Dotson to apply to be the graduation speaker.

“Everywhere I went on campus people would ask me if I was going to apply to be graduation speaker,” Dotson said. “I kept saying no because I have been really stressed with the end of the semester. Public speaking also makes me really nervous. I have already been nervous for two weeks; I will be nervous till the day of the event; then, I will get up there and the nerves will disappear. I am excited and honored to speak to my fellow classmates and their friends and families at commencement.”

Dotson is working hard on her speech. So far the topic is centered on perspectives. She is working with her former public speaking teacher Betty Clements to polish her message.

“Composing this speech is challenging,” Dotson said. “Commencement attracts a very diverse audience, and I want to convey a message that resonates with everyone. I want to speak to the single moms who came back to school, the kids who were not sure about college but decided to give MC a shot, the fathers who want a better job to support their families. It is hard to step into each of their mindsets, but I am glad Professor Clements is helping me.”

“Tatum has a passion for not only learning, but also serving others, and this is evidenced by her involvement in numerous campus and community activities,” Clements said. “She strives for excellence in all her endeavors, and I am just so blessed to have had the opportunity to work alongside her.”

Dotson was born and raised in Midland. She began at MC in Fall 2017. Dotson made a name for herself on campus by being very involved. Outside of class she participated in Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), an international honors society for two year colleges; Students in Philanthropy (SIP), a Midland specific scholarship and leadership training program; and the Honors Program at MC.

Dotson has received the Legacy Scholarship, the SIP scholarship and, through PTK, she received a Coca-Cola® bronze scholarship. Going forward, Dotson is proud to receive the Herbert L. Cartwright Education Continuance Scholarship from Abell-Hanger Foundation to help defray the costs of her next two years at Texas A&M University. Dotson is looking forward to the camaraderie and traditions at Texas A&M.

“Texas A&M is known for its community, and I am looking forward to finding my group of people there,” Dotson said. “I know there is a volunteer organization, and I would like to join because the people I met at MC dedicated to helping others are some of my best friends.  I hope to find others like them. I am most sad to leave my MC friends; I never expected to have such a strong sense of belonging here.

“I am also sad to be leaving PTK. I have poured so much of myself into PTK. I have taken on so many projects through that organization and I it has helped me grow so much. It is hard to leave that behind, not knowing if I will find it again.”

Dotson says Dr. Terry Gilmour, government/political science professor and PTK advisor, has been a mentor and constant source of encouragement during her MC journey.

“Dr. Gilmour is willing to help you whether you have a personal issue or you are looking for opportunities for academic growth,” Dotson said. “She is the one I always go to. She has an answer and a path for me to investigate. That one-on-one connection with the MC faculty shows they genuinely care. No matter how many students they have, they are genuinely interested in the individual. Everyone at MC—the staff, the administration—is invested in student success. I know I could come and talk with any of them. I can walk into anyone’s office at any time and they are willing to help me.”

“Tatum has been a tremendous asset to our PTK chapter, and she continues to be our “go-to” person,” Dr. Gilmour said. “She was always willing to take the time to get the job done and to get it done right. I never felt like I had to micro-manage her work – it was exemplary.  I will always appreciate her positive attitude, her bubbly personality, her bright smile and her enthusiasm.  MC will definitely miss her, as will I.”

Dotson would like to thank her parents, Paula and Randy Dotson, Dr. Terry Gilmour and Abell-Hanger Foundation.

“I have to give a shout out to my parents because whatever I had going on at MC, I definitely took it home,” Dotson said. “They know about everything going on with me at MC.  Dr. Gilmour was the most influential faculty member I encountered at MC. Finally, Abell-Hanger Foundation provided me the opportunity to grow by funding SIP. No matter what I have accomplished, SIP has kept me humble and reminded me that no matter what is going on, I need to help others and find time to give back to the community.”

The public is invited to join Midland College celebrate the class of 2019 at the 46th commencement ceremony, Friday, May 10 at 7 p.m. in the Al G. Langford Chaparral Center. A live video stream available on the homepage of MC's website (www.midland.edu).