Graduates

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August 2026 - UTTUA Alumni Investing in the Next Generation

At UT Tyler University Academy, education is about more than earning a diploma. It is about building future leaders, creating meaningful connections, and inspiring students to make a difference in their communities. For two University Academy alumni, that journey has come full circle.

Today, Grace and Thomas are not only proud graduates of University Academy, but also dedicated educators serving the very school that helped shape their futures.

Grace: Giving Back to the School That Believed in Her

Grace joined University Academy as a 7th grader after an unexpected school change. While the transition was intimidating at first, she quickly discovered a community that would have a lasting impact on her life.

"The University Academy model built vital skills that prepared me for college and life beyond," Grace shares. "My teachers always held high expectations for me and pushed me to do my best no matter what challenges I faced."

After graduating from UT Tyler, Grace knew she wanted to make the same kind of difference in students' lives that her teachers had made in hers. Returning to University Academy as a teacher allowed her to do exactly that.

Today, she works alongside some of her former teachers, now colleagues, helping students grow and succeed as she once did.

"My experience returning to UA has been fulfilling and full of learning and joy, and I am so glad I get to encourage our students and work with our staff as a teacher."

Thomas: Returning to the People Who Made the Difference

Thomas began his journey at University Academy in 2012, when the school was still known as Innovation Academy. From the start, he recognized that University Academy offered something unique.

"It was such a different idea from the norms you find in public education, and it still is," Thomas says. "I had the honor to experience these formative and important differences in education that helped shape me as a person."

After completing his studies at UT Tyler, Thomas felt called back to the place that had influenced him so profoundly.

"Other than academics, it's what I feel UA does best: the people. The staff, the students, and the parents are all excellent facets that make this school work as well as it does."

Now serving as an educator, Thomas says it is an honor to work alongside the students, families, and colleagues who make University Academy special.

Grace and Thomas represent what makes UT Tyler University Academy unique. They are examples of students who experienced the school's mission firsthand, pursued higher education, and returned to invest in the next generation of learners.

Their stories demonstrate the lasting impact that strong relationships, high expectations, and a supportive educational community can have on students' lives.

At University Academy, we are proud to celebrate alumni who return to serve, lead, and inspire. Their journeys remind us that the investment we make in students today can shape the educators, mentors, and leaders of tomorrow.

Theoren Stroud, UA-Tyler Class of 2022 and UT Tyler alum (electrical engineering) took top honors at the Texas Tech University Innovation Hub iLaunch Competition as a member of the Fire AI team. Fire AI is the winning startup that leverages artificial intelligence for advanced fire detection and prevention. The Fire AI team competed against 51 teams to land the $10,000 prize. Congratulations Theoren!

September 2025 - Alumni Spotlight! Melissa Hilbig (third from the right), a UA Class of 2025 alum, got a head start in research while still a senior at UA, working in UT Tyler Professor Banta’s biology lab. Now a freshman at UT Tyler, Melissa was invited back to continue her work alongside undergraduate and graduate students. Their research explores the presence of NTMs (Nontuberculous Mycobacteria) in East Texas and projects where they may occur in the future. Melissa’s story is a great example of how University Academy’s focus on STEM and Project-Based Learning prepares students to thrive and achieve at the college level.

We're proud to share that two of our UA-Palestine valedictorians, Thomas Willingham and Kirsten Garcia, recently graduated from UT Tyler—both earning degrees in Mechanical Engineering and graduating Summa Cum Laude. Huge congratulations to you both!

May 2025 - Alumni Spotlight! Ian Orr, UA-Tyler Class of 2024, is making us proud! After graduating from University Academy, Ian went on to attend the University of Tulsa—where he was recently named one of just five Outstanding Freshmen!

This special recognition is awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional academic performance in a challenging program. Ian was nominated by one of his professors, who praised his "commitment to the great books of the Western tradition, to thoughtful discourse, and to our shared values as a College." Way to go, Ian—congratulations on this well-deserved honor!

Congratulations to UA-Palestine's own Hunter Brown, a 2023 graduate, who was selected for the prestigious UTIMCO (University of Texas/Texas A&M Investment Management Company) summer internship opportunity!

Hunter is currently in his 2nd year at UT Tyler as a math major. He was nominated by his microeconomics professor, Susan Doty, and selected to attend the UTIMCO Scholars program, focusing on introducing the scholars to different areas of investment management. From those students, Hunter was further selected to continue as an intern at UTIMCO. Way to go, Hunter!