Maverick grad: ‘At UTA, you have no choice but to be successful’
For Kiana Lacy, crossing the commencement stage will mark more than just earning her doctoral degree from The University of Texas at Arlington. It will be the completion of a journey against all odds.
Thirteen years ago, Lacy completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UTA’s College of Nursing and Health Innovation. Shortly after, a rare neurological condition robbed her of her vision. Instead of walking the stage at fall commencement, she was in the middle of a three-month hospital stay recovering from several surgeries.
She would spend the next few years adjusting to her new reality, while also battling depression and suffering the losses of a pregnancy and a job. But she said she made it through thanks to a dedicated support system, including her mother, whom she considers her best friend.
“I knew I wanted to go back to school, but I just did not know how that would be realistic,” Lacy said. “How could I study and earn a degree if I couldn’t even see? My mom would tell me all the time, ‘You can do it.’”
Now, Lacy is preparing to finally walk the stage alongside about 4,500 other Mavericks during UTA’s fall 2023 commencement ceremonies, set for Friday, Dec. 15, at Globe Life Field.
It was in 2018 when Lacy herself decided it was time to continue her educational journey. She knew UTA would be a good fit once again, and this time connected with the University’s Student Access & Resource Center, which helps provide academic accommodations, such as adaptive technology, to students who need assistance due to disabilities.
That assistance, along with her drive, cheerful outlook and support system both on and off the UTA campus, allowed Lacy to persist to both her master’s and doctoral degrees.
“UT Arlington was an institution that showed me what was possible and what was available, when previously I didn’t know that these options existed,” she said.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused Lacy to miss on a chance to cross the commencement stage when she earned her master’s degree in 2020. This time, she finally gets her chance, all while running her own company. Through Health is Wealth, Lacy is empowering local communities to be healthier through educational programs like workout classes and cooking demonstrations.
She attributes her success to the support she received from the Maverick community.
“At UTA,” she said, “you have no choice but to be successful.”
***UTA commencement schedule:
Nearly 4,500 students at The University of Texas at Arlington are scheduled to graduate as fall 2023 commencement ceremonies kick off at 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at Globe Life Field, 734 Stadium Drive, in Arlington. These newest Maverick graduates will become part of a 270,000-graduate UTA alumni network that helps yield a $28.8 billion economic impact on Texas.
The schedule of ceremonies is as follows:
- 9 a.m. College of Business, College of Liberal Arts and School of Social Work
- 2 p.m. College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Science and the Honors College
- 7 p.m. College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs, College of Nursing and Health Innovation and the Division of Student Success.
Call Globe Life Field at 817-533-1972 for ADA accommodations for attendees. More information on the ceremonies is available on the UTA Commencement website.