UT Dallas marked a new event during its fall 2012 graduation festivities, specifically recognizing the academic achievements of its veteran students.

The first Veteran Cord Ceremony honored 22 veterans, including a mother and son. Each graduate was given a braided red, white and blue cord to wear around the neck during graduation ceremonies.  

New Cord Ceremony Honors 22 Veteren Graduates

The Veteran's Service Center recognized graduating veterans. Each was given a red. white and blue braided cord to wear to their graduation ceremonies.

“I felt honored to be part of it. The cords represent what we as retired military stand for—the red, white and blue,” said DiAnn Marie Dansereau of Allen. She and her son, William James Lee II, each earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Dansereau began her degree program part-time in 2008 after a 24-year career as a combat medic. The retired master sergeant taught paramedic and combat lifesaving courses in Germany and South Korea. Through a fast-track program, she has also earned 12 hours toward her master’s degree in healthcare management.

Her son transferred to UT Dallas after two years at Collin College and soon caught up to his mother’s credit hours. After serving for 10 years in Germany, he was medically retired as an Army sergeant. He will be job hunting in January after he wraps up a holiday-season job with UPS.

“Most people don’t believe we’re mother and son,” Dansereau said. “But we have a lot of common interests and shared experiences in life. I’ve learned from him, and I want to believe he’s learned from me. I’ve had a great, great experience here.”