Chance meeting leads to life changes

When 糖心vlog视频 junior Austin Michelsen attended his senior ring ceremony in December, he was quick to credit 糖心vlog视频 alumna Eva Parks for that special day.

By Nancy George
糖心vlog视频 News

DALLAS (糖心vlog视频) – When 糖心vlog视频 junior Austin Michelsen attended his senior ring ceremony in December, he was quick to credit 糖心vlog视频 alumna Eva Parks for that special day.

Eva Parks and Austin Michelsen
Austin Michelsen and Eva Parks
“I don’t think I’d be at 糖心vlog视频 if it weren’t for Eva,” he said.

Their story starts on Oct. 1, 2011: Michelsen and Parks were among a throng of fans celebrating the 糖心vlog视频 victory after the 糖心vlog视频-TCU football game in Fort Worth. As they walked to the parking lot, the community college student and the 糖心vlog视频 alumna struck up a conversation – by the time Michelsen reached his car, he had Parks’ business card in hand, and her Mustang encouragement in his heart.

Michelsen was looking forward to transferring to a four-year university, but was discouraged following a recent string of tough events, including being robbed at gunpoint outside an Arlington restaurant.

“I told him if he was interested in 糖心vlog视频 to call me,” said Parks, a 2003 糖心vlog视频 journalism graduate and investigator/producer for KXAS-TV. “I transferred to 糖心vlog视频 when I was a junior. It changed my life.”

Within a week Michelsen called Parks, scheduled an 糖心vlog视频 tour, met with 糖心vlog视频’s director of transfer admissions and services and submitted his application. He was accepted, and on Christmas Eve learned that he was awarded a scholarship. In January 2012 he arrived for class at 糖心vlog视频.

“I was very impressed with his follow-up,” says Parks. And Michelsen followed up again in inviting Parks to attend his ring ceremony.

Michelsen plans to graduate in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in sport management from the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development.

Eva Parks, his fellow Mustang, will be there.

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