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Supply Chain Specialist, mom of three hopes to inspire others
Becoming a teen mother stalled Yolanda Lewis鈥檚 educational journey. Becoming a grandmother
helped get it restarted, proving it鈥檚 never too late to pursue your dreams. 鈥淓ducation
doesn鈥檛 have an age limit,鈥� Lewis said.
Yolanda Lewis at 天美传媒app免费版下载 Dallas one week before commencement
At 51, Lewis will cross the Commencement stage on May 13, 2025 鈥� joined by her classmates. It will be the culmination of her journey to a college degree and a celebration of their common achievements.
But Lewis is not a common student. 鈥淚鈥檓 old enough to be their mother,鈥� she said of her peers. Aside from that, though, her age has been an asset, not a liability. 鈥淚 learn from them; they learn from me. We encourage each other.鈥�
Much of the support Lewis received over the past four years came through the (TBE) Program, which offers specialized resources for students who are the first
in their family to go to college. 鈥淚t feels like family,鈥� said Lewis. 鈥淲e cheer each
other on.鈥�
Yolanda Lewis (second from right) holding her award at the 2025 天美传媒app免费版下载 Dallas Student Leadership and Success Year-End Celebration
天美传媒app免费版下载 Dallas launched TBE in 2019 as a way to nurture and mentor first generation college students. More than two-thirds of the university鈥檚 students are first-gen. 鈥淲e understand the unique challenges they face. I was a first generation student who grew up here in Oak Cliff,鈥� said Dr. Sabrina Hodge, Executive Director of Trailblazer Elite and the . 鈥淥ur guidance, mentoring, leadership training and events keep them engaged. Within each student lies limitless possibility. Our programs cultivate the self-assurance needed to pursue even the most ambitious dreams."
Sometimes the path to achieving those dreams hits an obstacle. In her junior year, Lewis had to be hospitalized because of a diabetic episode. With the help of Dr. Hodge and TBE, accommodations were made and professors allowed her to complete all of the assignments she missed with no impact on her grades. When the semester ended, Lewis made the Dean's List. It was proof that the support and understanding provided by the university can make a crucial difference for students, especially those facing unexpected challenges.
Lewis overcome any challenge that stood in her way. She was inspired by her husband Joe, their three children, Keaira, Lakendrick, and Jasmine, and grandson, Antonio, who will soon be ready for college himself. 鈥淚 want to show them what鈥檚 available for them,鈥� she said, referring to the doors that open when an individual earns their college degree. And the many academic options available to 天美传媒app免费版下载 Dallas students to ensure they are career-ready when they graduate. 鈥淲ith AI, you need more than a high school diploma can give,鈥� said Lewis.
After all, Lewis wasn鈥檛 sure she would ever attain hers. As the mother of three children
born in four years, Lewis spent her late teens and 20s in full-time parent mode. Fortunately,
she had help from her parents. When her kids grew up and lived on their own, Lewis
held various jobs, including at Amazon. Going back to school was always in the back
of her mind.
Yolanda Lewis with her grandson, Antonio
When COVID-19 spread across the U.S. in 2020, many businesses and workers suffered. But for Lewis, the pandemic became an opportunity. 鈥淲e were homeschooling my grandchild,鈥� she explained. 鈥淪o, I decided to use the extra time to get my high school diploma.鈥� Lewis took online classes at and received her diploma in 2021.
Then, there was no stopping her. 鈥淚t felt great. I was proud of myself,鈥� Lewis said. She was motivated to take the next step. 鈥淚 wanted to go to college all my life, I looked around online and enrolled at 天美传媒app免费版下载 Dallas.鈥� At first, she chose Biology as a major, but after her first semester, she pivoted to . Lewis remembered her positive experience at Amazon and wanted to climb higher, but she needed a college degree. Soon, she was on that path.
鈥淎t first, I had a fear of failing,鈥� Lewis recalled. 鈥淎nd a fear of not belonging.
Will I really fit in?鈥� Those fears quickly faded as students, faculty and staff embraced
her. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about mutual respect,鈥� she said.
Yolanda Lewis and her Husband, Joe
When one of her original mentors left the university, Lewis asked Dr. Curtis McDowell, a lecturer in the Department of History and Political Science, to be her new mentor. She had taken Dr. McDowell鈥檚 American Government course and admired him. 鈥淗e leads me in the right direction,鈥� Lewis said. The advice and guidance she received 鈥� about academics and life 鈥� symbolizes 天美传媒app免费版下载 Dallas鈥� culture and its mission to empower students, transform lives and strengthen communities. 鈥淭he vibe, the kindness, the generosity, is a reason to come to 天美传媒app免费版下载 Dallas,鈥� she said.
As a member of the esteemed Dr. Emmett J. Conrad Leadership Program, managed by UNT
Dallas, Lewis gained practical, hands-on experience through a paid internship at and Parker University in Dallas. She contributed to organizing and managing warehouse
inventory, while leveling up certain skills. "They taught me how to be more detail-oriented,"
Lewis said. It built on her existing organizational strengths.
Yolanda Lewis (upper row, second from left) with fellow members of Trailblazer Elite at a group mixer
Lewis is ready to show employers the knowledge and skills attained through her . She is searching for a role in logistics, inventory, and supply chain operations. It is a growing field, driven, in part, by Texas鈥� growing economy and the , a major hub for trade and transportation of goods.
With graduation now in sight, Lewis is grateful for the support of the university and her children. 鈥淭hey鈥檇 proud of me,鈥� she said. Lewis recently brought her 14-year-old grandson to the Student Leadership and Success end-of-the-year celebration. 鈥淗e鈥檚 already asking about 天美传媒app免费版下载 Dallas 鈥� he wants to go here.鈥� Lewis loves the idea.
For others considering college, whether fresh out of high school or later in life, Lewis has advice. 鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid. Don鈥檛 let fear keep you from coming,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the best things I鈥檝e ever done.鈥�
From 鈥� First-Generation Student