Ben Hooten, an adult learner who returned to Lubbock Christian University (LCU) after half a decade, received his degree in university studies during LCU’s winter commencement ceremony on Saturday morning, Dec. 14.
Hooten was diagnosed with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy, a muscular disease in which his body fails to create certain proteins necessary to maintain and build muscle, in early childhood. He became wheelchair bound in his early teens, and by the time he graduated from Lubbock Christian High School in 2010, he knew the stress and pace of a full-time college load wouldn’t be realistic, so he started as a part-time student that fall at LCU.
“We knew he wouldn’t be taking full time hours,” shared Tammy Hooten (’90), Ben’s mother. “He started in fall of 2010 after he graduated from high school and went for about nine years.”
During his time at LCU, in addition to pursuing a degree in humanities, Hooten enjoyed being a part of campus life, despite the unique challenges he faced. He joined the Sub T-16 fraternity and participated in Master Follies, one of LCU’s biggest homecoming traditions involving short shows by each social club on campus. According to Hooten, it was one of his favorite parts of college. “It was quite enjoyable,” he shared, adding, “I really liked to go to chapel, too—I got to sit with the rest of Sub T and other friends.”
At the same time, however, Ben’s disease continued to progress slowly but steadily, adding to the challenges that college life posed. In the spring of 2019, he still lacked several courses to be eligible to graduate, including his senior capstone project—which had always been a daunting prospect. When some particularly tough complications developed leading into that year, Ben made the difficult decision to stop attending LCU—it seemed his dream of earning a college degree was over.
Several years later in the Spring of 2024, Tammy had begun working part-time at LCU as a gift accountant, and Ben’s college journey came up in a conversation with Raymond Richardson, who at the time was serving as Vice President for University Advancement, and one of LCU’s trustees, Linda Gaither.
“I was riding to a funeral for a university donor with Raymond and Linda,” Tammy explained, “and we were talking on the way back. They were asking about Ben, and I explained how with his increasing health challenges, he got close, but he just wasn't going to be able to finish. They were like, ‘That's not right. He needs to be able to finish—we need to find a way for him to finish.’”
From there, Raymond and Linda began to investigate options when they learned from LCU’s Provost Dr. Kent Gallaher and Assistant Provost and Professor of English Dr. Kenneth Hawley that a new degree-completion program with the flexibility for adult learners just like Ben was set to begin in fall 2024.
LCU currently has two different degree completion programs, one in University Studies and the other in Managerial Leadership, which are both designed specifically for working adults with some college credit who want to finish earning their degrees. The Bachelor of Arts in University Studies, LCU’s latest adult learner program, came online this fall, and Ben, Tammy, and his father Bobby (’89) began meeting with Dr. Gallaher and Dr. Hawley to see if this would be a good fit for Ben’s situation.
“When I learned that Ben was considering a return to LCU, I went back to his degree plan paperwork and determined what courses remained in his Bachelor of Arts in Humanities,” Dr. Hawley explained. “As I did so, I realized that a better way forward was to match up his credits with our new Adult Degree Completion for Humanities, the University Studies degree—the requirements are a little different and the degree plan is designed to be flexible for those who would be transferring in a number of credits. When we applied Ben’s LCU credits to the University Studies degree plan, all that remained was the final capstone! It was a perfect solution, since as a returning LCU student, Ben would not need to satisfy any residency requirements that a typical transfer student would have to complete. All he needed was this one final class.”
While this course was still daunting, Dr. Hawley and Dr. Ronna Privett, Chair of LCU’s Department of Humanities, assured Ben that they would work with him to ensure that this degree would be accessible and attainable.
For Ben, finding out that he would have a chance to graduate with this degree was an incredible opportunity. “It was really exciting,” he emphasized. “It gave me something to look forward to and to work toward.”
Over the course of the fall 2024 semester, Ben worked with Dr. Hawley and Dr. Privett on his capstone project, a culminating academic project that would demonstrate Ben’s mastery of the knowledge and skills he had acquired through his studies involving research, analysis, problem-solving, and creative work to showcase his abilities in his field.
They worked together to identify the topic for the semester-long course: identifying and analyzing the themes of good and evil in The Chronicles of Narnia, the Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter. Most of the course was completed remotely, which was key because of Ben’s mobility challenges, and LCU ensured that he had the tools he needed to succeed, from technology support through ChapDesk to educational resources from the library and even helping him find and apply for grants to help ensure financial aid wasn’t a barrier.
“When preparing for this University Studies capstone for the fall semester, I worked with Dr. Privett to put together an independent study that would be rigorous but flexible, so that it could balance the academic demands of the course and the particular accommodations that would enable Ben to successfully navigate its requirements,” explained Dr. Hawley. “Whatever the assignment or deadline, he remained ahead of schedule all semester long and did good work from start to finish.
“At LCU, our Quality Enhancement Plan for the last few years has focused on academic tenacity, on developing a growth mindset that meets challenges with grit and persistence. It has been central to our academic plan for the university to make sure that students are able to persist through difficulty. Ben is an example of such courage and dedication, not only to the other students, but also to all of us who have had the opportunity to see how his hard work and perseverance—trusting in the sustaining grace of God—has brought him through every challenge and accomplishment.”
Finally, after over a decade of work, Ben received his college diploma in the Rip Griffin Center during this fall commencement ceremony—an achievement that he had once thought out of reach.
“With the loving and faithful support of his parents and family, Ben has made it to countless appointments and events, including many semesters of classes here on our campus. This weekend marks his last journey to the halls of the university, for that special moment of completion at the graduation stage,” shared Dr. Hawley. “Many friends and loved ones have helped along the way, and a number of us here at LCU are blessed to have been a part of Ben’s remarkable story—so thankful to see his many years of steadfast commitment come to this wonderful conclusion.
“When we say, ‘We Walk with You,’ the most common interpretation of that promise is that we here at LCU are there for students, helping and supporting them as they make their way through here to whatever next path awaits,” Hawley continued. “With students like Ben, though, we are the ones who learn and grow, who take a lesson and gain insight, who see the work of God and are changed for life.”
Learn more about LCU’s Degree Completion Programs, including the University Studies and Managerial Leadership degrees.