Earning a bachelor’s degree was not on Ethan Coyle’s radar for his life, even just a few years ago. But Saturday morning, he’ll receive a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Midwestern State University with family in attendance.

When Ethan graduated from high school in Indiana in 2012, he didn’t know where his life was headed, so he joined the U.S. Air Force. He had been stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base and stayed in Wichita Falls after leaving the service, but the question of what to do with his life was still unanswered. He got a job at Radio Shack. Then he took another job, and another – for a while working three jobs.

After taking a few classes under from Vernon College, Ethan surprised himself and did better than he had imagined. “The military, working multiple jobs – everything had matured me,” he said. Partly because of the Radio Shack job, he knew he liked technology. He started with some computer science classes but didn’t do so well at first. “I questioned my choice,” he said. “But I kept on and realized that I liked it.” So much so that Ethan enrolled for the bachelor’s program at MSU Texas.

Professor of Computer Science Catherine Stringfellow had Ethan complete a resume to apply for an internship, which has since turned into his career. “His supervisor for his internship at ETC (Electronic Transaction Consultants) indicated he learned the business and the technology of the product assigned to him much faster than any other intern they’ve had,” Stringfellow said. “Ethan has shown so much growth in his knowledge and his technical capabilities over the past couple of years, due a lot to his diligence in studying. He has excellent soft skills in communication and teamwork.”

During his time at MSU Texas, Ethan also learned to appreciate the accessibility of his professors. “When I first started, I didn’t talk to them, but as time went on, I learned that they’re all open,” Ethan said. “I was probably in her (Stringfellow’s) office every day. She’s been extremely helpful; never turned anything down. They’re all more than willing to help.”

Ethan’s mom and sister from Indiana will be in the audience when he graduates. He is excited about the ceremony, but it also brings some sadness.

“I feel like I just started. I like being here on campus. I even liked homework and the program assignments. Never thought I’d say that,” Ethan said. “Solving problems was a challenge but became second nature. I’ll miss the challenges, and I’ll miss my fellow students. I’ve made a lot of friends here that will last outside school, but I’ll miss seeing them every day. We’re all on the same career path, so we’re like a support group.”

He’ll even miss room 320 on Bolin Hall’s third floor. “I think I had a class there every semester.” Ethan says he’ll start looking at a master’s degree. “Never thought I’d get a bachelor’s. I can’t believe I’m thinking about a master’s.”

Editor’s Note: This article was updated August 2025.