STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Thaddeus Reichart

Spring 2025 Graduate

Social Work

Thaddeus Reichart developed a passion for helping others while earning his bachelor’s degree in Social Work through Tarleton State University at the RELLIS Campus. Throughout his time at RELLIS, Thaddeus developed both personally and professionally—building a strong foundation for his future career in social work.

During his time at RELLIS, Thaddeus discovered the importance of staying curious and engaging in the classroom. The smaller class sizes allowed him to ask questions, participate in discussions, and fully understand course material. One of the most impactful parts of his experience was learning under Professor Nick Haynes, who became a mentor to Thaddeus and many of the other students in his course.

“RELLIS shaped me personally by helping me grow into a better student,” he said. “I learned that the key to truly understanding something is to stay curious and ask questions.”

One of Thaddeus’ favorite aspects of RELLIS was the opportunity to live in the Bryan/ College Station area while earning a degree that would not be available to him at Texas A&M, all while still enjoying the traditional college experience.

“I enjoyed living in the Bryan/College Station area while earning a degree not offered at Texas A&M, and still having the opportunity to go to every Aggie home game with my sports pass.”

Some of his favorite memories were the simple, everyday moments on campus.

“My favorite memory from RELLIS was getting to campus early before class to meet with my research group,” he said. “We’d sit together in one of the study rooms around campus to plan out our week and check in with each other.”

Through his academic journey, Thaddeus gained valuable real-world experience that prepared him for his career. He became a certified ombudsman, advocating for elderly residents and researching challenges within the program. He also completed a field placement with a nonprofit organization, Communities in Schools, where he worked directly with students and families, an experience that eventually led to a job opportunity.

Today, Thaddeus serves as a male leadership coach, where he mentors 50-60 high school students. In his role, he facilitates small group discussions, provides one on one support, and helps students navigate topics such as leadership, relationships, and college readiness.

Thaddeus credits his success to the hands on learning experiences at RELLIS, especially the classroom role playing exercises that helped him build confidence and communication skills.

“At first it was a little nerve racking, but over time it greatly improved my public speaking skills and boosted my confidence in communicating and listening to others.”

Looking back, Thaddeus encourages future students to consider RELLIS for its value and experience.

“If there’s a degree you’re seriously interested in at RELLIS, and you want to save money on a four-year degree while still getting a similar experience to being a Texas A&M student, I would absolutely recommend enrolling at RELLIS.”

Even after graduation, Thaddeus remains connected to the RELLIS community and continues to give back by encouraging students to explore the opportunities it offers.