Confident, problem-solving Purdue Global grad blazes her own trail

Meet Samantha LaRue, one of the recent grads who sang the national anthem at Feb. 17 commencement

IRVING, Texas — When Samantha LaRue sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” for her high school graduation, she stood on the same Louisiana stage that hosted performances by her two musical idols, Patsy Cline and Elvis Presley.

Fast-forward nine years, and LaRue found herself on another stage singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” — this time in Irving, Texas, for Purdue Global’s Feb. 17 commencement ceremony.

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Not only was LaRue a national anthem singer, but she also earned her Bachelor of Science in industrial/organizational psychology from Purdue Global. She was one of nearly 1,200 students who participated in in-person and virtual commencement ceremonies that day at the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory.

Samantha LaRue with her family and friends following Purdue Global’s recent commencement in Irving, Texas. (Purdue Global photo/Greta Bell) Download image

“It was pretty cool. I had fun.” LaRue said of singing at her own commencement ceremony. “I got to see my son’s face seeing me on a big screen. It was cute.”

LaRue said it was great to sing in front of the crowd, especially with her husband, Richard, and son, Rowan, and numerous friends cheering her on.

“It was nice having their support. It was exciting to see my friends here as well,” she said.

Singing has come naturally to LaRue. She changed schools as her family moved around frequently. She was encouraged to join the choir or band. After several years, she was noticed as being a good singer — and thus the assignment to sing the national anthem at her high school graduation.

It was a different process for her at Purdue Global. She saw the posting asking for submissions to be considered to sing the national anthem.

“I made an audition video and submitted it. It was fun to do. I didn’t expect to be selected,” she said.

But what makes a great national anthem rendition?

“Confidence is key,” LaRue said. “I came in with a lot of excitement and confidence.”

It will be nine years from the time she graduated high school to completing her Purdue Global degree. She received a college scholarship following high school but had to drop out to take care of her family, having to then forfeit the scholarship. She attempted to enroll again at another school once she was in Texas, but the application process was difficult.

LaRue decided that Purdue Global — Purdue’s online university for working adults — was where she wanted to be. She was ready to take classes and was enrolled within three hours, starting classes April 2021. Her advisor talked her through her goals and dreams and pointed her to industrial/organizational psychology, which focuses on behaviors in the workplace, helping to train and retain workers. Her goal is to work on leadership development as a civilian contractor for the military.

“It was a natural fit and an incredible process,” LaRue said. “I want to use my degree to make organizations more inclusive and train people to understand other cultures better. I’m a problem solver.”

LaRue finished her classes on Dec. 23, 2023. “It was the day before Christmas Eve, and it was a gift to myself.”

LaRue is the first in her family to graduate from college. She credits her family for continually inspiring her to make her comeback.

“My son inspires me. I didn’t want to quit,” she said. “I wanted to show him what perseverance looks like.”

About Purdue Global

Purdue Global is Purdue’s online university for working adults who have life experience and often some college credits. It offers flexible paths for students to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, based on their work experience, military service and previous college credits, no matter where they are in their life journey. Purdue Global is a nonprofit, public university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and backed by Purdue University. For more information, visit https://stories.purdue.edu/purdue-global/.

Writer/Media contact: Matthew Oates, oatesw@purdue.edu, 765-496-6160, @mo_oates

Source: Samantha LaRue