Mazel Lofton is the first to graduate through Graduate Memphis.

Lofton, married with two daughters, earned her Associates Degree of Applied Science in Office Administration from Southwest Tennessee Community College this May, and has decided to further her career at the University of Memphis in the fall.

Lofton follows in the footsteps of her own daughter, who graduated from the University of Memphis herself in spring 2012. Her other daughter enters high school at Central this fall.
Employed by the Shelby County Government since 1989, she was inspired to return to college and earn a degree after her daughter also entered college. Mazel explains that seeing her daughter go through the college process and graduate inspired her to do the same.
Lofton became a member of the Alpha Beta Gamma Honor Society after earning consistent A’s in her courses.
Mazel praised Graduate Memphis for consistently calling and emailing her to check on her progress, as well as sending her numerous scholarship opportunities for which she could apply. “The opportunity to achieve is there,” she says when asked the advice she would give to other adult learners who would like to return to school. “It may seem hard but the rewards are great.”
Graduate Memphis is excited by Mazel Lofton’s success and perseverance through her post-secondary education.
Graduate Memphis and the Memphis Talent Dividend: College Attainment Initiative are initiatives of Leadership Memphis with a goal of increasing college attainment in the Memphis Metropolitan Area.

Graduate Memphis is located on the first floor of the Benjamin Hooks Library.  Hours are from 3 – 7 p.m. Mon – Thu, and 1- 4 p.m. Fri – Sun.