Dakotah Cooper received his diploma Wednesday, June 22, from the University of Arkansas.
The diploma was delivered with the RazorBug, a Volkswagon Beetle that has been modified to look like a razorback.
Cooper received his Master of Science in Operations Management from UA. His degree was presented by Megan Whobrey, adviser and academic services coordinator in the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas.
He received his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Southern Arkansas University.
Cooper currently works at Albemarle and received a promotion after graduating. He was promoted to Area Superintendent.
"It's pretty cool. Piper (his daughter) was born two days after graduation so we didn't have a chance to make it to Fayetteville to walk, and to still be presented my diploma is pretty cool," Cooper said Wednesday.
Cooper said that the University of Arkansas' online program was flexible and allowed him to work while he got his degree.
Currently, he does not plan to get a doctorate degree. Cooper said his reason for getting his master's degree was a competitiveness with his wife, Natalie Cooper, who already has her master's degree.
Both Dakotah and Natalie Cooper are the first generation in their families to earn bachelor's and master's degrees.
He said he hopes Piper will grow up to earn a doctorate.
Cooper said the quicker someone commits to an advanced degree, the better.
He said that he wishes he had started the degree sooner.
Cooper said despite taking all his classes online he still felt like a Razorback and was able to go to a football game while he was a student.
Dakotah, Natalie, and Piper Cooper pose with their dog in front of the RazorBug. (Joshua Turner/Banner News)
The Razorbug is parked outside the Columbia County Courthouse for citizens to take pictures with. (Joshua Turner/Banner News)