Four In Four – Texas A&M Quadruplets Graduating In Sync, On Time

A timely commencement is always cause for celebration, and for the Thompson family from Stephenville, Texas, that celebration is four-fold. Kayla, Patrick, Reagan and Daniel Thompson are graduating May 14 from Texas A&M University in sync and on time – within the traditional four years.

Their coinciding academic careers are rare in higher education, and now the 22-year-olds are graduating with bachelor’s degrees and facing geographic separation for the first time in their lives, as all are pursuing job opportunities in different cities.

The path to graduation has been paved with solid course loads and a steady academic focus, Patrick explains.

“We have to give a lot of credit to our mom, who has been incredible with our scheduling and has really pushed us to take summer courses and internships,” Patrick says. “One summer we all took 13 hours. It was a big load at the time but looking back now, it was well worth it.”

In high school, all four excelled in academics and student government and all played competitive soccer. Reagan and Patrick also played varsity football.

At Texas A&M, each Thompson has always had a built-in cheering section of at least three for all their accomplishments. The brothers all have played some intramural sports together and all four have attended at least one event of every spectator sport on campus.

Throughout their time at Texas A&M, the Thompsons have guaranteed attendance from at least one family member at every major event, particularly while Reagan served throughout his senior year as a yell leader – one who leads Aggie fans in “yells” during athletic events and other school events. His siblings are represented as well, with their initials – PT, JT and KT – on the back of his yell leader overalls.

Having their siblings at the same school has meant additional friends for each of them, the quadruplets say. “The campus is so big, but everywhere you go you see someone you know,” says Kayla. “And we get to meet three times the people because we all make friends along the way. It’s like having a built-in support system – an Aggie network times four.”

The quadruplets were destined to become Aggies from the time they were infants swaddled in maroon. Their father, Erath County Judge Tab Thompson, graduated in 1978 and their mother Debbie also attended Texas A&M.

“There were other options, but there was no other choice than Texas A&M,” Reagan says. “There’s no place like this. Once you’re here, you’re part of something special.”

Their degrees are in communications (Kayla), agricultural leadership and development (Patrick) and agricultural economics (Daniel and Reagan).

When the quadruplets took a business management course together, it was believed to have been a “first” for quadruplets on the campus. The students were determined to learn management techniques from Ben Welch, an award-winning professor and director of the Center for Executive Development at Texas A&M’s Mays Business School. They met Welch when their dad took a course from him while they were still in high school.

Welch has high praise for his easily recognizable students, whom he also sees sometimes at church.

“They are just always so positive and smiling, they are a joy to be around,” he says. “When they were in my class, they sat right up front and always paid attention. That’s their gift, that they pay attention to everyone they encounter.”