Justin Taplet grew up with a mother who served in the military and moved around often as a kid, experiencing new cities and their architecture. The experience inspired him to study architecture in a large city, making the Hines College a natural fit. To students, he shared: "Your story is your own. Embrace who you are and where you have been. Your career is not a race."

The Class of 2024 includes students who began their academic journeys at the Hines College before, during, and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. These graduates have shown they can overcome all odds despite their challenges. Several of our graduates have chosen to share their stories to encourage and motivate prospective and current students as they pursue their dreams.