Alumni Spotlight - Chase and Caroline Beebe

If it weren’t for Texas A&M University-Texarkana, Chase and Caroline Beebe wouldn’t have met. “If A&M-Texarkana hadn’t started the baseball program, I never would have come to Texarkana,” Chase shared. “If the B.S.N. program hadn’t started when it did, I probably wouldn’t have moved back to Texarkana when I did,” Caroline added.  

Chase, originally from Glenwood, Arkansas, joined the first A&M-Texarkana baseball team in 2015, not knowing anyone. “The baseball team became an instant community, because we spent so much time together. We had guys from California, Hawaii, Arizona, Washington, and local players too. We all came from different backgrounds and cultures, but many of those teammates are still some of my best friends.”  

Chase originally studied history and shared some of his favorite classes were taught by Dr. Craig Nakashian. Later, he transitioned into general business. “What stood out to me about business was how many different paths it could lead to.”  

He graduated in 2020, with plans to move to Fayetteville, Arkansas for work. Around the same time, Texarkana native Caroline Thomas moved back home from the University of Arkansas to begin A&M-Texarkana’s brand-new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. “Ironically, I moved from Texarkana to Fayetteville the same month Caroline moved from Fayetteville back to Texarkana,” Chase explained.  

Caroline and Chase met through a mutual friend and fellow A&M-Texarkana alum. The two started dating long-distance with completely different schedules. “I drove from Fayetteville to Texarkana every weekend,” Chase shared. Caroline added, “The long-distance relationship was hard, especially while I was in nursing school. Chase worked nights, and I was in class and clinicals all day, so our schedules were completely opposite. He was very persistent and consistent throughout our relationship. I think getting through that difficult season together really showed us what we had.”   

Chase eventually moved to Texarkana for work and the couple married in 2024 in Caroline’s home church, First United Methodist Church, Texarkana, Arkansas. The church carries deep sentiment and family connection for her. “I’m the fifth generation to attend the church. My whole life, I knew I wanted to get married there. My parents were married in the church before it burned and was rebuilt.”  

The Beebe wedding was traditional in style and mirrored Caroline’s parents’ wedding. “Having our wedding at the church was really special,” Caroline reflected. “Basically, she had the wedding planned before she even knew who I was,” Chase joked.  

Today, Chase is a Commercial Loan Officer at Commercial National Bank, Texarkana. “What really attracted me to Commercial National Bank was its investment in the local community. Being part of a locally owned bank that gives back to Texarkana really aligns with what matters to me.”  

In January, Caroline became RN Lead for Christus Trinity Clinic in Texarkana. “I oversee eight specialty clinics, so I stay busy. It’s different stepping into a leadership role compared to being a floor nurse, but I’m enjoying it and learning a lot.”  

Chase believes being a college athlete shaped him and prepared him for his career. “Baseball taught structure, responsibility, teamwork, and discipline. There were early morning workouts, practices, travel, and balancing academics alongside athletics. It taught me how to show up every day, work hard, and take care of responsibilities.”  

Caroline is an alumna of the second graduating class of the A&M-Texarkana B.S.N. program and appreciates the support system she found in her instructors and classmates. “The program was very difficult. It taught me discipline, perseverance, and teamwork. They had just added the simulation hospital, and now it has expanded even more. The hands-on learning and local clinical experiences at the hospitals were valuable. It was hard work, but worth it.”  

As a couple, the Beebes are committed to the community that brought them together. “We want to raise our future children here,” Caroline shared. “We want to be known as people who helped make Texarkana better. Not necessarily for recognition, but through our presence, support, and involvement. Our legacy matters less than the continued progress of Texarkana itself,” Chase added.  

Through their careers and community involvement, they’ve met people who genuinely care about making Texarkana better, which inspires them to join in whenever and wherever they can. “It’s easy for people to criticize their hometown, but we want to encourage people instead,” Caroline shared. “Our favorite part of living in Texarkana is seeing the progress and momentum happening. One of the favorite parts of my job is meeting local business owners and hearing their stories. There’s so much happening in Texarkana that people don’t always see,” Chase added.  

Chase also serves as a member of the A&M-Texarkana Alumni Association Board. “Both Caroline and I were part of the early years of major University programs. Joining the Alumni Association felt like another opportunity to help build something meaningful for the future.”  

For Chase and Caroline, alumni engagement means cultivating pride in and connection to the University that is such an integral part of their story. “Future students need to see examples of where their education can take them,” Chase explained. “Plans and paths change, but hearing stories form alumni can inspire students and help guide them.”  

The Beebes also recognize just how much A&M-Texarkana is doing for the community they love. They’re both excited for the future of Texarkana through the lens of the University’s current growth.  

“I think A&M-Texarkana is instrumental to the future of Texarkana,” Chase expressed. “The University is bringing people, opportunity, talent, and attention to the area. For a long time, Texarkana was a place people passed through on I-30, but the University is changing that. I really believe the growth of A&M-Texarkana will become one of the defining parts of Texarkana’s history.”