Overview
Tegan Zimmerman
Major: Marketing (Digital Marketing)
Expected Graduation: Spring 2027
Hometown: Clearwater, Kansas
Tegan Zimmerman is a digital marketing major whose journey reflects resilience, gratitude, and determination. Growing up in a family with limited resources, she once believed college might not be possible. But with persistence and support, she discovered that success is not defined by circumstance but by heart and effort. Walking into the Barton School during a campus tour, she felt an immediate sense of belonging and knew she had found her home.
Tegan has balanced her education with professional responsibilities, completing much of her coursework online while working. Despite this, she has built an impressive record of leadership and initiative. She coaches middle school cheerleading, runs her own photography business, and manages everything from client outreach to editing and branding. Creating Tegan Ashly Photography allowed her to turn a childhood love of creativity into a thriving business that reflects her passion and entrepreneurial spirit.
Her most meaningful achievement as a Barton student is being selected as one of the 25 Under 25 honorees. For Tegan, the recognition confirmed that hard work is seen, even when much of it happens outside the spotlight. It reminded her that her story is powerful and that opportunities arise when you stay committed to your goals.
Tegan’s greatest inspiration comes from her parents. She grew up between two households, both shaped by resilience and sacrifice. They showed her that success is not about the nicest home or the easiest path but about dedication, integrity, and courage. Today, both run their own small businesses, and their example fuels Tegan’s ambition to build her own career with the same persistence and creativity.
After graduation, Tegan hopes to begin her career in corporate marketing, joining a collaborative team where she can contribute to meaningful work and continue growing her skills. Her long-term goal is to build a career that blends creativity with strategy while helping companies tell compelling stories.
Being recognized as one of Barton’s 25 Under 25 symbolizes a dream Tegan once thought was out of reach. Her story is a reminder that where you start does not determine where you can go.