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MakoCr8s Founder Thomas E. Mangum Graduates as Salutatorian from Full Sail University

Veteran, filmmaker, and creative professional earns Master of Arts in Public Relations while graduating as Salutatorian of his program.

September 4, 2026 — Thomas E. Mangum, founder of MakoCr8s and Mangum Media LLC, has earned a Master of Arts in Public Relations from Full Sail University, graduating as Salutatorian of his program.

The achievement marks the completion of Mangum’s third college degree and adds another major milestone to a career built around leadership, communication, creativity, and storytelling.

Mangum completed Full Sail University’s Public Relations master’s program with a 3.95 GPA, earning recognition as Salutatorian. His graduate work focused on strategic communication, media relations, audience analysis, digital content, campaign development, and creating communication strategies designed to produce measurable results.

The degree adds to Mangum’s previous academic accomplishments, including a Master of Science in Digital Marketing and a Bachelor of Science in Digital Cinematography, both from Full Sail University.

For Mangum, graduating as Salutatorian represents more than academic recognition.

“I’m proud of the title, but I’m even more proud of what it represents. I came into this program wanting to sharpen the way I communicate, build stronger strategies, and become better at telling stories beyond the camera. Finishing as Salutatorian showed me that the work, discipline, and consistency mattered.”

Before establishing himself in the creative industry, Mangum served more than 16 years in the United States Army, where he worked in aviation operations, airspace management, training, and senior operational leadership roles.

That military background became part of the foundation for the discipline and leadership he later carried into his academic and creative career.

After leaving military service, Mangum continued developing his professional portfolio through filmmaking, photography, digital marketing, public relations, and brand development.

His work includes the award winning film “Compulsive Diver,” commercial and editorial photography, video production, digital campaigns, and strategic communication projects.

Through MakoCr8s, Mangum brings those areas together to help individuals, businesses, and organizations tell stronger stories and build more intentional brands.

His academic journey reflects the same approach.

Cinematography taught him how to capture the story.

Marketing taught him how to position the story.

Public relations taught him how to shape the conversation around it.

Together, those disciplines give Mangum a broad understanding of how a message moves from an idea to an audience.

“The goal was never just to collect degrees. I wanted each one to make me better at what I already do. I can create the visual, understand the audience, build the strategy, and communicate the message. That combination is what I’ve been working toward.”

Graduating as Salutatorian adds another distinction to that journey and reflects Mangum’s commitment to continuing his education while building the next phase of his professional career.

Mangum plans to continue expanding MakoCr8s while pursuing opportunities that combine creative production, strategic communication, education, leadership, and brand development.

Media Contact

Thomas E. Mangum
Founder | MakoCr8s
Website: MakoCr8s.com