","level":0,"displayType":"paragraph"},{"text":"Makenzie Noland is a 21-year-old student at Texas A&M University in College Station who will be graduating on August 10th with a degree in wildlife and fisheries sciences. Since May, Noland has been interning at a local wildlife rescue center called Gator Country in Beaumont, Texas. One very important connection that she formed at her internship was with Big Tex, a 13-foot, 8.5-inch, 1,000-pound alligator.","level":0,"displayType":"paragraph"},{"text":"In fact, Noland even enlisted the help of her gator friend for her graduation photos.","level":0,"displayType":"paragraph"}],"displayType":"section"}]},{"elements":[{"text":"https://twitter.com/KenzieAlexisss/status/1023702922461409280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw","displayType":"twitter"},{"elements":[{"text":"","level":0,"displayType":"paragraph"},{"text":"Yes, that is Noland’s class ring on Big Tex’s nose.","level":0,"displayType":"paragraph"},{"text":"Said Noland, “I thought it would make for a great way to highlight what I have done at my internship as well as showing how excited I am for graduating at Texas A&M, I do this every day, but this time I was wearing a dress!”","level":0,"displayType":"paragraph"},{"text":"Noland started training with Big Tex on her first day at Gator Country and now regularly hosts feeding shows with the animal for sanctuary visitors.","level":0,"displayType":"paragraph"}],"displayType":"section"}]},{"elements":[{"text":"https://twitter.com/KenzieAlexisss/status/1026446823865675776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw","displayType":"twitter"},{"elements":[{"text":"","level":0,"displayType":"paragraph"},{"text":"Big Tex is the biggest alligator in the country who’s been caught alive, which would frighten most people, but not Noland.","level":0,"displayType":"paragraph"},{"text":"Noland said, “I call him over, talk all sweet to him, tickle his nose, and reassure him that I’m not going to hurt him. I’ve been bitten by 8-inch hatchlings, which hurt, but never by Tex.”","level":0,"displayType":"paragraph"},{"text":"Gator Country owner Arlie Hammonds is the photographer behind these incredible images. Initially, he proposed the idea of a photo with the ring on the alligator’s nose. Although, Noland went a step further and donned her cap and A&M sash.","level":0,"displayType":"paragraph"}],"displayType":"section"}]},{"elements":[{"text":"https://twitter.com/KenzieAlexisss/status/1026631933952966656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw","displayType":"twitter"},{"elements":[{"text":"","level":0,"displayType":"paragraph"},{"text":"When asked whether he thought the animal would eat the ring or toss it into the water, Hammonds said, “I’m in there with him eight days a week. I’d like to think I know him. He’s a real sweetheart.”","level":0,"displayType":"paragraph"},{"text":"Noland has said that she hopes to work at the Dallas or Fort Worth zoos after graduating.","level":0,"displayType":"paragraph"}],"displayType":"section"}]}];
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