Dancing to his own beat: Isaiah Laque leaves a legacy at Tarleton

BY CAROLINE CRAIN / Multimedia Journalist

From halftime performances to homecoming celebrations, Isaiah Laque has been a familiar face in nearly every corner of campus life. His energy, passion and drive have left a mark on Tarleton State University in ways very few can match.
 

Now, as Laque gets ready to graduate with a degree in kinesiology, he reflects on the moments that defined his college years, the lessons learned and the lasting impact he aims to leave behind.
 

Laque made history at Tarleton as the first and only male member of the Tarleton dance team, the Texan Stars. It wasn’t just about breaking gender norms- it was about proving to himself that he could rise to the challenge and excel in an environment that was demanding.
 

“At first, I felt the pressure of the world,” Laque said. “But then I really honed in on my skills and my performance level, and just set the bar for myself to keep raising it and beating myself every day.”
 

Laque’s journey with dance began in highschool. Since then, he has faced times where putting his participation on hold was the choice he had to make.
 

His path, however, was deeply influenced by the loss of his brother, who passed away just two weeks before Laque graduated high school. Laque’s passion for dancing became intertwined with his desire to honor his brother’s memory.
 

“If I know that I can, I know that he would want to, so that’s what I use to keep pushing when times are hard— even when I’m performing I think of that,” Laque said. “He loved to dance, so that’s the biggest thing: if I know he had no control of giving that up, why would I give that up mentally? That’s what I used to push me.” 
 

Despite the many challenges that arose on the way, dance became more than just an activity to Laque. It was something that drove him forward.
 

“At this point in my life, it gives me purpose,” Laque said. “My biggest thing this past year was I didn’t want to lose something that means so much to me because of other people. In the beginning, it was fun, something I could be good at. But I’ve realized you can’t dance without passion and love for it.”
 

The Texan Stars helped him discover his true potential—not just as a performer, but as someone who could inspire others with his passion and dedication. 
 

Ancheska Parchman began her role as head dance coach for the Texan Stars this semester. Although her time with Laque hasn’t been long, she reflected on the impact that he will leave at Tarleton.
 

“He definitely changes the game for this campus, and I don’t know if he realizes that at all, but what he contributes to the team is giving Tarleton itself a new perspective on what a dancer can be.”
 

Parchman talked about how the word ‘legacy’ has been such a prominent one for the team this semester. Laque’s journey reflects this notion.
 

“I think he’s going to show a lot of people that you can be yourself and still do what you love. And I think that’s a huge legacy in itself.” 
 

Laque found another community within his fraternity, Kappa Delta Rho. He created deep connections during moments of both celebration and hardship.
 

“I lost a blood brother, but then I gained 700,” Laque said. “It’s crazy, but it has been one of the best experiences while being here, truly.”
 

Laque didn’t just take part in campus life—he actively helped shape it. In his time with the organization, Laque held several chairs, joined the Order of Omega, earned a social media internship with the national fraternity and worked as Vice President of Recruitment for the Interfraternity Council (IFC).
 

His efforts didn’t go unnoticed, and his leadership left a lasting imprint on the university’s Greek life.
 

Kory Walker was Tarleton’s Kappa Delta Rho president for 2024. He spoke on some of Laque’s qualities that made him stand out as a fraternity brother.
 

“He’s very personal, he gets along with everybody, he has never met a stranger, he is very genuine, very knowledgeable about a lot of things and kind hearted,” Walker said. “You probably really won’t meet a better person than him.”
 

Walker said that Laque’s legacy will be evident in both the organization and the university.
 

“The legacy he’s going to leave with KDR specifically is that go-getter mentality. He’s the first one to get there and the last one to leave. He always wants to help out no matter what. There aren’t many people who could fill his shoes, and it will probably take three or four guys to fill the spot he’s going to leave behind,” Walker said. “At Tarleton, he embodies the core values that the school preaches. He’s always the one to reach out, and no matter the slander against his name, he’s always going to wish the best for others.”
 

Laque’s dedication to the Tarleton community extended through his role as a Tarleton Transition Mentor (TTM). It was in this role that he explored a passion in helping others find their place at the university.
 

“There’s no other experience like being a TTM,” Laque said. “I did everything I did to show my love for Tarleton and help new students experience it the way I had. I wanted to fill their cup and show them what Tarleton had done for me and what it could do for them.”
 

In his second year as a TTM, Laque became a facilitator, training younger TTMs. This experience was particularly meaningful for him. 
 

“It was an amazing opportunity because I was teaching people how to pour into others,” Laque said. “To do that, you have to have a certain level of passion and vulnerability. There were many times we would cry in the teachings, just showing these kids what it meant to them and what it meant to us. Being a facilitator was probably my best year because just teaching them was awesome.”
 

One of Laque’s proudest moments came when he was crowned Homecoming King in 2023. For him, it was a moment that reaffirmed his belief in his journey and the sacrifices his family had made for him to be at Tarleton.
 

“It was just such a surreal experience,” Laque said. “It helped me show my family that I am making a difference here. They’ve sacrificed so much—time and financially—for me to be here. My mom was at the game and got a video of me winning, and it just made everything feel like it had come full circle.”
 

Laque’s role as Homecoming King was a natural extension of the leadership he displayed throughout his time at Tarleton, which in part began when he was selected to join the Tarleton Ambassadors as a freshman. As a part of the Ambassadors, Laque upheld traditions, provided community service, represented the university at various events and made connections with alumni, faculty, donors and guests.
 

Laque’s genuine love for Tarleton was evident in everything he did, whether in the classroom, on the dance floor or during his extracurricular leadership. His passion for supporting the Tarleton community became his mission, and he worked hard to build connections with people from all walks of life.
 

After graduation in December, Laque plans to continue his education and get his Master’s degree. His eventual goal is to coach a college dance team, but he is also interested in exploring the fields of marketing and social media.
 

Another goal of Laque’s is to move to Colorado and dance with the Denver Broncos cheerleaders.
 

Despite his busy schedule, which included being on the Dean’s List, managing extracurricular activities and finding his way as a first generation college student, Laque’s commitment to excellence never wavered. 
 

At times, he has encountered negativity from those unwilling to accept him for his unique, boundary-pushing identity.
 

“It does suck, at the end of the day, that some people are like that, but their heart full of hate is not going to change my heart full of love,” Laque said.
 

Laque refuses to compromise his identity, standing firm in who he is.
 

“I’m not going to change myself just to be in something,” Laque said. “I’m going to be me, and you either take it or you don’t. And if you don’t, I’m still going to be doing me and moving on.”
 

Marco Salazar, the Coordinator for Campus Life & Family Engagement at Tarleton, grew close with Laque in their time working together on the IFC. 
 

“There’s not a lot of students that are always so confident in themselves, everything that they do, who they are, because they might feel judged in a sense, but Isaiah is definitely that type of person that doesn’t care what anyone thinks or has to say,” Salazar said. “He’s always going to be happy for himself, have a good time for himself and make sure everyone else is having a good time too”
 

Salazar expressed that Laque’s trueness to himself will reflect in his legacy.
 

“He’ll definitely leave that mindset of be you, be the difference and just go crazy. Have a good time and leave the impact. Make everyone remember your name because everyone will.”
 

Isaiah Laque’s legacy at Tarleton is one of authenticity, empowerment and passion. His story is one of overcoming obstacles, embracing vulnerability and living a life true to oneself.
 

As he prepares to leave Tarleton, Laque wants to be remembered for his unwavering belief in being yourself and inspiring others to do the same.
 

“The legacy I want to leave behind is to let people, predominantly like me, know that it’s okay to be yourself,” Laque said. “A quote that I’ve always said since I started at Tarleton is, ‘don’t put your potential in somebody else’s hands.’ If I had listened to the comments or things people told me, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Limiting your own potential because of somebody else is just handing yourself failure.”
 

Laque’s journey at Tarleton may be concluding, but the legacy of his lessons and the marks he has left will continue to inspire and shape the Tarleton community for many years to come.