Haslam College of Business - University of Tennessee Senior Redefines Legacy After Beating Cancer Twice

“What will my funeral be like?”

It’s not a question most college seniors ask themselves, especially not during a time of life defined by optimism and opportunity. After two cancer diagnoses in less than a year, Don D’Arcangelo-McDonald, a senior at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, did ponder that question. He wondered not just if he would survive, but how he would be remembered.

The public administration (economics and political science) major will graduate in May, but what matters to him now is less about accomplishments and more about who he supports.

Building Community in Tennessee

A Miami, Florida, native, D’Arcangelo-McDonald came to UT looking for a large university that still felt personal. Through a campus visit, he found what he was searching for.

“I’m the type of person who loves to make a large impression on my community, so Tennessee is everything that I could ask for in a university,” he says.

From his first semester, he threw himself into campus life, joining student organizations, stepping into leadership roles and finding ways to connect people across campus. D’Arcangelo-McDonald wasn’t solely focused on finding community; he also wanted to create it. During his freshman year, he established UT’s first Hispanic business organization, later chartered through the national Association of Latino Professionals for America.

“I saw gaps where I could help,” he says. “I want to bring people together.”

Plans Derailed

D’Arcangelo-McDonald spent his freshman through junior years getting more involved, from serving as president of his fraternity pledge class to leading a business case competition team that competes nationally and joining business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi. He was also dedicated to excelling as a student and preparing for his future until the summer before his senior year, when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

After months of appointments and procedures, he returned to Knoxville in August 2025, determined to finish his final year strong. By October, however, everything changed again.

Severe back pain, nausea and coughing up blood sent him to the emergency room just before a scheduled case competition trip. After several rounds of tests, the diagnosis was clear: The college senior had tumors all over his lungs and IVC veins — he had stage-four germ cell cancer.

“Everything I had worked for was gone overnight,” D’Arcangelo-McDonald says. “I had so much planned.”

He left campus in November to begin intensive chemotherapy in Miami, facing not only the physical toll of treatment but the fear of mortality and the question of legacy.

“When you’re going through chemotherapy, you start thinking about what your funeral would be like and what people would remember you for,” he says.

Redifining Legacy

As he endured chemotherapy, D’Arcangelo-McDonald never stopped showing up as a leader. According to Tory Kinson, case team coach and lecturer in the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship at the UT Haslam College of Business, D’Arcangelo-McDonald’s desire to foster community and support others is an uncommon joy.

“He didn’t retreat,” explains Kinson. “Even while undergoing treatment, Don stayed engaged and looked for ways to support the team from a distance. That level of commitment is rare.”

Beyond his dedication to others, D’Arcangelo-McDonald’s faith also drove his fight against cancer.

“The Lord is everything; without Him, I am nothing,” D’Arcangelo-McDonald believes. “Even when my body feels like it’s failing, it’s the Lord that heals.”

D’Arcangelo-McDonald’s family also stuck by him through his illness, never wavering in their sacrifice and support.

“When you’re going through chemotherapy, there’s no better feeling than looking over and seeing someone you love there for you,” he recalls. “My mom slept at the hospital every night, and my parents were with me every single day.”

As he fought for his life, the community D’Arcangelo-McDonald created on Rocky Top was also there for him.

“People at UT were very supportive,” he says. “My roommate had a Tennessee flag signed by everyone in my Delta Sigma Pi chapter, plus my fraternity brothers. That support system was incredible.”

This experience of support and sacrifice changed how D’Arcangelo-McDonald views legacy. Rather than focusing on achievement and recognition, he now wants to be remembered for how he lifts others.

Enjoying Today

After his second battle against cancer, D’Arcangelo-McDonald returned to Knoxville in January, once again focused on finishing his senior year strong. With all he’s left behind, he is grateful to simply be back on Rocky Top, back to his normal life.

“When I was in the hospital, all I wanted was to be back walking on campus,” he says. “I’m very grateful to be where I am today.”

As he now looks toward a future that wasn’t guaranteed, D’Arcangelo-McDonald continues to advocate for others. Through his position in UT’s student government, he is currently working on a bill to have A+ grades appear on student transcripts, which D’Arcangelo-McDonald believes would help UT students compete more fairly for internships and graduate school.

“It would give students a better opportunity to compete against applicants from schools that document A+ grades on transcripts, creating a more level playing field and raising the academic standard by rewarding full effort,” he explains.

Inspired by D’Arcangelo-McDonald’s battles against cancer and his desire to help others, Delta Sigma Pi is hosting a 5K to raise funds for and awareness of cancer among young adults.

According to Becca Eisenmenger, Delta Sigma Pi fundraising chair and a junior majoring in finance from Wheaton, Illinois, D’Arcangelo-McDonald is a pillar of the fraternity, and the members are excited to honor him.

“Don is incredibly involved and intentional about building genuine connections with every brother, making Delta Sigma Pi feel like a family,” she says. “If anyone was going to beat cancer, it’s Don. His positive energy is contagious, and his resilience inspires everyone around him. We are so grateful for the opportunity to honor and support him.”

Sam Tiedge, Delta Sigma Pifundraising chair and a sophomore accounting major from Arlington Heights, Illinois, echoes Eisenmenger’s feelings.

“Don never fails to lift the spirits of everyone around him,” says Tiedge. “He is one of the most caring and joyous people I have ever met, which made the news of his cancer diagnosis especially devastating. After he returned to campus, Becca proposed the 5K, and we want this event to reflect the love and respect we have for Don, as he deserves every bit of it.”

D’Arcangelo-McDonald plans to apply for law school as he enjoys his final semester at UT.

“As a public administration major, I learned to love law,” he explains. “Those who understand law can change the world.”

However, after experiencing cancer, D’Arcangelo-McDonald realizes tomorrow isn’t promised, so he isn’t thinking too far ahead.

“I’m enjoying where I am, and everything else will follow.”

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Contact:

Leah McAmis, senior editor, leah@utk.edu