Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & COMPUTER SCIENCE
Doctor of Philosophy in Geospatial Computer Science
Dr. Abhishek Sanjay Phadke
Dissertation: Enabling Resilient Operations of Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Swarms
Dr. Marina Vicens Miquel
Dissertation: Advancing Coastal Inundation Forecasting: A Multifaceted Machine Learning Approach
Dr. Wen Zhong
Dissertation: Assessment of the Impacts of Subsidence on Coastal Flood Risk Using Geodetic Remote Sensing, Machine Learning, and Hydrological Modeling
SCHOOL OF ARTS, MEDIA, & COMMUNICATION
Master of Fine Arts
John L. Grabko III
Thesis: No Humans Here: Exploration in the Digital Age
Joseph Arthur Skinner
Thesis: All or Nothing
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Master of Accountancy
Hope Marie Blahuta
Dillon Zara Bouqayes
Christine Renay Bray
McKenzie Brown
Oshaiana Y. Celestin
Jessica Janet Colin Rodriguez
Vivianna Coronado-Hernandez
Braeden R. Cosper
Sonya Marie McMillian Fulgham
Iris Gamboa
Brianna Nicole Garcia
Martha Elisa Garcia
Mayburn Cory Greening
Holly Abraham
Joseph Neil Abraham
Varghese Abraham
Toni Nicole Acevedo
Norman Allen Adamson
Latanya Denetta Addison
Farris Adra
Rayyan Ahmed
Adenike Rachael Ajani
Malik Al Hasani
Ryan James Albee
Taylor Ashley Alvarado
Steven Michael Appelhof
Luis Gabriel Araiza
Jumoke Ariyo
Sara Treanor Armbrust
Maria Magdalena Arteaga-Sachnik
Hooria Ashraf
Ebin Nayarambalam Babu
Robbi Ann Bain
Nicolas Barenz
Veronica Gomez Barnett
Martha Lydia Barrientes
Melissa A. Batdorf
Mary Frances Villarreal Bello
Roselle Dipay Belos
Edwardo Lewis Benavidez
Lauren Haley Benedict
Justin Michael Blaha
Michael Bohannan
Scott Johnathan Bowman
Tina M. Bracy
Cynthia L. Bray
Amber M. Brending
Joseph William Brookshire Jr.
Christopher James Brown
Carolina M. Hernandez
Hollie Katherine Jones
Cenia Kuzhichakandathil Babukutty
Guillermo Marcide Cano Sr.
Jennifer Nicole McCaig
Clare Elizabeth Mills
Dulce Yasmina Guadalupe Monzon
Sindy Narvaez
Sheridan Nikole Nelson
Reagan Kelley Olivo
Atiba Ovid
Farahgabreille Petro
David Earle Pierre
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Master of Business Administration
Tobias Buettel
Elina Bukrinskaya
Atupele Mervis Bulla
Kaleigh M. Burke
Stephen Thomas Byrd
Amanda Calzada
Julia Alicia Cameron
Kyndal Paige Campbell
Tomas Cardenas III
Amanda Carrasco
Jacqueline Chacon-Miranda
Christopher David Chadwick
Ricardo Chavez Jr.
Anil P. Chiruvolu
Melissa Jane Christenson
Destinee Rene Clark
Jessica Jil Clark
Rovina Davece Coakley
Katie Elizabeth Coble
Keeshaun Coffey
Anzhela Collado
Ann Coltrane
Daniel Ray Cordova
Dane Coyle
Emory Carlisle Craft
Lindsay Marie Daigle
Virginia Ann De La Zerda
Christopher Jacob De Leon
Aline Angelica De Oliveira
Benjamin Dominguez
Jason Dornak
Barry Lyndell Dubose
Jessica Nicole Duckworth
Edward Earickson
Hugo Cesar Enciso
Ana Cristina Enriquez
Savannah Lyn Reeves
Gregory Clark Robin
Rachel Kathleen Shore
Allison Elaine Suarez
Olivia Suarez
Benjamin Robert Towell
Edmundo Trevino Garza
Adrian Vielma
Vanessa I. Villegas-Rosales
Harleen Virk
Shelbi Lynn Weaver
Mason Wolford
Scott Michael Ensminger
Luiggi Escobar
Claudia Del Pilar Estevez Pardo
Natalie Eubanks
Robyn B. Ewing
Katherine Marie Fazzino
Kari May Federico
Ashley Renea Flansburg
Hadhrat Oladunni Folawiyo
Joseph Samuel Fugler
Joshua Gallegos
Sandra Daniela Ganem Chee
Annah Louise Garcia
Jennifer M. Garcia
Juan Enrique Garcia
Kaitlyn Shakira Garcia
Ricardo Garcia II
Magda Alejandra Gardilcic
Connie D. Garner
Paige Gennaula
Navin George
Charles Anthony Giunta Jr.
William Theodore Graham Jr.
Stacy Griffis
John Albert Guffey
Hemlata Gupta
Admir Hadziabulic
Kristy Jo Hall
Vance Arthur Hatch
Chase Anthony Heit
Christopher L. Hempstead
Bibiana G. Hernandez
Cristian Cruz Hernandez
Irma Hernandez
Joe Anthony Hernandez
Jonathan J. Holan
Tate Alexander Holloway
Shadan Tyree Holmes
Reed Montana Horton
Alexander Neil Ignacio
Arash Irannezhad
Jenny Izaguirre
Rula Jabri
Anita Jena
Jennifer Jernigan
Stebin M. John
Jennifer L. Johnson
Matthew Robert Johnson
Kristal D. Jones
Terri Estella Jones
Shalini T. Joseph
Ahmad Kamel
Yulian Khagi
Muhammad Farhan Ali Khan
Zahra A. Khan
Joseph Ha Ail Kim
Tony Kimathi
Ogert Kraja
Edmund Krasinski III
Kyle James Kuecker
George Andrew Lako
Amber Lynn Lally
Baylee Rae Landowski
Casey J. Larkin
Celine Anne Lawson
Kay Minh Le
Evan Michael Leblanc
Andrew S. Leeton
Kristen Marie Lehnig
Christopher John Leuth
Treamont Lewis II
Victoria Elizabeth Lewis
Michael David Lites Jr.
Marco Antonio Longoria
Alexandria Nicola Lopez
Diana Laura Lopez
Juliana Lopez
Ken Kanyinda Lukusa
Jeraldo Jovany Luna
Christopher William Maduri
Jaisson O. Mailloux
Edwin Arnaldo Maldonado II
Dhanabal Mani
Kelsey Leanne Manning
Richard Marin Marroquin III
Andrea Martinez
Megan Alise Martinez
Hailey Jewel Mata
Karina A. Mata
Venessa Mata
Keith Christopher Maurer
Ifeanyi Mbadugha
Jonathan David McAlister
Christian Matthew McAllister
Mac Steven McClellan
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Master of Business Administration, continued
Haley Stephens McConnell
Megan Elizabeth McCoy
Lawrence Paul McGinnis
Hayley Morgan McKinney
Gregory L. McQueen Jr.
Adrian Ray Medina Sr.
Genesis L. Mendoza
Sylvia Michael
Iuliia Milova
Esmeralda Marcelo Mitchell
Masiullah Siddiqui Mohemmed
Donald Fitzgerald Moles
Sarah Michelle Molina
Sydney Avery Mood
Sydney M. Moore
Anita Moreno Navarro
Rachael Carolyn Morton
Shadab Motamedi
Lauren Michelle Mundt
Caroline Michelle Myers
Ty Sterling Myers
Kareem N. Naffa
Prabha Narayanaswamy
Shimna Naveen
Cassie Neece
Janet L. Newton
Nickie Ngo
Joel Tsasa Ngoma
Tracy Nguyen
Mary Nkansah
Sherrie Marie Ondrus
Chukwudi Bestin Orji
Rene Nelson Oubre Jr.
Osaigbovo J. Ozigbo
Victoria Ann Pagano
Christopher Alexandre Palinginis
Hasti Parikh
William Daniel Parker
Prince Jaiah Passewe
Shivam Patel
Layla Mariah Perez
Rachael Nicole Perez
David Phapornchai
Julie Marie Pundt
Alexander Marie Quarles
Alexa Salazar Quinonez
Rebecca Rabenaldt
Ramiro Ramirez III
Jennifer Lea Rinehimer
Preston E. Roberts
Jon Garrett Robertson
Alena Roney
Alisa Kay Roop
Janna Rose Ruiz
Deanna L. Rupp
Jonah Dilipkumar Samuel
Lijoy Samuel
Julian Isaac Sanchez
Noor E. Nazmi Binte Sayed
Chasity Klonek Segovia
Hemilben Vishal Shah
Dominic Shearn
Erin Sheehan
Ryan M. Sherrod
Sunam Chandra Shrestha
Connor Joseph Simon
Stephanie Lynn Smith
Anna E. Solorzano
Trevor Speer
Antroneice J. Spencer
Jack Harrison Spencer
Nicole Elizabeth Stannard
Sadie Starustka
Mia Marie Stewart
Sofia Lynn Stifflemire
David Robert Stoker
Shelbi Storms
Cory Garrett Strange
Gincy Rachel Thomas
Veatra Thornton
Chloe Conrady Tome
Marinka Marianela Torfason
Virginia Torno
Juan Jose Torres Jr.
Jhona Liza Sangco Traina
Glint Tran
Le Boi Tran
Ellis Trinh
Leonard Felix Trinidad
Melanie Katrina Unterkircher
Rolando David Urbina
Ariana A. Valenzuela
Brianna Chelsea Van Lydegraf
Christopher Allan Vandal
Christopher R. Vande Zande
Miranda Elisa Vasquez
Andrea Vazquez
Linh Duy Vo
Rosanna Elizabeth Wadkins
Kyle Young Wadlington
Marissa Rocio Walker
Macy Ashlyn Walterscheid
Austin James Webb
Gayani Weerasooriya
Aaron Daniel Weitz
Haleigh Elizabeth Wethington
Ryan Whitlock
Mikayla Catherine Whitus
Jacob Wiechmann
Jamie E. Wilkinson
Fernanda Carolina Williams
Zana M. Wilmot
Sabryn Alley Wood
Terry Glenn Woodard
Bertha Alexis Zapata
Mahshid Zare
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & COMPUTER SCIENCE
Master of Science
Ziba Abbasian
Manidhar Aduri
Aishwarya Aitagani
Nelluri Akash
Ramesh Tarini Akula
Apurva Anand
Sri Harsha Are
Vyshnavi Balabhadruni
Mani Meghala Reddy Basi Reddy
Rishitha Bheemireddy
Sravani Bobbili
Sanjay Goud Boda
Venkata Sai Ramya Padmasri Boggaram
Nithin Chakote
Ruthvik Roy Chekka
Dheeraj Chigurupati
Harshith Sai Chikoti
Sushma Chimmili
Sai Venkata Anudeep Devabhakthuni
Mounika Reddy Dubba
Anush Reddy Durggempudi
Sushma Gade
Ritheesh Reddy Gavva
Vishal Kumar Gayye
Rahul Gummal
Akanksha Gurudu
Dhruti Joshi
Uday Kiran Kadam
Sai Charan Kammampally
Sai Srija Kanamarlapudi
Manmohan Reddy Karingula
Ganesh Reddy Karra
Jaspreet Kaur
Sriram Reddy Keshireddy
Sruthi Khanapuram
Sushma Reddy Koncha
Akash Vinit Kotak
Gokul Kumar Krishnamoorthy
Sai Vinay Varma Kunaparaju
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & COMPUTER SCIENCE
Lokesh Prakash Kusum
Jaehyeong Kwon
Sriharsha Lanka
Himaaditi Lethakula
Hrithika Goud Lingala
Sharanya Lingala
Chethan Reddy Mallu
Madhu Mamidi
Sarthik Mandarapu
Akshay Master
Sreenidhi Mavoori
Sathvik Reddy Mekala
Vinay Babu Minnakanti
Fayaz Pasha Mohammed
Muiz Armaan Mohammed
Saad Ali Mohammed
Kayron Vasconcelos Alba
Ilianna Swai Alvarado*
Matthew Markham Arneson
Jessica Lynne Arredondo
Zechariah Jacob Barajas
Sydney A. Barry
Ciera Marie Baucom
Steven Payne Billings
Julian Randall Boehm*
Jonathon Blaine Buchanan*
Jayden B. Bumbalow•
Kyler Mark Burkholder
Dylan Jacob Cameron
Sidney Elizabeth Campion
Maribel Carrizalez
April Diana Castillo
Christopher S. Cazares
Nea Alysa Cervera‡
Aravind S. Chakravarthy
Lauren E. Chandler
Braeden Alexander Chaney
Lucie Lea Charbonnier*
Faith Nichole Chollett
Austin Tyler Clarke
Conner D. Coleman
Ernesto Antonio Coleman
Chance Alan Connally‡
James Robert Cook‡
Briana Lee Corpus
Connor David Crumly
Sean Michael Cuckler
Molly Greenham Davis‡
Austin Dylan Dean
Laina Jane DeLeon
Conner Umit Derelioglu
Annie Dhakal‡
Emma Rose Eccher*
Joslynn Sierra Esquivel
Lauren Renee Estrada
Kinsey Paige Fender‡
Dalton J. Flores•
Jeremy J. Florez
Nathan Bryan Folmar
Zachary K. Foster
Victoria Lynn Franco
Rita S. Garcia
Christina Noelle Garrett
Samantha Nicole Geyer*
Arianna Marie Gonzales
Brandy Marcella Gonzales*
Master of Science, continued
Shivani Mothe
Sri Varsha Nagulanchi
Bhargav Ram Navuluri
Prem Chand Nidamanuri
Krishna Kishore Nunna
Dhanush Pabbathi
Swarna Latha Palli
Anchal Panda
Meenakshi Chowdary Para
Viren Satish Patel
Sushanthi Periyala
Hemanth Pilla
Raghavendra Reddy Pothireddy
Balaji Pujari
Lavanya Rangaraju
Amit Samant
Mohammed Ali Sheriff Shaik
Areeb Uddin Shaikh
Shivakumar Goud Shankargari
Akash Rao Sudati
Mythri Tanneru
Arun Reddy Tummala
Anthony Sharanya Reddy Udumala
Bhavana Reddy Vadiyala
Varun Vanaparthi
Lok Sai Reddy Vanga
Krishna Susmitha Vattem
Laxmi Aadithyaa Vitta
David Sedodzi Watson
Sahithi Yalamanchili
SCHOOL OF ARTS, MEDIA, & COMMUNICATION
Judith Mae Aguilar
Master of Arts
Ashley Nicole Birdsong
Barret Lee Flaminio
Victoria A. Rodriguez
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Bachelor of Business Administration
Steven H. Gonzales*
Jennifer Janette Grimaldo
Savannah Lynn Grinstead*
Faith Guerra
Jessica Yasmin Guerrero*
Ashton Spencer Habluetzel
Harley Beth Hardin*
Dawsen Paul Harkins
Brandon David Heimann
Douglas Evans Hendricks
Brittany Nicole Herdler
Andrés Guadalupe Hernandez
Josshelinne Hernandez
Michelle M. Hernandez
Zachary Daniel Hernandez
Nhu Hoang•
Michael Louis Hogan
Brent Thomas Hollingsworth
Kiley Danielle Hughes
Jacob Hart Humphrey
Adyson Mae Hutton
Kyle A. Janak•
Addison Marie Johnson*
Mason Jordan Jones
Thalia Precious Juan
Owen Mitchell Kinney
Joshua David Kizer
Jacob Scott Lacour•
Michael Ryan Lindley
Brian Adam Lopez
Amanda Leigh Lord*
Cameron Joshua Lucas*
Dam Phuong Anh Luyen
Thuy Hien Mai*
Dalilah Nicole Maldonado*
Logan A. Malone*
Grace Marie Manley‡
Cameron Parr Martinek
Tucker Webster Mcenroe
Meda Isadora Mckinney
Julian Medina•
Erick Mena
Luke B. Mitchell•
Honors Prorgram Graduate
Cole Henry Modgling
Sebastian Felipe Mondragon
Maksim Cullen Moore
Karlie E. Morton
Margaret Rose Murray
Brandon Paul Naivar
Skyler Caden Newman*
Grace Ngun Sui Tial Oak•
Joshua Olivares
Evan Nicolas Orosco
Chris J. Paul
Alexa Mirella Perez
Anna Michelle Peterman
Joe Daniel Ramirez II•
Kyle James Ray
Christian Reed Reyes*
Nazeeh M. Riaz
Gregory Chase Richards*
Braydon Jeffrey Richardson
Patrick Andrew Richter
Ramiro Jesus Rivera Jr.•
Keldan Layne Robison
Guillermo Rojas IV
Lucas Mason Rollo
Kateryna Rublevska‡
Lauren N. Sadoski
Posthumous Degree
Amanda Marie Salazar
Selina Saldivar*
Hayden Alexis Salgado
Leonel Ruben Samudio
April Camille Sanchez
Citlalin Vanessa Sanoteli Cabrera
David E. Saucedo Jr.*
Rian M. Schultz
Mario Antonio Serrano
Kashaf Shahid
Samantha Jordan Sherwood
Michael H. Sickles
Velma Silvas•
Allen Simonyan‡
Victoria Irene Smith‡
Samantha Gayle Snoddy
Jeffrey D. Stahl•
Parker Charles Staley
Samuel J. Stallings•
Yasmine Naima Steele*
Tevarrius Jacobe Stephens
Alexa Ann Stutzman‡
Yvette Ynes Suarez
Diego I. Tabera
Natalia Theodoroulis
Julie Ann Truax
Anne Marie Tucker
Taniece Ranee Tyson
Nicholas Phillip Urbanski
Melody Ann Valerio
Alisela E. Vivanco
Brandon Chi Minh Vuong
Jamal Christian Washington•
Lauren Aslanian Watts-Maranda•
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Bachelor of Business Administration, conitnued
Jessica Morgan West
Dylan M. Williams
Madison E. Williams
Demi Rain Wilson
Russell S. Wilson
Wesley J. Winegeart
Crosby John Wiswell
Kasey Nicolas Young‡
Avery Todd Zavala•
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & COMPUTER SCIENCE
Victor Tiberius Adames IV
Brandon Noel Alaniz
Erick Alexander Alfaro
Jaquelinne Azua
Marcelino Beltran Sanchez
Dalio Benavidez Jr.
Mckinley Campbell Bennett*
Benjamin Louis Brigger
Vernonika Mehkyle Lungay Castaneda‡
Zyad Khaled Chafchak
Kathryn M. Compton‡
Hector Neftaly Correa
Andrew R. Craig•
James Ethan Dennett
Stephen Hopkins Dennis II•
Priciliano Diaz III
Tyler Diep•
Hector Espinoza II
Tanner Hudson Farr
Margarita I. Aguero•
Matthew Scott Bottelberghe
Payton Molina Bowers
Bachelor of Science
Ricardo Antonio Gallegos Jr.
Allyson Jeanette Garcia‡
Brandon Lee Garza
Karilina Scarlet Gibson•
Orlando Gomez
Jerin BryAnn Henderson
George Hernandez
Luis Alberto Hernandez Jr.‡
Harrison W. Hunter
Luke Joseph Janak
Victor Alejandro Jimenez•
Amine Khodja‡
Phuong Thi Truc Le‡
Bryan Alexander Loya•
Camden Rhys Lyons
Kirk Edward Manteufel
Garrett E. Martin
Skylar Reece Martin
Amina S. Nawaz*
Steven Daniel Padron
Ethan Lane Parkhill
Jonathan Anthony Perez
Joel Steven Portwood
Patrick Jet Puebla
Odessey Renee Ramos
Matthew Jacob Respondek
Elizabeth Rubio•
Eve Diane Salters
David Kallean Schelanko Jr.
Caleb Tanner Snoga
Gabriel V. Sumrall
Anthony Tam Tran
Cameron Reed Welp•
Kevin Patrick White‡
Ian Davison Wickham
Hoang Huy Wong‡
Yifeng Wu
SCHOOL OF ARTS, MEDIA, & COMMUNICATION
Bachelor of Arts
Christopher Omar Gonzales‡
Kathryn Elizabeth Hawkins
Samuel Wayne Ingram*
Catherine Elizabeth Bracken*
Martin Bernard Brophy IV
Lauren Olivia Burdette*
Hailey Nanette Campos
Miroslava Canales•
Allyssann Noel Cook*
Cheyenne Kelly Daniels
Megan Grace Depew
Christian Alice Douglas
Gavin Ronnsten East
Ashlei Nicole Fletcher‡
Sarah Celeen Garcia*
Soleil Isabella Garcia
Kelsey Susan Bintliff
Melissa Anne Cappadonna*
Alejandro Luis Guerrero•
Valerie M. Aleman
Melinda Lynn Dunagan
Jonathon Alexander Garcia
Julius Amadeus Gonzalez
Jaquelinne Azua
Priciliano Diaz III
Jaydn Toran Johanson
Madison R. Johnson
Erin Elizabeth Jones‡
Ashlyn Laura Lemos•
Sabrina Anne Levenson‡
Kendall Alyson Malish
Meagan Perez Mata*
Naomi Nicole Medina
Justin K. Moreno
Kaitlyn Elizabeth O’Leary
Cristian Marco Pedro Olvera‡
Katelynn Marie Phelan•
Hunter Jackson Pittman
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Sarah Hervert‡
Lauren Renee Labonte‡ Honors Prorgram Graduate
Bachelor of Music
Michael J. Hernandez Jr.
Jordan Ted Lara
Grace A. Melendez•
Jason Andrew Palmore‡
Officer Commissioning Second Lieutenant United States Army
Caleb James Prouty‡
Grace Jane Prusha‡
Edwardo Ramirez Jr.
Cassandra Isabel Rangel
Julia N. Reeves
Jared Matthew Rios
Lillian E. Rose
Gracyn A. Scholz
Anastasia Nicole Sherrill
Molly Ann Vrana
James Caleb Williams*
Rachel Sonora Wood‡
Lucia Carolina Yanez
Isabella M. Zambrano•
Katie Zertuche‡
Isabel Marie Olivarez‡
Erika Nicole Pompa‡
Carolina Salinas Hinojosa*
Betsabe Torres‡
Brent Thomas Hollingsworth
Dylan M. Williams
The names on this program include all students who have applied for graduation. Conferral of the official degree is based upon completion and certification of all degree requirements.
Commencement Speaker
Entrepreneur, creator, and adventurer, Garrett Frazier’s ‘04 ability to build brands, communicate powerfully, and strategically outmaneuver competitors was forged during his time as Director of Sales and Marketing at Magnum Oil Tools International.
Using his natural talent in sales and marketing, his ability to lead and inspire teams, and his bold, disruptive approach to business strategy, he oversaw the largest growth phase in company history, significantly growing Magnum’s customer base and profit margins, breaking revenue records year after year, and helping Magnum grow into a company worth half a billion dollars.
Today, he continues to be driven by his thirst for adventure, spirit of innovation, and determination to make a meaningful impact. A passionate outdoorsman- and the Frazier family expert on hunting and offshore fishing- he can usually be found on a boat, a board, or behind the wheel, pursuing his passions and inspiring others to do the same.
Above all, at the core of his being is his desire to defend, support, and enrich the lives of those closest to him- his lifelong friends, his childhood crush and wife, Trish, and the two children they share, Dylan and Olivia.
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents
Mr. William Mahomes, Chairman ............................................................................... Dallas
Mr. Robert L. Albritton, Vice Chairman Fort Worth
Mr. David C. Baggett ............................................................................................... Houston
Mr. John W. Bellinger San Antonio
Mr. James Randy Brooks .................................................................................... San Angelo
Mr. Jay Graham ........................................................................................................ Houston
Mr. Michael A. Hernandez III Forth Worth
Mr. Michael J. Plank ................................................................................................ Houston
Mr. Sam Torn Houston
Ms. Elizabeth Annie Valicek .................................................................................... Houston
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Official Ring
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and the Islander Alumni Association unveiled the official ring in 1999. The ring itself is a symbol of achievement, unity, and University spirit. Upperclassmen wear the ring with the school’s name facing their heart. Upon the granting of degrees at commencement, graduates turn the ring around, with the name facing outward. This symbolizes that the graduate is now ready to face new challenges outside the University.
The official ring is a visible, tangible manifestation of the long-lasting bond between Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi and its alumni, offering symbolic representation of one’s past, present, and future as an Islander. As always, it is alumni who carry the same pride in their University, and a seamless gold band holds together the many people who have shared a dream—to earn a college education.
University Mace
The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Mace is the wooden staff that is carried by a mace bearer leading the academic processional for commencements, convocations, and special university ceremonies. Originally, the mace was a long-handled club used by knights during the Middle Ages to crush the armor of enemies. Later, ceremonial maces were carried by guards of French and English monarchs. Later still, the mace was carried or placed by a magistrate or dignitary to establish authority. In sessions of the British House of Commons, the mace is placed on the treasury table. In the U.S. House of Representatives, it is placed to the right of the speaker. Today, the University Mace is used to symbolize the authority of the University President and is a grand emblem of tradition at commencement ceremonies for colleges and universities.
Academic Regalia
Academic regalia (cap, gown, and hood) date to 12th-century Europe, where they were worn primarily for warmth by university students as well as laymen. As laymen gradually changed their garb to capes and breeches, institutions of learning prescribed the gown of black for scholars, with a hood draped down the back when not worn over the head and a mortarboard cap shaped like the mortarboard of the master workman.
In 1985 in the United States, the Intercollegiate Commission prepared a code, specifying the design and color of academic regalia for colleges and universities in the United States. Under this code, the bachelor’s gown has long pointed sleeves. The master’s gown has an oblong sleeve. The doctor’s gown has bell-shaped sleeves. Gowns are generally black; however, a number of schools have adopted special regalia for the doctor’s gown.
The velvet border of the hood may represent either the color of the degree or the color of the field of study. The current trend is for the color to represent the field of study rather than the name of the degree, but in earlier years dark blue was characteristic for a Ph.D. in any field. Hoods are lined with the official colors of the college or university from which the degree is received.
Caps are the traditional mortarboard except for the doctor’s degree, where a four-sided velvet tam is optional. Caps from schools with special color gowns or from foreign universities may be more distinctive. Cap tassels for the doctor’s degree are gold, while the tassels for the master’s and bachelor’s degree are typically black. Holders of all these degrees wear the tassel on the left. The ritual of bachelor’s degree candidates shifting the tassel from right to left marks the conferring of one’s first university degree.
Hood Color Code
Arts, Letters, Humanities ..................................... White
Commerce, Accountancy, Business Drab
Dental ..................................................................... Lilac
Economics Copper
Education Light Blue
Engineering ........................................................ Orange
Fine Arts, Architecture Brown
Library Science ...................................................Lemon
Medicine Green
Music.......................................................................Pink
Nursing Apricot
Philosophy..................................................... Dark Blue
Physical Education Sage Green
Public Administration Peacock Blue
Public Health ............................................. Salmon Pink
Science Golden Yellow
Social Work .......................................................... Citron
Speech Silver Gray
Academic Honors
Students earning academic honors wear cords in recognition of academic excellence. The following honors are awarded at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi:
‡ Summa Cum Laude: the silver honor cord is awarded to graduates whose cumulative grade point average is 3.9 and above.
* Magna Cum Laude: the blue honor cord is awarded to graduates whose cumulative grade point average is 3.7 to 3.899.
• Cum Laude: the green honor cord is awarded to graduates whose cumulative grade point average is 3.5 to 3.699.
*The honors presented during the ceremony are calculated on the student’s institutional cumulative grade point average and institutional credit hours through the semester prior to filing for graduation. Official honors designation, which includes the calculation of the final semester’s grades and hours, will be indicated on the final transcript and diploma.
Honor Society Medallions and Cords
Students at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi have the privilege of being asked to join honor societies. Membership is based on grade point average and special criteria for each organization such as major, community service, and service to a profession. Students belonging to these honor societies wear cords and medallions that represent their high achievements and the colors and symbols of the organization.
Music Provided by Symphonic Winds
Directed by Dr. José Flores, Professor of Music
Special thanks to the faculty, staff, Student Government Association, and Island Ambassadors who participated in today’s events.
