Fall 2021 Commencement Saturday, December 11, 2021 2:00 p.m. American Bank Center
A Member of The Texas A&M University System
Fall 2021 Commencement President Kelly M. Miller, presiding Prelude and Processional* Carrier of the Mace ...................................................................... Dr. Yndalecio Isaac Hinojosa Associate Professor of English, College of Liberal Arts Welcome ......................................................................................................... Dr. Kelly M. Miller National Anthem ................................................................................................... Jessica Valdez Junior, Music Major, College of Liberal Arts Commencement Address ........................................................................................ Mr. Rob Hall Group Vice President/General Manager-Gulf Coast Region for H-E-B Presentation of Degree Candidates ............................................................. Dr. Clarenda Phillips Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs College of Liberal Arts .................................................................... Dean Shawnrece Campbell College of Science and Engineering ..............................................................Dean Frank Pezold College of Graduate Studies ..................................................................... Dean Karen McCaleb Conferring of Degrees .................................................................................. Dr. Kelly M. Miller Announcing ................................................................................... Dr. Carmen Tejeda-Delgado Professor and Director of Transformative Partnerships in Teacher Preparation College of Education and Human Development Hooding of Doctoral Candidates ..................................................... Candidate's Major Professor College of Liberal Arts | Assisting: Dean Shawnrece Campbell College of Science and Engineering Assisting: Dean Frank Pezold Alumni Presentation ................................................................. Dr. Margaret Lara ’98, ’01, ’12 President, TAMU-CC National Alumni Association Recessional* *Audience will remain seated.
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING Doctor of Philosophy in Marine Biology Dr. Megan Marie Mullis Dissertation Title: I Will Survive: A Guide to Microbial Survival in the Subsurface Dr. Sarah Anne Tominack Dissertation Title: Phytoplankton Dynamics in an Urbanizing South Texas Estuary, Corpus Christi Bay, Texas
Doctor of Philosophy in Geospatial Computer Science Dr. Laha Ale Dissertation Title: Intelligent Mobile Edge Computing Dr. Mohammad Pashaei Dissertation Title: Application of Deep Learning and Multi-Perspective 2D/3D Imaging Streams for Remote Terrain Characterization of Coastal Environments
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS Master of Fine Arts Carlos Israel Villarreal Dissertation Title: The Fruits
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS Master of Arts Eun Young Bae Jessa Rubie G. Castro William John Chriss Andrea Marisol Guerra Harlee Jean Hall Selena Danielle Herrera Chelsea Nichole James
Ramiro Lopez Stephanie Lissette Malca Victoria Mariah Mathson Julia Autumn Peay Norberto G. Rodriguez Jr. Krystal Ashley Salinas Diana Cordova Roca Walker
Master of Public Administration Lamesha Roshay Bice Ryan Danielle Gant Caleb Harris
Lorana Katherine Hasette Douglas Craig Matthijetz Shellby Aarin Soto
Amanda Leigh Vasquez Alvin Bernard Witcher
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING Master of Science Aiswarya Annem Aishwarya Narendrakumar Awhad Daniela Franziska Bergmann Jacob Lee Berryhill Viraj Dipakkumar Bhakta Prithvi Bommu Joshua C. Boyd Jaimin Rakeshkumar Brahmbhatt Adrianna Marie Chapa Devin Anne Comba Breeanna Callihan Cross Christian George Cunningham
Akhil Reddy Danda Jacob Kavanaugh Doty Rahul Reddy Eedunoori Ryan Isao Fukawa Basava Manikhanta Gajavalli Nadia Hatami Rafael Hernani Gabiel Jose Simen Kaalstad Pravallika Kalidindi Tejas Reddy Kesi Reddy Rachael Francis Klose Uyen Ngoc Bao Le
Shankar Narasimha Harsh Yogesh Pandya Sri Mani Prudhvi Peddi Tejaswini Penchala Ryan Anthony Rubino Molly Gray Ryan Vinoshna Sama Alekhya Vatsavai Matthew Franklin Watford Arras Marie Wiedorn Derry Ray Xu
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS Bachelor of Arts Autumn Rain Amidon Kennidi Lorene Andrews* Sandra Alicia Armstrong* Connie Marie Avalos Shae-Lynn Renee Ball• Skylyn Ciana Bennett Jeffrey Michael Boggess• Whitney Nicole Bohac Raejaenicke April Boisley• Logan Ty Brouwer Sr. Itaty Cantu Raquel Marie Colon Nicholas Ian Comeaux Leeellen Ann Crider Logan Reed Daugherty Jessica Diann Davila• Cathy R. De La Paz• Desiree Nicole Deleon Gerardo Miguel Elena Ava R. Farrar• Brooke N. Garcia Nerissa Elise Garza Anthony Joseph Gonzalez IV• Stephan Xavier Gonzalez Jackson William Gray Chaslee Mae Green Joshua Nathaniel Green Mia N. Greene Emma Helene Guerra‡ Xing Hang• Kyra Anne Hannak Adriana Danielle Hinojosa Joann Hinojosa Michael Paul Jackson Anelise E. Johnson
Raven Dominique Jones Jose Antonio Juncal Irene Gonzales Kaesberg* Alyssa Lynn Kalisch• Christopher Adrian Karr‡ Sara McKenzie Kilgore Jillian Taylor Kreps‡ Drake T. LaMarr Beatriz Elizabeth Lara Nina Megan Leal Dakota Hunter Little Raymon John Loa II* Seidy B'Elanna Lopez Jessica Janeth Marin Brittany Maxey‡ Dayton Riley Mclain Teresa Ann Mcmahon Marina Alejandra Medellin Hunter John Mason Meldrum Alondra Merary Mercado Joseph Isiah Monroy Michael Ryan Montoya Caitlin Renee Moseley Alaynah Iman Muhammad Bobbie Brooke Navarro• Nkemakonam Ofili Jose Daniel Palacios Gregory Lee Pepper Jr. Nicolas Anthony Perez Constance Ann Phillips Joy Renee Puumala• Victoria Torres Quintero• Kara Nicole Rayha• Joshua James Reid Aric J. Reyna‡
Sierra D. Rios Roxanne Rivera Emily Dinora Rodriguez Luis Antonio Rodriguez* Orestes Rafael Romero III Alana Christal Saenz Austin S. Salazar• Jorge A. Salazar Cheyenne Nicole Sanchez Destiny Rae Sanchez Sydney Taylor Sanchez Bryce Landen Shirley Ingrid M. Sifuentes Evan Cole Smith Lauren N. Smith Travis Anthony Stirman Chloe I. Swan - Rybalka Daniel Soul Tang• Ashley Kate Thompson• Shealyn Kay Tomlinson• Chloe Elaine Torres• Elise Danielle Torres Sydney Jane Turner• Tristan Bradley Turner• Diego Andreas Vado Julian Vasquez IV Elizabeth Michelle Villarreal‡ Faith Rochelle Walker‡ Neiman Kendrais Ward* Ashley Siobhan Williams Raven Lumampao Yanez Michael Allen Ybanez-Osman• Nancy J. Yocum
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences Madeline C Boone John Jason Carreon• Jonathan Edward Earley• Blanca Leticia Easley• Kayla Monique Garcia
Martha Morin Garcia• Janie Jean Gifford Mable Gonzalez Skylar Hope Gutierrez Brenda Maynez
Stephanie Antoinette Morin Emma Diaz Nunez Yolanda Olivares Jessica Romero Paige Tristen Vella
Bachelor of Fine Arts Gabriel Arzate Jr.‡ Eric Carter Cuevas* Anna Lou Davis
Gwendolyn Ann Powell• Avery Rose Rodriguez•
Bachelor of Music Michael David Reeves
Bachelor of Science Hanleigh Rose Allen• Noe Anguiano Jr. Romalda Guadalupe Azua Benjamin Michael Baird Robert Louis Barron Destiny May Bernal• Thomas Gabriel Cantu Sayde Lasasha Cummings Tiare Marie Lee Daniel Max De Leon Savannah Marie Gallardo Joshua Gabriel Garcia
Denise Prince Hull Joseph Frank Jasso Richard Anthony Ledesma Pearl Unique Leija-Firo Dejia Amani Lewis Alison Nicole Martinez• Brandon Vidal Martinez Anthony Mitchell Merriman Nathan Cecilio Millard Eric Alan Nava Jr. Yasmine Rangel Sabika K. Rawjani
Jaylynn Rosenbaum Rodriguez Jennifer Valeria Rodriguez• Julie Ann Rodriguez Jordan Chayenne Saunders Jacey Christine Scranton Patsy Silva Serenity Faith Soliz Derick Anthony Valdez Donnie Edward Van Ness III Austin Alexander Wilie
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING Bachelor of Science Ibrahim Ahmed I. Abo Kabbos Alexandria Octavia Aceves• Abrar Ahmad Lydia Christine Aispuro Angelicca Alcocer Alejandro Alday Ahmed Jaffer H. Almajid Mahdi Falah H. Alnejaidi Artemio Anguiano Matthew Ryan Antosko Camila Arroyo• Guadalupe Concepcion Bautista Aidan S. Becker Hagan A. Benedict Uriel Alonzo Benitez Cruz Savannah Rayne Bevalet Nathan Douglas Black‡ Honors Program Graduate Jack Connor Bordovsky‡
Trevor Lee Murphy Boyd Alyx L. Bradley Anthony Michael Brindza Keegan Thomas Brown• Matthew Alexander Buehring• Hannah Alyse Bueltel‡ Victoria Katherine Cadena• Taylor Bleu Calder Jiselle Dascha Vilela Camota‡ Raymundo Jesus Cantu Jr. Alexis Rene Royshelle Carson Brianna Elva Castillo Kevin Steve Castillo Taylor Addison Chapman Morgan Isabel Christian* Travis Riley Chudej‡ Taylor Converse• Dylan R. Conwell Alyssa Mikayla Corbitt•
Garrett Samuel Crane Isabelle Greyson Cummings‡ Matthew Eric Dahlbeck Jared Allen Deckers Rodolfo Dehoyos Jr. April Delgado Derrick Aaron Demers Nathaniel W. Dereje Sang Hoang Dong Dinh Alysha Janel Duarte Henry Hamilton Elicker Clayton Walker English Alfredo Estrada Jr. Jr. Jaime Alejandro Farias Khattab Omar Farooq Jacqueline Fernandez Johena Akshani Fernando Kevin Scott Fleisher‡ Andres Flores
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING Bachelor of Science, continued Ashley A. Fortoh Shayden Rae Fritz• Ashley Maria Fryer Jose Antonio Garcia• Marcos Garcia Jaran Shelton Garner Krystal M. Garza‡ Garrett Patrick Gibbons Natalie Nicole Guevara John R. Gunvordahl• Emily Helen Hamelwright Bryce William-Lee Hanshaw David Elliott Harmon Christofer Scott Henry Alfredo Hernandez III Fidel Hernandez Jr. Gabriella Maria Herrera Meredith Cheyanne Herring Tranyse L. Herron Samantha L. Hinojosa Domingo Cruz Hiracheta Samantha J. Hoelscher• Ashleigh Michelle Holden* Honors Program Graduate Nicholas Paul Hudson* Gina Jifi* Julianna Lei Judge* Hammas Khan Brittany Raquel Klesel‡ Phoenix Lora Kristin Kruger Meredith Kirsten Kunz* Joseph Blaine Lancaster Claudette Lara Christian Serfin Leal• Jack R. Lee• Sam Nicolas Legendre-Davis Erick Stephen Lemieux Derek Anthony Lentz Karla Lizeth Lopez-Hernandez Brett Thomas Lowry• Honors Program Graduate
Remy Juliet Marquette• Esmeralda Ruby Marquez• Ski-Lynn Sapphire Martinez Melanie Brett McBride• Michael David McCracken Justin Owen McLeod Madison Louise Meagher Aylyn Nicole Medina Mindy Melendez Brett Austin Miller William Casey Miller Timothy Lee Moore Jr.‡ Matthew Reynaldo Moya* Mason Parker Mross Rebecca Lee Ann Nava‡ David Alan Nelson Khoa Van Nguyen Aaron N. N. Nunez Wyatt Evan Ogle Rayelynn Sophie Orona Leticia Monserrat Orozco Allison LaChelle Otto Juan M. Palacios David S. Parrott Cortney E. Patterson* Elisa Danielle Patzig Gregory Lee Pepper Jr. Kassandra Perez-Morlet Rayghan Claire Poimboeuf Norma Lucia Ponce Charles Michael Quigley‡ Tristan Michael Raine• Ryan Christian Ramon Janiel Ramos Michelle Sara Ramos Christian Obadiah Rangel• Dyan Recto Eric Anthony Riojas Jasmine Marie Roberts Brailee Maye Robertson Delilah Duran Rodarte
Aaron Anthony Rodriguez Jordan Ann Rodriguez‡ Honors Program Graduate Steven Younger Rodriguez Leobardo Daniel Romero• Joshua Michael Rowe‡ Hannah F. Ryerson Kendra Allysha Salmon Kaitlin L. Sams‡ Laura Joanne Sanchez Alyssa Rene Scott Declan James Scott Taylor Ellen Shortt Kristen Roxan Silva Austen D. Silvas Kali Nicole Skaggs Jensen Marie Smith Suzanne Kendell Smith‡ Ryan Taylor Speziale Deirdre Gabrielle Stewart Emma Hale Stimson Erin Madison Stocker Joseph Stottlemyre Fernando Dricel Suarez Sean Tyler Sutton Joseph Michael Tarin Dusty Dawn Teague Eulysses Torres Roger Anthony Torres III* Cameron Roel Trevino Ricardo Trevino III Justin William Trull Blane Daniel Tupa Levi Richard Vacek Jose Miguel Valadez Ilsa Beatriz Vaquera Jorge Vargas Laura Alicia Vasquez Jose M. Vela Jr. Jesus Ynfante Jr.
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 Rob Hall graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University. While attending Texas A&M, he was a Pole Vaulter on the Texas A&M track team attaining All Southwest Conference honors in 1987 and Athletic Academic awards for the 1986-87-88 seasons. Rob completed the Cornell University Food Executive Program in 2003. Rob started his career with H-E-B in the Store Management Training program in June of 1989. Through the years at H-E-B, Rob has worked at numerous locations and in multiple positions. He was running his first store (Sinton H-E-B) in a solo Store Director assignment back in 1992. After several larger store leader assignments, Rob took on a Unit Director Team Leader role in Victoria which enabled him the opportunity to lead a group of 4 stores. He then moved into several regional roles including advertising, merchandising, selling, and marketing assignments. For the last 17 years, Rob has led the H-E-B Mighty Gulf Coast Region of 33 stores. Rob stays very involved in the community. In 2021, he was Co-Chair for the Corpus Christi Heart Walk, Advisory Board member for the Center for Retailing Studies in the May’s Business School at Texas A&M University, and a Director for Hollamon Lands Company and Mildred Shofner Farms, Inc. Over his time in the Corpus Christi area, he has been a community advocate and board member for multiple organizations including: Past Chair for Texas State Aquarium, Board member for K.E.D.T., USS Lexington, American Heart Association, Christus Spohn Health System Foundation, University of Texas Marine Science Institute, United Way, and more. Rob resides in Portland, Texas, and is married to his lifelong sweetheart and best friend, Stacey. Stacey is also an Aggie, class of 1989. Rob and Stacey are proud parents to two daughters and two sons-in-law; Robin Dee-Anna Kok (married to Ethan Kok) and Kathryn Shea Whitehead (married to Aaron Whitehead).
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents
Mr. Tim Leach, Chairman .................................................................. Midland Mr. William "Bill" Mahomes, Jr., Vice Chairman ................................. Dallas Mr. Robert L. "Bob" Albritton ....................................................... Fort Worth Mr. James R. "Randy" Brooks ....................................................... San Angelo Mr. Jay Graham .................................................................................. Houston Mr. Michael A. "Mike" Hernandez III ...........................................Forth Worth Ms. Elaine Mendoza ..................................................................... San Antonio Mr. Michael J. Plank .......................................................................... Houston Mr. Cliff Thomas ................................................................................ Victoria Ms. Matilin "Mati" Rigsby, Student Regent ............................. College Station
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 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 University-Corpus 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, University Mace is used to symbolize the authority of the University President and is a grand emblem of tradition commencement ceremonies for colleges and universities.
Academic Regalia The academic regalia (cap, gown, and hood) date to the 12th Century European universities when they were worn primarily for warmth by the students as well as by 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-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 within the range of 3.7 to 3.899. Cum Laude: the green honor cord is awarded to graduates whose cumulative grade point average is within the range of 3.5 to 3.699. *The honors presented during the ceremony are calculated on the student's institutional cumulative grade point average through the semester prior to filing for graduation. Official honors designation, which includes the calculation of the final semester's grades, 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, colors and symbols of the organization.
Music provided by:
Winds Symphonic
Directed by: Dr. Elizabeth Petersen, Assistant Professional Professor of Music
Special thanks to the faculty, staff volunteers, the Student Government Association and Island Ambassadors who participated in today's events.