2017 Fall Commencement Program - Portrait by UTRGV

2017 SPRING COMMENCEMENT

WE ARE UTRG

2017 FALL COMMENCEMENT

Today, one chapter ends and another one begins At The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), student success is at the center of everything we do. Ultimately, our goal is not only to enroll students, but also to ensure they graduate and are well prepared to begin their professional careers. Nothing symbolizes this mission of success more than our commencement ceremonies, in which students come together with classmates, faculty, family and friends to celebrate the completion of their academic journey. Congratulations to the Class of 2017! As we acknowledge the end of one journey, we look forward to a bright future. This is an exciting time to be at UTRGV, and we are only getting started. Our footprint throughout the Rio Grande Valley continues to evolve with the construction of new buildings, the expansion and creation of new academic programs, and the healthcare provided by our School of Medicine and College of Health Affairs. Through it all, we remain focused on student success and ensuring students are provided the best opportunities to succeed. This page and the adjoining page include many UTRGV milestones since the university welcomed its inaugural class in fall 2015. As I stated before, the future for UTRGV is bright, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re dedicated to continue providing the best higher education experience for students from the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.

Guy Bailey President

WE ARE UTRG

PLATFORM GUESTS Ernest Aliseda, JD, UT System Regent Guy Bailey, PhD, President Janna Arney, PhD, Deputy President Patricia Alvarez McHatton, PhD, Interim Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs Mark Andersen, PhD, Dean, Honors College Rick Anderson, MBA, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Steven Block, PhD, Dean, College of Fine Arts Cynthia Brown, PhD, Deputy Provost Kristin Croyle, PhD, Vice President for Student Success Walter Diaz, PhD, Dean, College of Liberal Arts Alexander Domijan, PhD, Dean, College of Engineering & Computer Science Parwinder Grewal, PhD, Dean, College of Sciences Magdalena Hinojosa, EdD, Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Dave Jackson, PhD, Dean, Graduate College Mark Kroll, PhD, Dean, Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship John Krouse, MD, PhD, MBA, Dean, School of Medicine and Vice President for Health Affairs Michael Lehker, PhD, Dean, College of Health Affairs Ala Qubbaj, PhD, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs & Diversity Alma D. Rodriguez, EdD, Associate Dean, College of Education & P-16 Integration Juan Sanchez, PhD, Interim Senior Vice President for Research, Innovation & Economic Development

GRAND MARSHALS Friday, 6 p.m. ............................................................................................ Bobbette M. Morgan, EdD, Faculty Senate Executive Committee Member Saturday, 9 a.m............................................................................................... Michelle Alvarado, MS, Faculty Senate Executive Committee Member Saturday, 1 p.m.............................................................................................Douglas H. Timmer, PhD, Faculty Senate Executive Committee Member Saturday, 5 p.m......................................................................................................................................Dora E. Saavedra, PhD, Faculty Senate President

ANNOUNCING THE CANDIDATES Friday, 6 p.m. ............................................................................................................William F. Strong, PhD, Professor, Department of Communication Saturday, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.................................................................................................... Tony Forina, Assistant Athletic Director for Development Saturday, 5 p.m...................................................................................................Carlo Tamayo, MA, Associate Director of Outreach and Recruitment

2017 FALL COMMENCEMENT

ORDER OF EXERCISES Pre-Processional........................................................................................................................ UTRGV Mariachi Aztlán • Francisco Loera, MA, Director Processional............................................................................................................................ Friday • UTRGV Wind Symphony • Albert Lo, MA, Director Processional............................................................................................................................ Saturday • UTRGV Pep Band • Saul Torres, DMA, Director Posting of the Colors.....................................................................................................................................................................................UTRGV Army ROTC National Anthem.................................................................................................................................................................. UTRGV School of Music Students Welcome and Introduction of Guests..........................Patricia Alvarez McHatton, PhD, Interim Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs Remarks.............................................................................................................................................................................................. Guy Bailey, PhD, President Introduction of Academic Deans..................................Patricia Alvarez McHatton, PhD, Interim Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs Presentation of Candidates for Doctoral, Master’s and Baccalaureate Degrees................................. Mark Kroll, PhD, Dean, Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship

Michael Lehker, PhD, Dean, College of Health Affairs

Alexander Domijan, PhD, Dean, College of Engineering & Computer Science

Alma D. Rodriguez, EdD, Associate Dean, College of Education & P-16 Integration

Parwinder Grewal, PhD, Dean, College of Sciences

Walter Diaz, PhD, Dean, College of Liberal Arts

Steven Block, PhD, Dean, College of Fine Arts

Certification of Doctoral, Master’s and Baccalaureate Degrees........................................................................................................................................... Patricia Alvarez McHatton, PhD, Interim Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs Conferral of Doctoral, Master’s and Baccalaureate Degrees............................................................................................. Guy Bailey, PhD, President Concluding Remarks........................................................Patricia Alvarez McHatton, PhD, Interim Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs Recessional............................................................................................................................. Friday • UTRGV Wind Symphony • Albert Lo, MA, Director Recessional............................................................................................................................. Saturday • UTRGV Pep Band • Saul Torres, DMA, Director

WE ARE UTRG

OF T

E X A S RIO

2017 FALL COMMENCEMENT

L VA

«T

Y«

NEU

R S HIP

V R O B E R T C.

O F B U SI N E S S

ROBERT C. VACKAR COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP • • • • • • •

School of Accountancy Department of Economics and Finance Department of Information Systems Department of Management Department of Marketing Department of International Business and Entrepreneurship Master of Business Administration Program

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Juan Angel Chavarria Wonseok Choi Muratcan Erkul

Khoa Huu Nguyen Ngoc Pham Juan Andres Rodriguez-Nieto

Corey Allen Shank Lu Sui Lijuan Sun

MASTER OF ACCOUNTANCY Reynaldo Cantu III Jessica Lyanne Diaz

Stephanie Elizondo Dalia Icela Gutierrez

Farzaneh Mahmoudi Israel Rios

Brianna Nicole Sanchez Esmeralda Rubi Torres

Nallely Verenice Vera Hongxin Wang

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Salman Anjum Alfonso Efrain Arce Dana Brown Tomas Ray Cantu Melissa Giselle Carreon Concepcion Alicia Casillas Zamora Tiffany Brooke Darst Billy R. Flores Gabriela Flores Jorge A. Garcia Sara Garcia-Ochoa Sergio Gerardo Garza Bacco

Jose Ruben Gomez Cristina Michelle Grajales John Jack Gray Cristal Hernandez Walter Roger Hussong II Byron Jones Cesylea Autumn Knight David Kowalski Juan Carlos Lago Humberto Leal Garcia Marco Aurelio Leija Morales Michael R. Leo Nadia I. Loaiza

Wuilber Lopez Suraj Maraj Irene Martinez Selena M. Martinez Jacques Mbede Owona Amanda L. McMahon Lizette Montoya Laura Elena Moreno Figueroa Mayela Ivette Moreno Martinez Daniel Ray Pacheco Hector Perez Francisco Javier Quezada Jr. Daniel Resendez-Saenz

BACHELOR OF ARTS Sebastian Gabriel Wong-Martinez

Jessica G. Reyna Brad Michael Reznicek Alexandra Rodriguez Cristal Rojas Guillermo Salinas Fuentes Leticia Pinedo Sandoval Emilia Saqui Jessica Angelica Serna Lisa Gonzales Smith Mahvish Tariq Iliana Marie Tavares Conrad Taylor Aadesh Tolia

Carlos Nava Torales Froylan Trejo Justin Brian Tutor Zoila Teresa Vasquez Jose Vazquez Jr. Sebastian Velazquez Rodriguez Maria J. Villalon Emilio G. Villanueva Michael Woods Jr. Alfonso Zolezzi

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Debbie Jane Cano

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Roberto Agueros Jr. Tonny Joshua Agyekum-Bimpong Jr. Paola Vanessa Alaniz Jocelyn Lizette Aldape MCL Yaritza Berylet Almaguer Carlos A. Alvarez Amanda Beatriz Anzaldua Eric A. Anzaldua Raymundo Araujo-Hernandez Jennifer Arevalo Maria Avalos Edna K. Baez Agapito Balandran Daisy Barraza Rene Barrera Jr. Christian D. Blanco Daniel Bolanos Joanna Boronczyk Larissa Borrego Juan Jose Brana Garcia Ashley Paige Brennan

Robert Carlos Briones Yahir G. Briz Julien Imani Buduri Ana Gabriela Cadena Medina Jorge L. Calderon Jr. Karen N. Calvillo Carlos Camacho Juan Campos Justin Ray Cannon MCL Valeria Cano Berenice Cantu Jacob T. Cantu Julian Cantu Edson E. Carvajal Carolina Arely Castillo Ahtziry S. Cavazos Jocelyn Cazares Fernando Cerda Jr. Andrea Ceron Preston D. Chandler Ana K. Chapa Mariana Isidra Chavero

Albert Manuel Chavez Marcela Chavez Desiree R. Cisneros Brando O. Contreras Carlos A. Contreras Daniel Cordero Nohemi Cortes Carlos Cruz Faustino Cruz Jr. Victor Manuel Cruz Jr. Yameli S. Cruz MCL Carlos A. Cruz Leal Audrey Brianna Cuellar Carlos Cuellar Lydia C. Davila Joel De la Cruz Jr. Katia Sofia De La Fuente Alejandro De La Garza Ashley N. De Leon Jose De Los Reyes Jesse De Los Santos Jr. Steven Daniel De Los Santos

Guillermo Delgadillo Jr. Miguel A. Diaz Andres Dorantes Alejandro Duarte Abelardo Elizondo MCL Ehiby Y. Escalante Melissa Escalante Justin R. Escamilla Charles Matthew Escobar Juan D. Eufracio Jeannie M. Fagan Carina E. Falcon MCL Karen J. Falduto Mary Jane Falduto Samir Fallad Cortez Cesar Felix Gina M. Fernandez Adan Flores Alvaro Flores Analisa P. Flores Enereida Flores CL Cesar A. Fragoso

Annaluisa Frias SCL Clarissa Frias SCL Janet Fuentes Analaura Gaitan Manuel A. Galvan Yolanda Leticia Gamboa-Kelley Amanda L. Garcia David A. Garcia Emmanuel G. Garcia Selene Garcia Vianca Ariadna Garcia Alejandro Garcilazo Austin Anthony Garza Benito Garza III Daniela Garza Karen Gissel Garza Maria Fernanda Garza SCL Abigail Gomez Genevieve Gomez Hector L. Gomez Ramiro Gomez Arturo Gonzalez Jr.

Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average

WE ARE UTRG

ROBERT C. VACKAR COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP continued BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Crystal Gonzalez Daisy Gonzalez Erika Alejandra Gonzalez Jorge Neftali Gonzalez MCL Jose Eduardo Gonzalez Jr. Kassandra K. Gonzalez Matthew Gonzalez Benjamin J. Goodship Bianca Alyssa Guerra Jaqueline Guerra CL Michael Gutierrez Genesis A. Gwynn Dustin Harper Joseph J. Hemer Ana M. Hernandez Brianna Emily Hernandez Bruno B. Hernandez Daniel O. Hernandez Edgar Jair Hernandez CL Jessica Anna Hernandez Julio C. Hernandez Jr. Luis Alejandro Hernandez Luz Aurora Hernandez MCL Carolina Herrera Damon Shawn Hicks Robert A. Hinds Itza Yarette Hinojosa Jose J. Horta Rodolfo Alejandro Huerta Zachary Alessio Hume Jose Jimenez Hannah S. Jones Juan Juarez Laura E. Leal Jorge Leal Martinez Jermica Renee’ Lee Lucia M. Leon

Dan Li Alba Lopez Bianca Deyanira Lopez Cynthia Lizette Lopez CL Jesus Antonio Lopez Luis E. Lopez CL Paulina Lopez Sandra N. Lopez Hector J. Loya Melissa Lozano Blanca I. Magana Carlos A. Maldonado Cesar A. Maldonado Diana M. Maldonado Lucia Marquez CL Aaron E. Marroquin Isabella Cameron Martin MCL Abel Martinez Ana K. Martinez SCL Annaie Martinez Anyssa Martinez CL Sebastian Martinez Vicente Martinez Jr. Alfredo Mata Jr. Andrea Thalia Medina Juan M. Mendoza Hector Javier Monita Andrea A. Montenegro Dali D. Morales Ivan Eduardo Morales Kevin A. Morales SCL Denisse Emilia Morales Vela Amanda Aimee Moreno David E. Munoz Laura Lissel Neve Martin Nieves Jr. Myra Ochoa

Alexis Olivares Anna Patricia Olivarez CL Laura Rebeca Ortegon Michelle Osorio Martin Del Campo MCL Rose Marie Ouderkirk Diana Ozuna Luis L. Paez SCL David Humberto Palacios Palak Patel CL Eduardo Pedraza Marc Christopher Pena Ruy R. Pena Jr. Selena M. Pequeno Adrian Perez Pedro Perez III Katia Marlen Perez Flores Erika Lee Pineda Brenda Maribel Poblano Christopher M. Prado Jr. Diego A. Pratt Ramiro Quintero III Abraham A. Quiroga Ana K. Ramirez Joseph Nicholai Ramirez Monique Danielle Ramirez Dina Ramos Erasmo Ramos Georgina Lynn Ramos Laura Adriana Ramos Myranda R. Ramos Reynaldo Ramos Jr. CL Brenda Rangel Katrina C. Renteria CL Guadalupe Resendez Ruby Rosalee Resendez CL Alberto Reyes

AnaKaren Rios Cristina Cecilla Rios Paulina Rivas Amanda Rivera Cesar Alejandro Rivera Aaron Robledo Claudia Lena Rodriguez Daniel A. Rodriguez MCL Danielle N. Rodriguez MCL Eric Rodriguez Guadalupe Rodriguez Hector Hugo Rodriguez Jr. Jesus Eduardo Rodriguez Justine Rodriguez Rebecca R. Rodriguez Samantha K. Rodriguez Tashiana Renee Rodriguez German Roldan Jr. Ana K. Rubio Juan Julian Rubio Rogerio Ruiz Isaiah Saenz CL Briana Salazar Christian Isaac Salazar CL Cassandra Y. Salinas Jessica Janet Salinas Jose F. Salinas Jr. MCL Miguel Antonio Salinas Selene A. Salinas Elizondo Braulio Roman Sanchez Christopher Joel Sanchez Jacqueline Sanchez Javier Adrian Sanchez Jessica Sanchez Juan Jesus Sanchez Mohan Sapkota CL Kassandra Sarmiento

Caila S. Smith MCL Daryl J. Smith Tiffany A. Soriano Leonardo Soto Nancy E. Tapia Abraham Tello Karissa Ashley Tijerina Jennifer Monserrat Tirado Madelein Torres Rebecca Torres CL Edward S. Trevino Raul Trevino Ruben A. Trevino Gabriel Trujillo Juan Carlos Turrubiartes Robert Hugo Uribe MCL Ruben Valdez Josue Ricardo Valverde Cardiel Bryon Daniel Vela Kevin Vela Leela Pavani Velagala MCL Belinda Velasquez Ashley Venegas Alexa Yvette Vera Mariz Vergel De Dios Eduardo Leonel Vigil Samantha B. Villa MCL Consuelo D. Villarreal Anthony Villegas Daniel Alejandro Villegas Abigail Lynn Walker CL Daniel Warner Rigo Ybarra Jr. Jorge Luis Zambrano Kristian Zamora Analicia Zarate

Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average

OF T

E X A S RIO

2017 FALL COMMENCEMENT

Y «

« T H

L VA

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND P-16 INTEGRATION

6 A T I O N A N D P -1

• • • • • • •

Educator Preparation and Accountability Counseling Training Clinic Department of Bilingual and Literacy Studies Department of Counseling and Guidance Department of Human Development and School Services Department of Organization and School Leadership Department of Teaching and Learning

DOCTOR OF EDUCATION Mary Olivia Agbakoba

William J. Morley

Claudia Vela

MASTER OF EDUCATION Liz Lilliana Acosta Lauren Aguilar Julia Margarita Aguirre Sandra Lisa Puente Aguirre Ivonne Alanis Erica Alvarez Jennifer L. Anderson Kassandra Kimberlynn Arguelles Mario A. Arredondo Jessica Azyade Arriaga Sandra Atkins Katharine Aune Priscilla S. Avalos Anabel Balderas Jose Luis Balderas Jr. Mayra A. Barajas Ana Martha Barrera Judith Marie Barrientes Laura Lee Bazan Christopher N. Bell Kimberly Sue Bolin Samuel Borrego Bianca Leigh Briones Maria Guadalupe Brown Grissel Edith Caballero

Fidencio Camacho Jessica Lynn Campbell Cynthia M. Canales Kassandra Canales Jovanna E. Cantu Lino Cantu IV Brittany Danielle Carpenter Silvia Carrillo Amy Caroline Castellanos Datonye I. Cheetham-West Miranda George Clem Rosalinda Covarrubias Kami Crane Claudia L. Cuellar Debra Lynn Davila Brenda Lee De Hoyos Jessica Christina De La Garza Norma Jean A. De Leon Sonia del Angel Marissa Clara Delarosa Maria Amparo Delgado Belinda Diego Deborah E. Duenas Emma Laura Elizondo Robert Rene Elizondo

Eliana Flores Perla Mariel Frias Perez Melina Galvan Paola Lizbeth Gamboa Ana Maria Garcia Bertha Lydia Garcia Daisy Garcia Ilenia I. Garcia Jennifer Garcia Kevin M. Garcia Kristen Kendra Garcia Krystal Lynda Garcia Kytzia Y. Garcia Marta Garcia Olga E. Garcia San Juanita Garcia Joann Garcilazo Angelica Hurtado Garza Ariana Garza Cassandra Esquivel Garza Cynthia Ann Garza Javier Jaime Garza Jr. Lizette Garza Marely Garza Maritza J. Garza

Martha M. Garza Sandra Garza Andrea D. Garza-Freeman Erika Nohemi Gaytan Irasema Gomez Paola E. Gomez Angie G. Gonzales Michelle Lynn Gonzalez Roxanna V. Gonzalez Connor P. Grant Fabian Grimaldo Gilbert Christian Guadarrama Aliza Y. Guerra Lydia Guerra-Yanez Amanda Gutierrez Emelia Marcelina Herebia Ashley M. Hernandez Diana Hernandez Guadalupe Hernandez Jr. Haley M. Hernandez Jorge Luis Hernandez Hilda Herrera Analisa Hinojosa Linda Jackson Angelica M. Jimenez

Felix C. Jimenez Francisca Jimenez Odilia Jimenez Norma Jimenez Cerda Billy Karavasilis Mary Kirby Kristen Elena Knight Erika Leal Oscar Nicholas Leal Maria Fernanda Lincoln Ana Laura Loa Alicia Lopez Ruth Ann Lopez Sintia Johana Lopez Jackie Lee Losoya Dahlia Kelly Lumpkins Rondeau Gregg P. Madsen Melissa A. Martinez Sabrina Martinez Melissa Amalia Martinez-Longoria Archie Dennis Massen Jessica Mata Maribel Matamoros Rebecca Ann McCully

Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average

WE ARE UTRG

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND P-16 INTEGRATION Angela Cheri McLaughlin Michelle L. Mclendon-Eslick Mayani Molina Elizabeth Garcia Montalvo Yesenia T. Montes Jessica Marie Montiel Amalia Lucia Mora Brissia Paola Morales Alejandra Moreno Lluvia Patricia Moreno Raisa Naim Leslie N. Ortiz Zulia Pedroza Delia Elsa Garcia Pena

Veronica J. Pena Estibaliz Perez Veronica Perez Ondina M. Pizano Laurie Allison Pogue Cynthia Puente Adina Ramirez Araceli Ramirez Olga Orietta Ramirez Evelyn Marie Riojas Krysna Rivera Adriana E. Rodriguez Aileen Rodriguez Brenda Lee Rodriguez

Elva Cristina Rodriguez Eric Rodriguez Jessica Rodriguez Tania I. Rodriguez Lisette Roppolo Brittney Yazmene Rubio Nathan John Saenz Laura Salas Anabel Salinas Indira Salinas Maria Teresa Salinas Monique Salinas Seila Samira Salinas Iris Rocio San Miguel

continued

Nataly Sanchez Erika Satarain Sara Sepulveda Eduardo Sifuentes Jonathan Israel Silva Michelle Nicole Solis Robynne Rebecca Solis Sandi Mari Thomas Elisa Torres Lorene Antonia Torres Aracely Trevino Garza Monica Urbano Amelia Valdez Refugio Valencia

Sherry Ann Vargas Brenda Vazquez Erika Bryana Victory Angelica Villarreal Claudia Y. Villarreal Joanna Villarreal Jose Luis Villarreal Stephanie Marie Waller Shelly Whitman Mary Carmen Zendejas Rosemary Zuniga

BACHELOR OF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES Ana Maria Alanis MCL Valerie M. Alaniz CL Dulce E. Arellano Alejandra Nicole Arriaga Chelsea A. Blanco MCL Alexis Nicole Bosler Raissa Cabello MCL Selina Cabrera Joyce J. Canamar CL Melissa Alejandra Cantu SCL Olga Nidya Cantu Ruby A. Cantu Monica Marie Carmona CL Joselin Castro CL Aissa Cazares CL Angelica Marie Davila Melissa Diaz SCL Jennifer Marie Dorsett Cynthia Duarte Astrid A. Elizondo

Samy A. Elizondo MCL Diana Flores Francisco Graciel Flores Veronica Lisa Fonseca Samantha M. Franqueira De Sousa MCL Rosa I. Garcia Julia Ann Garza Karla Garza Khiabet K. Giron Sandy Gomez Karen Gonzalez Marisol Gonzalez Sanjuana Esmeralda Gonzalez Yamilee B. Gonzalez Mariela Guajardo Gabriella V. Guevara Ana Laura Gutierrez CL Nelda Sarai Hernandez Samantha Hernandez

Venessa Hinojosa Jacqueline Huerta MCL Elizzette Ibarra Guadalupe Denise Lerma Alexis Longoria CL Ashlee R. Lopez Karla M. Lopez Selina Elyze Loya Laura Olivia Maestro CL Jessica Martinez SCL Melissa D. Martinez Nadalie N. Medrano CL Adriana Melgar Joanna Lizbeth Mendez Bianca Lizette Mendoza Erica L. Mercado Lucero Milan Hannah Danielle Miller CL Luis E. Minez Abigail Morales

Jeanneth Ramirez Navarro Yesi L. Ortega Gonzalez SCL Catey Elizabeth Pace Stephanie Pena Alicia Perez MCL Meghan Audrey Ponce Mayra Alejandra Rangel Clarissa Eladia Reyes Sabrina Elizabeth Rios Alexis Rodriguez MCL Amanda Jo Rodriguez Ester N. Rodriguez CL Kenia Denise Rodriguez Laura Rodriguez CL Ericka Crystal Salazar SCL Chelsea Lucinda Salinas Priscilla Salinas Arely B. Sanchez CL Marleny Sanchez MCL Procopio A. Sanchez Jr.

Yaneht Sanchez Amanda Lee Sandoval Emily C. Sandoval CL Myra Elizabeth Silva Dulce Sosa SCL Jennifer L. Sosa CL Teresa R. Sova Kristen R. Tamez Jacqueline J. Torres CL Jessica J. Torres Karla Alejandra Trevino CL Paola Valdez CL Melissa Vasquez Alyssa B. Vela CL Kimberly Renee Villalon CL Jena Ann Woodruff Elvia R. Zambrano Emily Ashley Zuniga Gloria E. Zuniga

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Roxanna Moreno

Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average

OF T

E X A S RIO

2017 FALL COMMENCEMENT

« « « TH E

L VA

« « «

IE N

COL

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE

E RIN G A N D C O

• • • • • •

Department of Civil Engineering Department of Computer Science Department of Electrical Engineering Department of Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering Computer Engineering Program

MASTER OF SCIENCE Jose Orvyl Gonzalez Yasmine Gutierrez Martin Jalomo

Zhen Li Guillermo Marin Alex Marroquin

Mapuor M. Pur Alfredo Ramos Carlos A. Trevino

Rafael Villegas

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING Andrew Butler Howard A. Campos Jorge Abel Castillo Hermes Jose Chirino Pavithra Coimbatore Suriya Narayanan Angel A. De Leon Edni Del Rosal

Juan Jesus Elizondo David E. Flores April Diandra Gonzalez Homero Gonzalez Ganesh Reddy Gunnam Everardo Ibarra Abin James

Alan Lee Jones Claudia Lizette Lopez Andres Ochoa Adam Ortiz Daiyce C. Ovando Nabaraj Pokharel Gerika Geraldina Prado

Juan Rincon Carlos Aparicio Rodriguez Betancourth Osvaldo Ruiz Jose M. Salinas Jr. Omar Torres Maximiliano Villarreal Rocio Villarreal

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Hilda Yazmin Del Rio

Josue Elizondo

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Mohamed Nabil Allam Leon Anzaldua Javier Arenas Jr. Moises Beas Nathanael Leroy Carr Ezekiel Coleman Javier Alejandro Cuellar Zenia Lizette De Leon MCL Juan M. Gonzalez Jr.

Sandra Paola Gonzalez Rogelio Guerra Aaron Hernandez Joaquin Hernandez Jr. CL Daniel Hernandez Gonzalez Sergio Felipe Herrera Jr. Isac Roberto Lambarri Roger Alexander Leal Luis M. Lerma

Luis Oscar Macias Enrique G. Martinez Carlos Abiel Mata Joziel Medina Aaron Louis Millan Estrellita Morales Katia Guadalupe Navar MCL Cronos Adama Juan Oros Cuevas MCL

Sailyn Ortega Rusbel Pena Jose Angel Perez Ofsman Martin Quintana David Ramirez Diego Ramon Santos E. Ramos Erika B. Resendez Gerardo Rocha

Daniel A. Rodriguez Jairo Ruiz CL Kimberly S. Salinas Alejandro Santana Cassandra Sias Cesar A. Tobias Javier A. Valdez

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER ENGINEERING Angel A. Aguilar Brandon Blake Barajas CL Raul G. Cantu Jr.

Demetrio Ramon Casares Jr. CL Antonio J. Estrada Jr. Francisco H. Hernandez

Alberto Linares Steven R. Lovelace Nestor Yair Malibran

Miguel Angel Payns Luis Pradoregla Tom S. Ramirez

Marlon Ramos Mayra Zepeda Dorado

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE Peter J. Alvarez Gabriela Y. Avila Larisa D. Botello Israel Leasim Cabello

Alejandro Everardo Cano Garcia Robert A. Carrera Kevin Cavazos Christian Manuel Duarte Vela SCL

Bryanda Anahi Garcia Elizardo F. Gonzalez MCL John C. Harris CL Ailing Li MCL

Alfredo Martinez Fernando A. Martinez Tauqeer Murtaza Sergio Hugo Nunez Jr.

Joseph Fred Reyes Ernesto Valdez Jr.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING Sergio Homero Alanis Jr. CL Cutberto Barbosa Jr. Alexis G. Berlanga Arturo Aldair De La Cruz Campos Martin Hernandez

Joseph Andrew Kirkland Nicanor Lopez MCL Rafael M. Lumba Jr. Jaime Martinez Gonzalez Jr. Jose Adolfo Medrano

Pedro Ramos III David Roberto Rivera Daniela C. Rodriguez CL Irving Rodriguez Tooba Safeer

Luis Antonio Torres Jr. Yazmine A. Trujillo Ernesto Villalon Jr.

Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average

WE ARE UTRG

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE

continued

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING Yadira G. Cid

Luisa Espinosa

Nohema Flores

Alexis Leal

Ruben Rubio Jr.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING Jaime Anguiano Lucas Taylor Atkins Jorge Antonio Cabello Carlos A. Camargo Carlos Gustavo Cantu Dulce Carolina Capitanachi CL Christian Castillo Raul D. Castillo Ana C. Chavez Angelica Cortez Vega Jonathan C. Cuellar

Israel P. De La Cruz Ricardo Eguia Daisy C. Ferretiz Mark A. Flores Oscar Rene Flores Alex Edgar Garcia Ruben Garcia Jr. Valeria Delfina Garcia Blanca I. Garza Fernando A. Garza Kevin Garza

Oscar L. Gonzalez Jr. Alvaro Gurrola Jr. Luis E. Hernandez Nancy Y. Hernandez Bonwook Koo Cesar A. Leos Jr. MCL Andrew Gregory Luthen SCL Yeniel Martin Martin E. Martinez Victor H. Martinez Jr. Alexia Martinez Ibarra MCL

Yvette Molina Gabriela Z. Morales Jose Orlando Moya Juan H. Munoz Damaso Navarro III Jesus Olivares Jr. John Perez Alfonso Perez Basilio Anibal Plata Miguel Angel Quintero II CL Esaul Ramirez

Leo C. Ramirez MCL Victor G. Saldivar Jorge E. Segovia Carlos Alfredo Tamez Garza Humberto Torres Neftaly Vargas Ramon Vela III Zabas G. Velasquez Ydana Y. Virgen Jesus Fernando Zertuche Nunez

Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average

OF T

E X A S RIO

2017 FALL COMMENCEMENT

Y «

« T H

L VA

LLE

G E O F FI N E A R

COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS • • • • •

Creative Writing Program Dance Program Department of Theatre School of Art School of Music

MASTER OF FINE ARTS Joseph Matthew Balderas

Maria De Lourdes Ballard

Jose Garcia

Natalia Noemi Soto

Diana Womble †

MASTER OF MUSIC Camden Blaine Beavers

Monica Ann Fogelquist

Sarah Torres

BACHELOR OF ARTS Anika Licia Aguirre Eliana Araujo Nedelin Jane Avalos Maria Melissa Barrientos Jessie Burciaga Celenia Cano Lisa Danielle Cardenas

Nimsi G. Careaga Vanessa A. Chavez SCL Hugo G. Flores Rene Gonzalez Jr. John Michael Guerra SCL Hugo A. Guerrero Jaime Andres Guillen

Jessica N. Gutierrez Blade M. Lozano CL Carmen Berenice Milton Estefania Mongrell Sergio A. Moreno Martha Beatriz Ortiz-Trevino Blanca A. Ozuna MCL

Kimberley C. Ramirez Stephanie Ramirez Anicia Marie Rios Tiffany Lynn Rivera Cecilia B. Rocha CL Sabrina Rodriguez MCL Carla V. Rosales CL

Reynaldo Saenz Jr. Lazaro Torres Olivia Belle Torres Stephanie Marie Trevino Ana M. Waldo CL Leslie Kathryn Yoste-Diaz CL Victoria Alexia Zuniga CL

BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS Jessica Aleman Julio Adrian Aranda Vanessa Elizabeth Ayala CL Bonnie Elizabeth Barber CL Melissa Buenrostro Sergio Alberto Burnias

Gerardo C. Cantu Stephany Y. Casares Ruben Hilario Elizalde MCL Priscilla Mariah Elizondo Anahi Esquivel Cantu MCL Daniel Isaias Garcia

Mariela Isabel Gonzalez MCL Jennifer A. Guajardo Arturo J. Herrera Jr. Eva G. Larraga Jr. CL Daniel Manrique CL Arlene A. Martinez

Conan E. Martinez MCL Jorge Medina MCL Ruxanda G. Musunoi Olga Margarita Polanco SCL Ivan T. Ramirez Jr. Carla J. Reimer

Samantha Yamelet Reyes Anita M. Rodriguez Erick Rodriguez MCL Hector H. Rodriguez CL Rodrigo Sanoja Leslie Marie Sosa

BACHELOR OF MUSIC Rodolfo Agado Jr. Daniel A. Aguilar CL Adriana M. Arango CL Allison Renee Brady Victoria R. Cantu Mariely Keren Castillo

Raymon Reuben Correa Allysa Crystal Garcia Hugo Alberto Garcia Jose Israel Garcia Raquel Garza Daniel Clinton Gonzalez

Roxana Guereca Kevin Lee Guerra Connie Elizabeth Lopez Sophia Lizzette Martinez Christopher Monsivais Sean Ryan Moran CL

Stephanie M. Oseguera MCL Orlando Pedraza MCL Megan Nicole Pitcock Clemente Rivera Noe Saenz Leanne Sanchez

Michael Anthony Sandoval Vanessa Ann Trevino

Awarded posthumously †

Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average

OF T

E X A S RIO

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AFFAIRS

Y «

« T H

L VA

F E OF AF HE A LT H

• • • • • • • • •

Cooperative Pharmacy Program Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences Department of Health and Human Performance Department of Occupational Therapy Department of Physician Assistant Studies Department of Social Work School of Nursing School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Matilde Barrera Alaniz

Danielle D. Fox

Miranda Lopez

Mary Ann Rocha

Renee Starr

MASTER OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES Estefania Acevedo Juan Andres Aguirre Juan A. Alanis Katie Beaudoin Cassandra Marie Brown Yen N. Bui Robert Edward Joseph Campbell Katlyn Rae Camper Allyssa Marie Cantu Patricia Marie Castaneda Elsa Castrejon Yedlisbett Ceballos Rosemarie Chavez Rashonda Collins

Heather Nichole Davis Jeremy Jacob Diaz Quynh Ngoc Diep Yocelyn Elizondo Matthew John Elliott Lillian Elaine Emerson-Williams Veronica Fernandez Yuriko Garcia Sharon Eve Gelman Katrina George Yolanda Elena Gonzalez Melissa H. Gutierrez Sean Christopher Haig Emily I. Hartman

Oran Carlisle Hartwell Dat Phouc Ho Marie Claude Joseph Diana Lynn Kline Isaac Elijah Lopez Julianna Elizabeth Luera Sharon Machner Steven Machner Melissa Vinette Maduell Jose Angel Martinez Jr. Chun Chen Mathers David Roberto Medina Edna Daniela Michi Christopher Alan Nguyen

Ginny Leigh Olson Cecilio Padron Beatriz Pardo Brett Anthony Ramey Eldibrando Ramos II Shamika Deandria Reed Dorothy Lee Richardson Mauricio Xavier Rodriguez Michael Edward Rodriguez Nicholas A. Sanchez Ivan Enrique Silva Ashlee Danielle Simpson Ingrid Gricelda Solis Stephen Solum

Mayleen Soto Harrison Steward Linda Steward Elizabeth Tram Fernando Vasquez Orion Scott Victory Jaime B. Villafranca Andre’lyn Toyniece Williams Amery Yang Wing Ka Yeung

MASTER OF SCIENCE Su-heyla Abigail Adame Aisha Adams Pablo Aguilar Andrea Lizette Alanis Oport Jackeline Alaniz Maribel Alva Krystal M. Banning Clarissa Barrera Vivian Bautista Mario A. Blanco Melanie Cadena Tephanie Renae Cadena Javier C. Cantu Amanda Marie Carlin Erica M. Chavez Myunghee Chu Andrew Stokes Clark Rodrigo Coronado De La Lama Kezia Correa Heriberto Cortes Jacquelin Xiomara Cuellar Kristina De Leon Jamie Diaz Felicia D. Echavarria Emeh-Ete A. Edittu

Maria Magdalena Elizondo Marina Elia Escobar Santa Beatriz Estrella Margarita Michelle Faulhaber Eron L. Flores Alexandria Garcia Brittany Ann Garcia Brittany Garcia Coleen M. Garcia Elias Garcia Michael Anthony Garcia Nicole Marie Garcia Rosa Nelly Garcia Jose Garza Beatriz Gonzalez Jessica Ann Gonzalez Cassia Illine Guajardo Valeria Guerra Gerardo A. Guevara Hazel I. Hernandez Karen I. Hernandez Neha Hussain Jarin Jaigirdar Yesenia Jaramillo Bianca Natalie Hope Jasso

Jennifer A. Jazinski Demetra Clark Jones Ashley Katers Albert Frank Lazo Antoinette Locks Alex G. Lopez Alexandro Lopez Hermelinda Lopez Ricardo Lopez Victoria L. Lopez Nallely Magallan Jackie Lynn Margenau Cassandra Martinez Danielle Martinez Lisandra Martinez Martin L. Martinez Randy Art Martinez Rigoberto Martinez Anna Victoria Menchaca Mauricio Miranda Juan Montemayor IV Giselle M. Montes Berenice Ivett Morales Janeil Morales Michael Ismael Morgan

Jose Isabel Navarro Jr. Jose Alejandro Nunez-Barreto Maria Guadalupe Olivarez Roxanna G. Padilla Jose Rafael Pena Cynthia Delilah Perez Elizabeth Pina Lance Cody Pittman Clarissa L. Ramirez Elsa Maria Ramirez Sofia A. Ramirez Valeria A. Ramirez Yesenia Ramos Megan Richard Lee Hector Rios Daniela Rodriguez Herlinda Lizette Rodriguez Ileana Elizabeth Rodriguez Maricela Rosales Rain Oihane Rueda Nabil Zelideth Ruiz Marianela Fabiola Saldivar Garza Magalie Sanchez Rolando Sanchez

Jazmin I. Sibaja Daisy Silva Lorena V. Sloss Alexandra Smith Samantha Lee Tello Laura L. Torres Jaime Vasquez Jose Manuel Vasquez Jr. Lenice M. Villanueva Jaime Villarreal Paula Ann Villarreal Shelby Nichole Villarreal Alan Francisco Villarreal Rizzo Deborah Ybarra Cristina E. Zacarias Dianabel Zamora Victor Zanabria Stephanie Ann Zellers Kristie N. Zuniga

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING Karina Alanis Sara Alcorta Manuel A. Amezquita David Allen Armor

Kay Charmain Bradford Cheri Denise Casanova Danna Mae Kanen Chiu Eleanor Agdeppa Diaz

Erendira Amira Garcia Celina H. Garza Veronica Buentello Garza

Faiza Haque Uloma Ezinne Obi Joel M. Ramos

John Salinas Silvia G. Sanchez Michael R. Sauceda

Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average

2017 FALL COMMENCEMENT

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AFFAIRS

continued

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SOCIAL WORK Cecilia Edith Dennard

Ianhelly Felix

Marisol Fray

Rebecca J. Mendez

Noreli Anahi Roque

BACHELOR OF APPLIED TECHNOLOGY Michael C. Campos Angelika Deshay Gholston

Brenda D-Ann Gonzalez MCL Claudia Ivette Longoria

Thanh Nguyen Luong SCL Jacqueline Pena

Chantel Desiree Raigosa SCL Nancy Viera

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Carlos A. Acevedo Joel Alaniz Jr. Nohely A. Alaniz Aaron J. Alvarado MCL Christian J. Alvarado Louis Ara IV Zaira Lilly Arizmendi Elena Arriaga Rene Oziel Azocar Matthew Eric Balli Cassandra Elizabeth Banda Samantha Barboza Armando Barraza III Phillip Barrera Jr. Jesus Alberto Basanez Aracelli Bautista Ashley A. Beas Belinda Belmarez Victor M. Borrego III Rebecca Ann Briggs MCL Sahil Lal Buxani Maria G. Calderon Allison Campos Kassandra Renee Cano Javier Cantu Josie M. Cantu Katrina Sofia Capello SCL Gloria Cardenas Karen Carmona CL Nicholas Carmona Elizabeth M. Castillo CL Jesus Castillo Jr. Cecilia Castro Ruben Vidal Cavazos Sergio A. Cavazos Leslie J. Celestino Joe A. Cerda Magdalena Chapa Richard Wade Clayton SCL Valquiria Aparecida Correa Caboclo Katherine E. Croll MCL Megan Dempsey Francisco J. De Hoyos Jr. Isabel De Hoyos Dorado CL Alexa Herminia De La Garza Miguel Alejandro De La Garza Jalomo

Joyce De Los Santos Marlen De Los Santos Jessica K. Del Angel Elizabeth Diaz Desiree Dominguez Roberto Dominguez Jr. Jo Anna Espinoza Claudia C. Estrada Joselin Falcon Crystal Blair Farias MCL Larissa A. Fernandez CL Rosalie Marie Fernandez CL Hector Filizola SCL Brenda L. Flores Jacklyn D. Flores Ricardo Flores Beatriz Gallegos Jaime Galvan Mayra L. Gamboa Amanda Nicole Garcia Cassandra L. Garcia Deahna Rae Garcia Evelyn J. Garcia Juan Jesus Garcia Jr. Melanie A. Garcia Nayeli Garcia Serena Renee Garcia Zmelda Garcia Ana Cecilia Garza CL Andrea Elizabeth Garza Ashley R. Garza CL Cecilia Garza Elvia Nichole Pascua Garza Guillermo Angel Garza Jr. Jasmine Gabrielle Garza Jose Luis Garza Lauren L. Garza Marco Antonio Garza Marco Antonio Garza Yaritza Y. Garza MCL Arturo Gonzalez Clarissa A. Gonzalez Daniela Gonzalez Iliana Gonzalez Leslie K. Gonzalez MCL Monica Aidee Gonzalez Nicole M. Gonzalez Patricia Gonzalez

Yolanda Gonzalez Osvin Gerando Gonzalez Valenzuela CL Justin Granado Kassandra E. Guajardo Cassandra R. Guerra Francisco Guerra Monica Arline Guerra Sara Alicia Guerra Stacy K. Guerra Ariel R. Guerrero CL Nayelli A. Gutierrez Patricia Gutierrez MCL Roel Guzman Alejandro Hernandez Brandon Hernandez CL Itzel A. Hernandez Leah Michelle Hernandez Miriam L. Hernandez Cindy Veronica Herrera Evelyn L. Herrera CL Patricia Herrera Vanessa Hinojosa Delisha M. Horne MCL Briana Lynn Hoysick Natalie B. Jaramillo SCL Rebecca Mae Keliikuli Mahsa Khajeh Michelle Kowalski Kristi Falcon LaClair Brittany Ledesma Brianda Ledezma Kayla M. Lerma Jorge A. Limas Aliza Longoria Sarah Linnea Longoria Diana M. Lopez Johnathon Lopez Naomi D. Lucio Leslie Ann Luna Katherine Elizabeth Majors MCL Rafael Mancilla Arvind Manojkumar MCL Sayuri Marcos Arturo Martinez Jr. SCL Christian Martinez Cynthia L. Martinez Elzie E. Martinez

Lesley A. Martinez Lizbeth Anahi Martinez Natashia D. Martinez Raquel Aileen Martinez Thalia M. Martinez Ruth A. Mata Jessica R. Medrano MCL Rosa J. Mejia CL David Mireles Julia Montemayor Yesenia Moreno Ashley N. Munoz Mohammad Imran Murtuza SCL Yarlett Navarro Blanca E. Nino Alfredo Ozuna Jr. Diana Ozuna Lawrence Earl Tomines Pabalinas CL Lizette Padilla Candice Ann Pena Kelly Ann Pena Sonia L. Pena Anai Perez Cassandra R. Perez Jesus H. Perez MCL Stephanie Monique Picazo Clarisa Pina CL Manuel A. Pineda Yesenia V. Placencia Anna M. Pollard SCL Carlos S. Portales SCL Alma Leticia Porto Lisa Prado MCL Emanuel A. Quiroga MCL Enrique Ramos CL Gina M. Ramos CL Vanessa K. Ramos MCL Marcelino Rangel III Cristal Rios Pena Paola Rivas CL Lesly Rivera Reba L. Rivera CL Iliana Rocha Dara J. Rodriguez Linda L. Rodriguez MCL Magali Rodriguez Jose Rubio

Isabel Christina Ruiz Samuel Gildardo Saenz Ana Laura Saldivar Maria Saldivar CL Ana Kristina Salinas Isaac Salinas Jackylin Monic Salinas Victoria A. Salinas Jasmin Codie Salmeron Adrian R. Sanchez Wendy J. Sanchez Selina Sandoval Paola J. Santana Brianna Sayas Oscar Segovia III Elizabeth Segura CL Arantza Solano CL Jose B. Soria III Antonio Esequiel Sotelo CL Ashley Nicole Suarez Xavier J. Suarez Brianna Sugimoto Nathan Ryan Tijerina Luis E. Tovar Dorina Trevino Elizabeth Trevino CL Jorge L. Trevino Jr. Samantha N. Trevino CL Evette A. Trigo Luis J. Troncoso CL Marisol Linda Valencia Leonardo Vara CL Alberto Vasquez Jr. SCL Crystal Vasquez Jonathon Vasquez Alexis Villafranca MCL Victor E. Villalobos Samantha Lizette Villanueva CL Vanessa Villanueva Paiz Ashley Michelle Villarreal Juana Villarreal Reena Villarreal CL Nelson Wise Jacqueline Zambrano SCL Sigifredo Zavala Xavier Y. Zavala Carlos Zuniga

Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average

WE ARE UTRG

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AFFAIRS

continued

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING Mirsa Garcia

Amy Jimenez

Anselmo Salinas Jr.

BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK Stephanie Alaniz Michelle Alvarez Gloria Ann Arredondo CL Veronica Arredondo Dinora Cabadas Valeria Caldera CL Arlene Cantu Belinda Casarez CL Vicky Castellano Rebecca M. Cruz Cruz Ivet Espino Crystal Flores SCL Kassandra Garcia Leticia Garcia

Viridiana Garcia Melissa Garza Nallely Garza CL Christine Gonzalez MCL Monica Yvette Gonzalez Yesenia Guajardo Candace J. Guerra Irene M. Heredia MCL Eloisa Hernandez Ester Hernandez CL Melissa Sue Hernandez Amanda L. Jimenez Brooke Ryan Kesecker MCL Aaron M. Leal CL

Diana Y. Leal Roxanne L. Ledesma Gabriela Luna Clariza E. Martinez CL Nancy Francis Martinez Amanda Lee Mata Guadalupe Melgoza Gracy Meza CL Jaqueline Montalvo CL Sonia Najera Narda N. Olvera Shannon Ortega Jonathan Osoria Paulina Pantoja MCL

Yaneli Yasmin Pena Gerardo Perez Jr. Margarita Perez Nancy Melissa Perez April L. Ramirez Ashley A. Ramos Jennifer Denae Ramos Francisco Valle Razo Carlos Rene Reyes Arelie E. Robles CL Laura Rodriguez MCL Valeria R. Rodriguez Paola M. Romero CL Amberly Nicole Salinas CL

Julyvette Salinas Maria D. Salinas Elizabeth Nicole Solis Guadalupe Torres MCL Laura I. Torres SCL Patrisha Marie Trevino Jennifer Nanette Vela Sanjuanita Vera Stephany Villarreal Alondra Zeledon MCL

Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average

OF T

E X A S RIO

2017 FALL COMMENCEMENT

Y «

« T H

L VA

E O F LIB E R A L A

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS • • • • • • • •

Department of Communication Department of Criminal Justice Department of Gender and Women’s Studies Department of History Department of Literatures and Cultural Studies Department of Military Science Department of Philosophy Department of Political Science

• • • • •

Department of Psychological Science Department of Public Affairs and Security Studies Department of Sociology and Anthropology Department of Writing and Language Studies School of Interdisciplinary Programs and Community Engagement

MASTER OF ARTS Rebecca Alcala Gloria Isela Almaguer Johanna K. Amaya Zane L. Arredondo Paloma Del Rosario Banda Andrew Fred Browning Zachary Joseph Butcher Josefina Magaly Caldwell Gregg Leonard Carter Robert Ricardo Casas

Gabriela Cavazos Manuel Angel Chavez Selmo Cristo Mile Johana Davis Lizbeth Yamileth Deleon Eric Scott Fagan Marissa L. Garcia Javier Garza Jr. Laura M. Gonzalez Karina Gracia

Yvette Hinojosa Marina Alejandra Ibarra Fernell Gonzalo Jimenez Karla Aisen Lira Naachiely Lopez Hurtado Alexandra Morales Yuriana Yudith Moreno Robert Alfonso Munoz Erika Pacheco Juan Antonio Palomo

Sarah V. Pena Breona Andrea Perez Daniel A. Pizana Tomas Adrian Quiroga Juan Carlos Razo Jr. Madeline Newman Rios Rigoberto Rocha Brenda Angelica Rodriguez Kashia Rodriguez Yvette Salinas

Zurisadai Salinas Amelia Criselda Sanchez Erendira Santillana Katherine Maria Shivers Fabiola Tortajada Rachel Irina Valladares Natalia Stella Vargas Yadira Yvonne Villarreal Marguerite Colette Walker Sarahi Zarate

MASTER OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES Valerie Ann Cerda

Lupe Alberto Flores

Adolfo Hernandez

Isabel Arlette Shea

April Michele Wilson

MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Jessica Burnette Fabio Hernandez

Jose H. Jasso Bernadette Sarah Perez

Melissa Ann Ruiz Federico A. Stutzner

MASTER OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS Ruben Oziel Abarca Russell Clark Belleperche Jason E. Bertie Crystal Leticia Canales Adriana Carmona Guadalupe Castro Patrice E. Clayton

Jerry Driscoll Melissa Elizardi Vanessa Hilaria Garza Lizette Gomez Patrick Martin Gonzales Samantha Annette Green Kimberly A. Guajardo

Gilberto Hernandez Miguel A. Martinez Cruz Milagros Matos Issa Mcdaniel Eleazar Morin Jr. Hilary Pereira Myrna Denisse Perez

Tallon James Reddout Michael Reyes Marc S. Roque Roxanne Ruiz Aida N. Santoy Rosa I. Serafin Rhonda Christine Silverman

Henry Soto Oscar Valencia Carol Lynn Vasquez

MASTER OF PUBLIC POLICY AND MANAGEMENT Ruben Garcia

Julie Marie Madrigal

Marco Antonio Morales

MASTER OF SCIENCE Yasmin A. Cordero Salvador Gonzalez

Manuela Martinez-Salas Esmeralda Cortez Moreno

Bryan Keith Murray Pedro Alfonso Villarreal

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES Luis Angel Buentello

Samantha Isabel Garcia

Alan Wayne Hendrick

BACHELOR OF APPLIED ARTS & SCIENCES Jessica Alanis MCL Reyna Coria

Juan Joel Garza German Gonzalez SCL

Leonel Gutierrez Perla M. Pina MCL

Nora Alicia Ramirez MCL Claudia Mireya Rosas

Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average

WE ARE UTRG

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS continued BACHELOR OF ARTS Diego G. Abad Eric Jason Acosta Angelica Acuna CL Abraham Aguilar Kerri K. Aguilar MCL Armando Alanis MCL Christopher David Alaniz MCL Melissa Alba Jason Alce Nora D. Aldape CL Ana C. Almaguer Brian Almazan Katerin C. Alvarado Itzeel Y. Alvarez Angel Anguiano Jr. Maritza Lee Anguiano Michelle Araiza Joshua Ryan Arevalo Maria Fernanda Arguelles Roberto Arizmendi Edna Arjona Matthew Joseph Arredondo Isaac D. Bahena Daniel T. Baird MCL Adrian Barrera Daniela Fernanda Barrera-Garza CL Alexandra Danielle Barrientos Sammantha Barron Crystal L. Bazaldua SCL Aaron J. Bazan Kelly A. Bell Francelli Benavides Clayton B. Browne Gabriela Burciaga Annarose B. Burns Laura M. Bustamante Fernanda Caballero Jazmin L. Camarillo Sasha R. Campos Alejandra Canales-Weigend MCL Elisa Adriana Cano Jennifer Cano Lisa Marie Cantu Melissa Cantu Michelle Cantu Suzana Cantu Veronica Marie Cantu MCL Royce Cardoza Erica M. Casarez Amanda G. Castillo Blanca Castillo Rolando Castillo Jr. Sully Guadalupe Castillo Diana Gabriela Castro Elsa N. Cavazos Francisco Cavazos Jesus M. Cavazos Jose Cervantes Ashley E. Chacon CL Andrea Chavez SCL Luis R. Cisneros Adriana Perez Colesio Christopher Owen Collins MCL Isai Contreras Angela Ivana Cordova Jackelyn Cortez CL Moises Isaac Cortez Dulce Y. Cortinas Rodriguez CL Perla R. Cruz Janet C. Cuellar MCL Angela M. Cumberworth

Aldo A. Curiel Irene Esther Davila Yesenia C. Davila Mariela L. De La Cerda Esmeralda Edith De La Cruz Neyda De La Fuente SCL Abigail De La Rosa Jacquelyn De Leon Daniela De Los Santos Melissa De Los Santos Luis Carlos Del Angel MCL Sofia Delgado MCL Virginia E. Diaz Axel Divino Lorie G. Duarte MCL Derrick Remington East George William Echeverria Guadalupe I. Elizondo Crystal D. Enriquez Stephanie Nicole Farias Kathleen Marie Fitzgerald Angelica K. Flores Francisco Javier Flores Jr. Genesis M. Flores Miguel Flores Tania Elizabeth Flores Alfonso Fuentes III Katelyn Lenae Galvan Maria Esther Galvan SCL Peter Galvan MCL Marbelline Gandara Andrew Garcia Gilberto A. Garcia Iris Lizeth Garcia Jessica Maria Garcia Jessica A. Garcia Lazaro Alejandro Garcia CL Lizette Garcia Melissa Garcia Mercedes Garcia Monica Alexandra Garcia MCL Nancy R. Garcia Rebecca R. Garcia Roxana G. Garcia CL Sarah M. Garcia William Zachary Garcia Xavier Garcia Yajaira B. Garcia CL Renata Garcia Prieto Palacios Roji SCL Ana S. Garduno SCL Francisco Garibay Barbara A. Garza Brenda Patricia Garza Brittany Monique Garza Gabriel Garza Jr. Hilarie Francis Garza CL Luis A. Garza Richard A. Garza Jr. CL Rogelio Garza Jr. CL Ines Arely Garza De Leon CL Jose Maria Garza Garcia Taylor S. Gerland MCL Julissa J. Gomez Laura C. Gomez CL Amanda Gonzales Eric Aurelio Gonzales Javian Robert Gonzales Natalie Gonzales CL Thomas Gonzales Angelica Yvette Gonzalez Ashley Nicole Gonzalez

Damian Gonzalez Jesus G. Gonzalez Juan Jose Gonzalez Juan J. Gonzalez Jr. Karen Gabriela Gonzalez CL Karina A. Gonzalez Karina Gonzalez Mariel Jeny Gonzalez CL Nydia E. Gonzalez Paola Vanessa Gonzalez Priscilla Gonzalez Roberto Gonzalez Jr. Sarah N. Gonzalez Jose Rene Gonzalez Ruiz Carolina Guerra Javier N. Guerra Jr. MCL Valerie Guerra Karina Guerrero SCL Melissa Nataly Guerrero Jinika B. Gutierrez Reyna Gutierrez Crystal Hernandez Eneida S. Hernandez Michelle Hernandez Moises Hernandez III Rocio A. Hernandez Samuel Hernandez CL Victoria Hernandez Jared R. Herrera Veronica Higareda Yessica A. Huerta MCL Alejandro Ibarra Lourdes Guadalupe Ibarra MCL Madelyne Ibarra Martha E. Ibarra CL Ilse Irena Ana K. Jaime Jonathan Daniel Jimenez Mariel R. Jimenez Marlene B. Jimenez Billy W. Johnson II Tatiana K. Juarez Esteban Samuel Kellar CL Austin Tyler Kufrovich Alejandra Leal Carissa Leal Nicolas Leandro Anna Karen Leija Regina Li-Ching Lien SCL Juan H. Linares SCL Deyna J. Loera CL Brianna A. Lopez Cristal Lopez Evelyn Lopez Montserrat Lozano Francisco J. Lozano Jaramillo Saul A. Lozoya MCL Ashley Lucero Samantha Aileen Luchsinger Cristina D. Luna Eduardo Luna II Jose Alfonso Luna Wendy K. Macias MCL Kayce M. Maldonado Kevin Maldonado Johnathon K. Mann Julio Cesar Manzano MCL Ashley Nicole Martinez Crystal Antoinette Martinez Javier Martinez Jr. MCL Jessica Martinez John Matthew Martinez

Sabina L. Martinez Xavier Martinez Jr. Christina Marie Masso Luis Angel Matos Victoria M. Matos Alan Eduardo Mayorga SCL Michael D. McCormick Jr. Isaac J. Mccoy CL Alberto Medrano Jose Maria Mejia Lourdes L. Melgarejo CL Carmen Alberto Mendez Alexandra Mendoza CL Jorge Juventino Miranda Lissette Marie Monrroy Arely M. Montes Sergio Moore Jr. CL Maria Guadalupe Morales Joselin M. Mordan SCL Nichole Renee Moreno Lissette Morin Margarita Y. Muniz CL Guadalupe Navarro MCL Jenny Rae Navarro Anabell Negrete CL Miranda R. Nichols Rebeca Nino Vladimir Odabachian Jr. Hiram Orozco Cindy Laura Ortega Ramos CL Dominic J. Ortiz Nathan Johnny Ozuna Enrique Pacheco Larissa I. Padilla CL Stephanie Palacios Natalie Pedroza Erica Pedroza Lopez Angela Yvette Pena Brianna Sofia Pena Stefan J. Pena Francine A. Perez Jose Antonio Perez Karla P. Perez Kristal Perez Melody Perez Ruby M. Perez Jessica Lynn Plata Victoria Ivette Pope Josue Puente Osbaldo Quintanilla Jr. Ana Victoria Ramirez Juan Carlos Ramirez Judith Ramirez Raul Ramirez Jr. Bryan Robert Ramos Ricardo Sergio Ramos Jr. MCL Dalia K. Rangel Roxanne Allison Recinos Simon Reyes Jr. Yvonne Reyes Adam C. Rivas Aaron Daniel Rivera Jesus Robles III Lizbeth Rocha Adriana Rodriguez MCL Angel Rodriguez Baldemar Rodriguez Jr. CL Carlos Adrian Rodriguez Cassandra Rodriguez Elizabeth Rodriguez Gabriel Rodriguez CL Gabriel Lee Rodriguez MCL

Joshua Rodriguez SCL Kayla J. Rodriguez Roberto Carlos Rodriguez Roxanne Rodriguez Sarah J. Rodriguez Sophia Rodriguez CL Neiby Stephanie Rodriguez Rangel CL Mathew L. Roel MCL John R. Rojas Robert Roman Jr. Carlos C. Rosell Dorothy A. Roussett Martinez James Philip Rowles Daliarlene Saenz MCL Berenice Sainz Kassandra Salas Tiffany A. Saldivar Bianca Anaid Salinas Cesar Antonio Salinas Christina Salinas Gerardo Salinas Jr. Zuzuki F. Salinas Clarissa Sanchez CL Cynthia Melissa Sanchez Fernando Rogelio Sanchez Jr. Renee Suzanne Sanchez Samantha P. Sanchez Jose R. Sandoval MCL David Saucedo Jr. Maria D. Sifuentes Gina M. Silva Victoria Annette Skurka Dariela G. Solis Vianella J. Solis Arleth I. Sordo CL Angelica Sosa Gonzalez Juan Luis Soto Taylor E. Sunderland Carol Ann Tagle Marco Antonio Tamez Astrid Paulina Tellez Elizabeth M. Tonche David Lee Torres Juan Torres Jr. Miguel Angel Torres Silvia L. Tremillo Daisy Trevino Jamie D. Trevino SCL Juan J. Trevino Jr. MCL Kayla V. Trevino Selena Trevino Olli Tapio Tynkkynen CL Rebecca R. Uribe Arleen Valdez David Valdez Jr. Derek Elijah Valdez Yanira Valladares Elias Valverde MCL Sandra Paola Varela Carrillo CL Edgar Luis Vargas Brenda Lee Vasquez Amanda L. Vega Natally Marie Vega Rosario Vega CL Mayte Vega Mudy MCL Cristina Vela David Vela MCL Jennel Venecia David Verdeja Alejandra Sarai Villanueva Corina Lee Villarreal

Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average

2017 FALL COMMENCEMENT

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS Malerie Villarreal Rosa Elena Villarreal-Adame Daniel A. Viveros

Joshua N. Wilmot Angela Isabel Wilson Brittanie Nicole Wilson

continued

Maria S. Wong Zane D. Ybarra Ricardo Zamora Jr.

Jorge L. Zapata Cecilia Zepeda MCL Pamela D. Zepeda CL

Sarah N. Zepeda

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION Jorge Askary Aguirre Jason Alvarez

Andrew R. Benton Adriana Cecilia Gutierrez Trevino CL

Lorena Daniela Herrera Gerardo Manuel Salinas Jr.

BACHELOR OF GENERAL STUDIES Mire Dejuan Chatman Mayda Clara Harvison

Aida L. Martinez Martha L. Martinez

Orlando Ozuna Rosa Reyes

Juan Michael Saenz Ireneo T. Sanchez

BACHELOR OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES Karime P. Acosta Melinda Alaniz Ilse Cristal Almanza Jose Ismael Alvarado Cindy Alexis Araiza Gloria Barco MCL Karen M. Barrios Oscar Casanova Jr.

Leopoldo I. Castillo Adeline Cornejo Lucero Esmeralda Cortinas Juan Roberto Espinosa Vanessa Espinoza Fernanda Faustino Brenda L. Gonzalez Krystal Evette Gracia

Jesus Herrera Juanita Juarez Alejandra Vanessa Lopez CL Felicia Linda Lucio Jacqueline Martinez Noemi Martinez David Daniel Medina Kassandra V. Moncivais

Alexandro Ochoa Roxanne Nicole Pedraza Valeria Sagrario Torres CL Amanda R. Vale Kerissa Lynn Wiley

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Elena Alcala Pricsylla Alexis Anciso Patricia Araiza Luis Arreola Jr. CL Nabila R. Barron Abigail Benavides CL Lizbeth Benavides SCL Teresa Sarahy Benavides Amanda Marie Campos Jorge Ivan Cantu Joyce Dorin Cantu MCL Mariana A. Cardenas Angelica Carrillo CL Gabriella V. Carrillo Havannah M. Cascos Edgar Castilla Joshua Castillo Karla Castillon Ovidio Cavazos MCL Maria Elizabeth Cazares Stephanie Cazares Yanel Cepeda Isabel Cervantes Laura Chapa CL Casey M. Davila Jeanette Angelyn Dorado

Mireya Dorado Ashley N. Edmundson Desiree Aileen Elizondo Lauren A. Escovedo CL David Espitia CL Jorge L. Flores Abigail R. Fuentes Victoria D. Garate CL Cesar Augusto Garcia MCL Luis Josias Garcia Bernardo Garza Juan C. Garza Savannah R. Garza MCL Christina A. Gaus Jose Miguel Godoy Daniela Alejandra Gonzalez Mirian Gonzalez Raquel Gonzalez Seled Gonzalez Vanessa Gonzalez CL Everardo Ulises Guajardo Precious D. Guerrero Alvaro Hernandez Janette Hernandez Nayrovy Yvonne Hernandez Thomas E. Hinojosa CL

John Michael Hoffman Alithza M. Juarez Doris Lee Juarez Francisco Manuel Lastra Jr. Aylen Y. Leal CL Jimena Lozano Amanda K. Luevano Eric Marquez Mark J. Marroquin Alexander Daniel Martinez Margot Martinez MCL Maria Griselda Martinez Marimar Medina Viviana S. Mendez MCL Clarissa Yvette Montemayor Jose Guadalupe Morales Alejandra Moreno Samantha Murillo Adrian I. Nava CL Oksana J. Nieto Orlando Eduardo Olivarez Jr. Agladely Elizabeth Orozco Kenia Patricia Paulin Rivera Angelica Arlene Perez MCL Elvia D. Portillo Nydia L. Preciado

Melannie Quinones SCL Monica Ramos SCL Andrea Rebolledo Reynaldo Reyes Ariana Nicole Rodriguez Priscilla Lee Rodriguez Keila Salinas Klaudia Beth Salinas Ricardo Salinas Jr. Selena Salinas Suleira Dalila Sanchez Natalie Silva Elizabeth Solis Lauren L. Solis Amancio R. Soliz II CL Jesse Sosa Andy U. Torres CL Alejandra Guadalupe Trevino Gosefina Vargas Carolina Venturi SCL Chabeli L. Weary Stormy L. Zamora CL Alfredo Zavala

Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average

WE ARE UTRG

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

continued

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE Ariana I. Abitua Pricilla Sarahi Aguilar Alberto Aguirre Karla Alanis MCL Frank Alaniz Geneva Ernestine Anderson Martin A. Araujo Alejandro Atilano Suhey Avalos MCL Melissa Avila CL Jon David Badillo Ruby Esmeralda Barajas Natalie Barreiro Jacqueline Beltran Caridad Benavides Joe Black SCL Eric A. Brandenburg Ivan Bravo Maricela Caballero Sergio A. Calderon Rafael Cantu Jr. CL Raymon Casas Justin Castillo Tomas Castillo Edgar L. Cepeda MCL Ricardo Cepeda Kimberly Veronica Cisneros Lesley Colunga Diana G. Compean Michelle Contreras Genaro Cortez Jr. Alyssa M. De La Cruz Mireya Ivvone De Leon Maria Del Toro Esmeralda Diaz Enrique Dominguez Jr. Austin Michael Douglas Jaime O. Duberney Jr. Jajuan Lamar Elias Alberto Escamilla Clarissa Flores Raymundo Fuentes Jr. Kimberly Gaitan Blanca Estela Galindo Miguel Angel Gallegos Rayford R. Galvan

Benito Garcia III Erika Garcia Francisco A. Garcia Jaime R. Garcia Lorena Garcia Maday Garcia Narciso Garcia Jr. Natalee Nicole Garcia Teresa Garcia Victor Garcia Jr. Carlos Garza Jr. CL Frankie Garza Isabelle A. Garza Jesus Eduardo Garza Jose L. Garza Nancy E. Garza Rafael Garza Raul Pedro Garza Jr. Ziomara Garza Benny A. Gomez Luis A. Gomez Cynthia J. Gonzalez Erick Gonzalez Gilbert N. Gonzalez Jessica D. Gonzalez MCL Susana Gonzalez Pedro E. Guadarrama Jr. Pedro D. Guadiana Angel D. Guerra Alfredo Guerrero Jr. MCL Clemente Guerrero Jr. Jazmine R. Guerrero Laura Celia Guillen Graciela Gutierrez Joel Gutierrez Jacob Eduardo Guzman CL Adriana Hernandez Andrea A. Hernandez Elisa Maria Hernandez Elizabeth Hernandez CL Guadalupe Hernandez Michelle Hernandez Ossiel Hernandez CL Yesenia Ruby Hernandez Jazmin Herrera Tracy Leigh Hooks CL

Norma Leticia Ibarra Manuel Edwardo Leal Xavier S. Leal Christian Jason Leyva CL Veronica A. Lezama Juan Jesus Liendo Janette Loera Jonathan Lopez Michelle Lopez Priscilla Lopez Ryan C. Lozano Abdi Hussein Mahdi Aaron Maldonado Rex Martin David S. Martinez Elicia Martinez Francisco Antonio Martinez Marco A. Martinez Monica Martinez Bryan J. Masso Arturo Medrano Jr. Desiree L. Melecio Benigno Melendez III Emmanuel Mendez Michelle Mendez Sarai Mendoza Shameka Lee Mendoza Anthony Meza Diana L. Meza CL Diego E. Miranda Rick A. Montero CL Crystal Moran Fernando Nava Jr. Diana E. Ortiz MCL Estephanie A. Oviedo Zulema Paredes Karitza A. Pascual CL Brandon Patlan Bertha Elia Perez Jose Hassam Perez Joshua E. Perez Ashley June Pierce CL Luis Felipe Posadas Kassaundra Quintanilla Amanda R. Ramirez MCL Idalia V. Ramirez

Orlando Ramirez Jr. Janelie M. Ramos Valerie Nicole Ramos Gus Anthony Resendez CL Dianira Rios Nino Christian Rivera Myranda Rhae Rodriguez Rebekah Marie Rodriguez Hilda Esmeralda Rojas Juan Rosales Ricardo Francisco Rosas Miguel Rosendo Ruby Salas Alondra Sanchez Andres Sanchez Armando Sanchez Victor Ray Sanchez Victoria Andrea Segundo Aaron Sepulveda Jaqueline Serna CL Janet Shears Brandon A. Shelton MCL Chelsea Emily Sifuentes Ruben Silva Jr. Steven Amos Smith Edgar E. Sosa Anthony D. Soto Nancy Sustaita Emanuel Torres Lisa Marie Torres Orlando Torres Ryan Thomas Torres Jose R. Trevino Jose L. Trujillo Jr. Enrique A. Valdez Kevin Valencia Jessica Valladares Abigail Vasquez Jacqueline Vazquez Teresita D. Vega Cruz Vela Dilsa Deyanira Villarreal Jennifer Faith Villarreal Kimberly Villelda

Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average

OF T

E X A S RIO

2017 FALL COMMENCEMENT

« T HE

L VA

Y «

LLE

G E O F S CIE N C

COLLEGE OF SCIENCES • • • • •

Department of Biology Department of Chemistry Department of Physics School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences

MASTER OF SCIENCE Daniel Alexander Alder Marco Antonio Arriaga Magali Ayala Maximiliano Barbosa Evan Bare Liza Berrout Jesus M. Cantu Jr. Yvette Cantu Valeria Marlene Casas Tiffany Caitlin Cogan Victor Eric Michael Fanniel

Nicole Jewel Figueroa Hilary Renee Frandsen Iraselia Abigail Garcia Juan Leonel Garcia Alex Francisco Garza Ethan Thomas Getz Diego Fernando Gonzalez Glenn E. Grissom Alina Marie Hamilton Heather Marie Hernandez Katharine Leigh Jones

Cheng Li Ashley Nicole Longoria Eduardo L. Martinez Eleazar Velarde Mejia Sergio Ivan Mireles Nancy Abigail Obregon Samuel Glenn Ortiz Antonio Eli Pena Tahyra Marie Resto Jonathan Ross Rodriquez Ramin Salimi

Gerardo Sanchez Jr. Peter Bergstrom Sassman Agapito Serrato III Samantha Marie Silvestri Ariel Ivan Torres Burgueno Tomas Trevino Jr. Carolina Valdes Manuel Antonio Villarreal Jr. Srbuhi Yolchinyan

BACHELOR OF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES Sandra Garza

Miranda Gonzalez SCL

Claudian Oramas

Chelsea Lucinda Salinas

Stephanie Soto

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Liza G. Acosta Consuelo Aguilar Faith Aguilar Briana M. Alaniz Claudia Annel Almaraz Valeria Alonso Inocencio Alonzo Jr. Ana L. Alvarado Jennifer Alvarez Kenya D. Alvarez Marissa Arnold Angelica Balleza CL Casandra Lynn Barnes SCL Annaii Barrera Rubisel Bastar Shelby J. Bauer SCL Sheridan H. Becanic MCL Julio C. Benitez Jr. Marco Antonio Cabrera Jr. Gabriel Calderon Jr. Ryan A. Canales Guillermo Cano Amanda Alysha Cantu Anyssa Antonia Cantu Cynthia E. Cantu CL Cynthia Lilliana Cantu CL Eric Cantu Erick M. Cantu Luis Cantu Jr. Ricardo Cantu Jr. Dante Omar Cardenas CL Michael Joseph Carrillo Angelica E. Castillo Edmundo Castillo Jr. Ireland N. Castillo Kassandra Castillo Cynthia Yvette Cavazos

Joceline A. Cerda-Salazar CL Abigail Chavez Justin Lim Chin Mia Lynn Corpus Diana L. Cortes MCL Gianncarlo Cruz SCL Victor De los Santos Carlos A. De Santiago MCL Leslie Dannae Dela Pena MCL Nethaneel J. Delarosa Raquel D. Diaz-Rivas Roxana M. Dietrich SCL Isaiah K. Dorsey Elizabeth Rosanna Doster Sylvia Edith Duenez Justin R. Duran Anais Escamilla MCL Brittany R. Estrada Erick Estrella Edna Abigail Flores Maria L. Flores MCL Sonia Ayssa Flores Ventura Flores Jr. David I. Fonseca Maria F. Franco Stephanie Fuentes Juan Manuel Gallegos Jr. Beatriz Gamez Benjamin A. Garcia SCL Cassandra E. Garcia Clara A. Garcia Juan Jose Garcia Silvia I. Garcia Alexandra Isabelle Garza Dante D. Garza MCL David Lorenzo Garza Iris Garza

Jesse Garza CL Jesus Angel Garza Karina A. Garza Reynaldo Garza Jr. CL Roel Garza Ylissa Ylen Garza Edna M. Gaytan Victor German Gaytan Ana Maria Gomez Cruz R. Gomez Katherine Gomez Uriel Alejandro Gongora MCL Alysia V. Gonzales Albert A. Gonzalez Betzabeth Gonzalez Erica Cristina Gonzalez Estefania Gonzalez Frida X. Gonzalez CL Ivan Gonzalez Ricardo Gonzalez Jr. CL Victoria Elis Gonzalez Alexander Richard Goodahl Jose A. Gorena Amavelly Gracia Sandra A. Gracia Geneva Guajardo Taide V. Guajardo MCL Alejandro Guerra Jr. SCL Mary M. Guerra Ednia N. Gutierrez Victor Miguel Gutierrez Jr. MCL Annadhamoni Christina Halder SCL Omar A. Hernandez Rocio N. Hernandez Xamara J. Hernandez Erica A. Hinojosa

Mayte Kareni Hinojosa Khristopher E. Hirschmann CL Marco Antonio Ibarra Kimberly Samantha Irena Maria I. Isidro CL Rodrigo Jaimes Grecia B. Jasso Dominguez Marco E. Jauregui MCL Mark Jimenez Gregory S. Koneri SCL Samantha Liana Leal Aldo Lopez Itzel Arlette Lopez Jennifer Lopez SCL Magdalena Lopez Samantha Lopez Alberto de Jesus Lopez Juarez MCL Andy Ly Valerie Mancha Mareah S. Manrique De Lara Stephanie A. Manriquez Muxuehan Mao MCL Christina Martinez Lillian V. Martinez Luis C. Martinez Jr. Manuel Robert Martinez Lilliana Maza Ashley N. Mendez Jerrod Andrew Mendoza Ozkar Ivan Michi Jose Alfredo Morales MCL Yuri Morales Krystina Darlene Moreno Itzel Munoz Javier R. Navarro Carlos Eduardo Nunez

Troy Olson Nina E. Olvera Cathalina P. Osornia Fernando Oviedo Jr. Fernando A. Padilla SCL Jacqueline Palacios Javier Parra Natalie Nicole Pazmino Stephanie G. Pedraza Meriah R. Pena Manuel S. Perez Amanda Pineda Evelyn A. Powell CL William S. Quidilla SCL Samuel Abraham Quintero Juan Quintanilla Jr. Dalia Maria Ramirez Martin Ramirez Jr. Jose Angel Rangel Christa M. Respondek Melba L. Reyes Ruben Rico III Rosa I. Rivas Abigail Amanda Rodriguez Eduardo Rodriguez Karla Y. Rodriguez Marco Alberto Rodriguez Angela Rojas Marco A. Romero Valerie N. Rubio Eli Ruiz Alexis Saenz Amanda E. Saenz SCL Adrianita Salas Jorge Alejandro Salazar Jaime Salinas Jr. Jose Lazaro Salinas

Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average

WE ARE UTRG

COLLEGE OF SCIENCES Valeria Margarita Salinas Yamiletz Y. Salinas Abigail M. Sanchez CL Alfredo F. Sanchez David N. Sanchez Brandi L. Segovia Josue E. Serna Stephanie L. Serna Bree Lynn Sharpe

Crystal Yvonne Silva Dionn Carlo Abines Silva Gilbert Silva III CL Colton Payne Smith Armin Antonio Solis III Ivonne Solis Jessica Solis Saba A. Suleman SCL Jessica Amber Tanguma

continued Joseph Andrew Tenorio Ezequiel Tijerina Jr. Javier Topete Adrian E. Torres MCL Olivia Elena Totten Kareny Trejo Ruby Briana Trevino Chelsea D. Tuttle Alejandra Benitez Uribe CL

Monica Uribe Alberto Andre Valdez CL Aldo Valdez Perla P. Vargas Alejandra Vasquez MCL Raul Vasquez III Santiago Velez Alvaro Venegas Sabrina M. Vento

Ryan L. Villafuerte SCL Jacqueline Villanueva Irma Villarreal Daniel R. Villicana Elizabeth Miranda Zambrano Cristina Zarate Daniel C. Zuniga Amsi Zuno

GRADUATE COLLEGE DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS Matilde Barrera Alaniz College of Health Affairs Variables Relevant to Self-Efficacy: Hispanic High School Students with Specific Learning Disabilities Committee Chair: Dr. Jerome Fischer

Miranda Lopez College of Health Affairs Certified Rehabilitation Counselors’ Self PerceivedCompetency in Facilitating End-Of-Life Care Services Committee Chair: Dr. Bruce J. Reed

Mary O. Agbakoba College of Education and P-16 Integration A Study of Perceived Leadership Styles as it Affects the Decision–Making Process Employed by Eleven Catholic School Principals in South Texas Committee Chair: Dr. Rosalinda Hernandez and Dr. Roberto Zamora

William J. Morley College of Education and P-16 Integration The Impact of Advancement via Individual Determination on the College Readiness of First-Generation High School Students in South Texas Committee Chair: Dr. Karen Watt

Juan A. Chavarria Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship Strategic Sensemaking and Software Asset Management: Linkages between Interpretation and Organizational Action Committee Chair: Dr. Francis K Andoh-Baidoo Wonseok Choi Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship Essays on Corporate Governance Committee Chair: Dr. Monika Rabarison Muratcan Erkul Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship Symbiotic Relationships Among Innovations and Sustainable Practices: A Supply Chain Management Committee Chair: Dr. Hale Kaynak Danielle D. Fox College of Health Affairs Locus of Control and Quality of Life Among Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis Committee Chair: Dr. Irmo Marini

Corey A. Shank Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship Essays on Financial Decision Making Committee Chair: Dr. James Boudreau and Dr. Andre Mollick Renee Starr College of Health Affairs Influences of Hispanic Parents’ Attitudes and Knowledge Toward Obesity: Implications for Children and Adolescents Committee Chair: Dr. Eva Miller

Khoa H. Nguyen Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship Three Essays on Shareholder Activism Committee Chair: Dr. Andre Mollick

Lu Sui Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship Two Essays on International Capital Flow and Cross-Listing Committee Chair: Dr. Andre Mollick

Ngoc A. Pham Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship Hormonal Influence on Female Consumption of Revealing and Sexy Fashion Products Committee Chair: Dr. Arturo Vasquez-Parraga

Lijuan Sun Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship Essays on Non-Traditional Activities in the Banking Industry Committee Chair: Dr. Dave Jackson

Mary A. Rocha College of Health Affairs A Study of Counselor Trainees’ Self Perceived Competency in Social Justice Advocacy Committee Chair: Dr. Chen Roy

Claudia Vela College of Education and P-16 Integration Faculty Perceptions of Effectiveness and Impact of Professional Development for Teaching, Research, and Service Committee Chair: Dr. Karen Watt

Juan A. Rodriguez-Nieto Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship Essays on Stock Market Contagion: Evidence from the Americas Committee Chair: Dr. Andre Mollick

GRADUATE THESES Zane L. Arredondo Department of Literature and Cultural Studies Coding the Discourse and Translingual Strategies of Collaborative Writing of Secondary Students Joseph M. Balderas Creative Writing Program In His Wake: Searching For Life’s Truths in Fiction Cinthia E. Bernal School of Interdisciplinary Programs and Community Engagement The Acceptance of Our Language within Our School Systems Luis A. Buentello School of Interdisciplinary Program and Community Engagement Aristotle, Redemption, and the Conquest of the Americas

Robert. R. Casas Department of Literature and Cultural Studies You’re a Genius all the Time: Analyzing The Effectiveness of Kerouac’s Spontaneous Prose on Empowering English Language Learners Gabriela Cavazos Department of Literature and Cultural Studies The Evolution of La Mexicana in Corridos Popular in the South Texas Borderlands (1930-2016) Tiffany C. Cogan Department of Biology Monitoring Wildlife Crossing Structures and Wildlife Guards During Construction on a Four-Lane Divided Highway in South Texas Howard A. Campos Department of Mechanical Engineering Effect of Processing Parameters on the Electrochemical Performance of Forcespun Metal Oxide/Carbon Composite Fibers for Li-ion Batteries

Jesus M. Cantu Department of Chemistry Remediation of Lead and Copper Ions from Aqueous Solutions Using Transition Metal Sulfides Yvette Cantu Department of Chemistry Remediation of Trivalent and Hexavalent Chromium Ions from Aqueous Solutions using Titanium Dioxide Polymorphs Gregg L. Carter Department of History A Breed Apart: Constructivist Concepts of Nationalism and the Foundations of Historical Memory in Texas Selmo Cristo Department of History The Path to the Brownsville Raid: Institutional Racism, Segregation, and Southern Prejudice in the Lower RGV

2017 FALL COMMENCEMENT

GRADUATE THESES continued Nicole J. Figueroa Department of Biology Phylogeography of an Estuarian Calanoid Copepod; Acartia tonsa (Dana 1849) in the Texas Gulf of Mexico

Alina M. Hamilton Department of Biology Central Precocious Puberty Alters the Mammary Gland Epithelial Landscape in Female Rats

Crystal Rodriguez Department of English Testing Acceptance of Language Difference in Academia: Perceptions in a First-Year Composition Classroom

Monica A. Fogelquist School of Music Elevating My Chicana Feminist Consciousness Through the United States’ First Female Show Mariachi

Rodger Irish Department of Computer Science Using Pedagogical Tools to Help Hispanics be Successful in Computer Science

Iraselia A. Garcia Department of Biology Oxidative Insults Disrupt Mitochondrial Dynamics

Katharine L. Jones School of Earth, Environmental and Marine Sciences Effect of Land Use Change on South Texas Chiropterans

Carlos A. Rodriguez Betancourth Department of Electrical Engineering Design of a Multidirectional Wear Testing Device for Simulating Wear of Biocompatible Materials Used in Joint Implants

Jose Garcia Creative Writing Program Brava & Gloria: A Mexican Counterstory Screenplay

Karla A. Lira Department of History Hablando De Negocios: Three Rio Grande Valley Businesses During the Depression, 1929-1939

Karina Garcia Department of History America’s Legal Precedence with Eugenics, 1915-1948 Roman Garcia Department of Electrical Engineering AlGaN/GaN HEMT by Magnetron Sputtering System Ariana Garza Department of Counseling and Guidance Removing Blindfolds of Mexican Immigrants in Rio Grande Valley Ethan T. Getz Department of Biology Utilizing Accelerometer Telemetry Tags to Compare Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) Behavior on Artificial and Natural Reefs Diego F. Gonzalez Department of Chemistry Removal of Chromium (VI) and Chromium (III) ions from Aqueous Solution Using Bio-char Generated from Agricultural Waste Products David E. Flores Department of Mechanical Engineering Design of Metal Oxides/Metal Sulfides for the Improvement of Sodium Ion Batteries Glen E. Grissom Department of Physics Carbon Nanotube Yarn Based Dye Sensitized Solar Cells with Enhanced Electron/Hole Pair Recombination Prevention Characteristics Homero Gonzalez Department of Mechanical Engineering Multifunctional Carbon Systems (Interlaminated Carbon Nanofiber Mats/Carbon Nanotubes Polymer Composites) Jose O. Gonzalez Department of Manufacturing Engineering Development of Rio Grande River Water Quality Transportation Numerical Model for Bi-National River Management Rakesh Guduru Department of Electrical Engineering Multi-Functional System for Biomedical Application Using AC Electrokinetics Ganesh Reddy Gunnam Department of Electrical Engineering The Security Evaluation of Virtualized Computing Platforms

Ashley N. Longoria Department of Biology The Effects of Carbon Nanotubules on Growth and Gene Expression of Staphylococcus Epidermidis Rano Mal Department of Electrical Engineering A Simple Multi-Core Functional Cache Design Simulator Eduardo L. Martinez Department of Biology Foxo Regulation of Oct 4 and SOX2 in Glioblastomas Sergio I. Mireles School of Earth, Environmental and Marine Sciences Removal of Lead and Arsenic from Aqueous Solution by Biochar Produced from Locally-Sourced Biomass Bryan K. Murray Department of Criminal Justice Does a Criminal Justice Degree Still Produce Police Officers? Nancy A. Obregon Department of Chemistry Microwave-Assisted Ring-Opening Polymerization of Poly (Є-CAPROLACTONE) William Ordeman Department of Literatures and Cultural Studies Wayne Booth’s Rhetoric of Pluralism Vania S. Palacios Department of Counseling and Guidance The Lived Experiences of Counseling Graduate Students and the Impact of Their Studies in Their Marital Satisfaction Daniel A. Pizana Department of Psychological Science Numerical Cognition in Action: Hand Trajectories Reveal Effects of Early Musical Training on Numerical Processing in Spanish-English Bilingual Musicians Juan C. Razo Department of History The Origins and Development of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson’s Perceptions of American Foreign Policy Toward East Asia Tahyra M. Resto Department of Chemistry Studies on Regulation of Dihydrotestosterone Binding to and Releasing from the Androgen Receptor

Osvaldo Ruiz Department of Mechanical Engineering Autonomous Quadcopter that is Able to Map an Unknown Area Ramin Salimi Department of Physics Molecular Dynamics Simulations of DNA Duplex Stretching Jose M. Salinas Department of Mechanical Engineering Two Dimensional Model of the Knee Joint Gerardo Sanchez Department of Biology Effectiveness of the Flipped Classroom Model in Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory Courses at a Hispanic Serving Institution Arnulfo D. Segovia School of Interdisciplinary Programs and Community Engagement Forgot My Tribe: Meditations on Hip Hop and La Frontera Jesus A. Sierra School of Interdisciplinary Programs and Community Engagement (Re)Defining Masculinity: Creando Conciencia y Conocimiento Sobre La Familia y La Educación Through Food Erika J. Soveranes School of Music “La Reyna Es El Rey”: Expressions of Gender Identity by Female Mariachis in the Southwest Pavithra Coimbatore Suriyanarayanan Department of Electrical Engineering Locomotive Behavioral Analysis Using a Micro- Ecog Array Omar Torres Department of Mechanical Engineering Lead-doped Carbon Nanofibers on Li-ion Batteries Alexandro Trevino Department of Physics Thermal Consolidation of Dredge Sand for Artificial Reef Formations Carolina Valdes Department of Chemistry Hydrodesulfurization of Dibenzothiophene Using Lanthanum Doped CoMoS2 Manuel A. Villarreal School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences Hankel Partial Contraction, Contractive Completion, MoorePenrose Inverse, Extremal Case

WE ARE UTRG

HONORS COLLEGE Louay Z. Backnak

Ana S. Garduno

Marco E. Jauregui

Alberto J. Lopez Juarez

Carolina Venturi

HONOR SOCIETIES ALPHA PSI OMEGA NATIONAL HONORARY THEATRE SOCIETY Lisa Cardenas

Daniel Garza

Raquel Diaz Rivas

Sabrina Rodriguez

Ana Waldo

LAMBDA ALPHA - ANTHROPOLOGY HONOR SOCIETY Valerie Guerra

Gabriel Rodriguez

Gerardo Salinas Jr.

Arijana Suzich

PHI ALPHA MU HONOR SOCIETY Cecilia Dennard Yesenia Guajardo

Diana Y Leal Clariza E. Martinez

Shannon Ortega

Paula Pantoja

PI ALPHA ALPHA, THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND ADMINISTRATION Cruz M. Matos Bahri Russell Belleperche

Adriana Carmona Jerry Driscoll

Kimberly Guajardo Roxanne Ruiz

Carol Vasquez

PSI CHI INTERNATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY HONOR SOCIETY Abigail Benavides Isabel Cervantes Jeanette Angelyn Dorado David Espitia Cesar Augusto Garcia

Roxana Gynette Garcia Savannah Garza Mariel Jeny Gonzalez Vanessa Gonzalez

Anna Karen Leija Nichole Renee Moreno Guadalupe Navarro Stephanie Picazo

Monica Ramos Andy Torres Carolina Venturi Stormy Zamora

SIGMA DELTA PI, NATIONAL COLLEGIATE HISPANIC HONOR SOCIETY Gloria Almaguer Neyda De La Fuente

Lazaro Garcia Laura C. Gomez

Lourdes Ibarra Erendira Santillana

SIGMA TAU DELTA - THE INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH HONOR SOCIETY Angelica AcuÃ±a

Kerri Aguilar

Bianca Salinas

TAU BETA PI HONOR SOCIETY IN ENGINEERING Sergio Alanis Dulce Capitanachi Demetrio Ramon Casares Jr. Zenia De Leon

Alexia Martinez Ibarra Nicanor Lopez Maria Fernanda Mellado

Cronos Adama Juan Oros Erika B. Resendez Jairo Ruiz

2017 FALL COMMENCEMENT

WE ARE UTRG

COSTUMES AND CUSTOMS OF COMMENCEMENT The colorful costumes and traditional customs of college commencements trace their beginnings back to the origins of the modern university in medieval Europe. Modern American colleges and universities carry on many traditions that began at Oxford and Cambridge to demonstrate the continuity of learning over the centuries and to emphasize the importance attached to commencement exercises. Academic regalia refer to the distinctive attire worn by students, faculty and other university officials at commencement. The origins of academic dress date back to the 12th and 13th centuries, when universities were taking form. The ordinary dress of the scholar, whether student or teacher, was the dress of a cleric. Though the custom of wearing academic dress was brought to America in colonial times, it was not until 1895 that a standardized code of academic dress was established and followed by most colleges and universities. The gown, hood, cap and additional ornaments are the main categories of academic regalia and are distinctive for each degree.

CAPS

HOODS

Headwear is an important component of the cap and gown, and the academic costume is not complete without it. The standard commencement headwear is the Oxford cap, a skullcap topped by a square cloth-covered board, the reason for its “mortarboard” nickname. Some faculty members wear a softer Cambridge version of the cap that is a velvet tam with four, six or eight corners. Usually, the color of the cap matches the color of the gown. Caps are worn throughout the ceremony except for men during the singing of the national anthem.

The hood is derived from the cowls worn by clerics in the Middle Ages for warmth. Today they are worn symbolically, hanging down the back. Master’s hoods are 3 1/2 feet in length and have a velvet trim along the edge. Doctoral hoods are 4 feet in length and have a wider velvet trim. The satin lining of the hood, worn so that it can be seen, reflects the colors of the degree-granting institution. The color of the velvet trim signifies the academic discipline of the wearer’s degree. As codified by the American Council on Education, some of the official colors associated with the various degrees and disciplines are:

TASSEL The tassel is attached to a button on the top of the cap and hangs down to the right for bachelor’s candidates until their degree is conferred. Many universities ceremoniously have graduates move their tassel from the right to the left. Both master’s and doctoral candidates tassels often begin and remain on the left.

GOWNS The gown is the most basic of academic regalia. The Costume Code calls for three types of gowns: doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s. Most gowns are black, but some universities have adopted distinctive colors. The bachelor’s gown is the simplest of the three, a plain gown with long, pointed sleeves. The master’s gown is distinctive for its extremely long, closed sleeves (originally used as a place to carry small books or other materials), the arms protruding through a slit at the elbow. The doctoral gown is the most elaborate, with front-facing velvet and three velvet bars on each of the full, billowing sleeves. The velvet can be black, PhD blue, or the academic color to which the degree corresponds.

White: Arts and Letters Drab: Business/Accounting Light Blue: Education Orange: Engineering Purple: Law Lemon: Library Science Green: Medicine Pink: Music Brown: Fine Arts Apricot: Nursing Olive Green: Pharmacy Dark Blue: Philosophy Sage Green: Physical Education Salmon Pink: Public Health Golden Yellow: Science Citron: Social Work Peacock Blue: Public Administration

In the case of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, the dark blue color represents the mastery of learning and scholarship in any field, not just the field of philosophy.

ADDITIONAL ORNAMENTS Some participants in the commencement ceremony will wear additional ornaments such as colored cords, medallions, stoles, or sashes. These ornaments signify the wearer’s membership in an honor society or special group.

2017 FALL COMMENCEMENT

CHAIN OF OFFICE AND PRESIDENTIAL MEDALLION The presidential medallion is the official insignia of the university president and is worn at commencement and other ceremonial occasions. Like many academic traditions, the display of a heavy “chain of office” comes from medieval regalia and represents the weight of responsibility for the wearer. The UTRGV medallion and chain was designed in 2015 and executed by the jewelry students, jewelry faculty, and craftsman Lino Guiza in the UTRGV School of Art. The medallion is made up of two parts – the seal of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley surrounded by an abstract sunburst created with a brick and mortar design. The cactus flowers on the outer edges of the seal are placed at the four cardinal points with the largest flower pointing south. The counter weight to the medallion is a representation of the native sabal palm. The Chain of Office is a circlet of art deco-inspired links representing the past, while revealing an infrastructure of bridges, aqueducts and gears that speak to the importance of our solid foundation, water, and movement into the future. The chain features many aspects of the Rio Grande Valley that aid our growth and commitment to higher education: Arches Water Turbine Neuron Tree Circuit Board

Abacus Bone Binary Code Leaves/Quills Butterfly

BELL

Tortoise Finger Print Road Junction Satellite

Our stately bronze bell, circa 1850, lives on the Brownsville campus. It is rung during commencement to symbolize a rite of passage and proclaims that a worthy and well-qualified individual has passed from one station in their life to a loftier one. Our bell is also the icon for the Bell Scholarship Endowment. Two outstanding students are selected to ring the bell at each commencement.

CEREMONIAL MACE In Medieval Times, the mace was a symbol of authority and carried before or set near a high official when ceremonies or sessions were being conducted. Today, the mace symbolizes the university’s governing authority and signifies the proceedings are officially sanctioned. Traditionally, the chair of the Faculty Senate acting as the Grand Marshal carries the mace to lead the academic procession at commencement and other special ceremonies. The UTRGV 47” ceremonial mace was designed in 2016 by students in the School of Art and a committee of faculty from anthropology, archeology, geology, history, communication and art. The head and seals of the mace were 3D printed and cast at the UTRGV School of Art. The mace is intricately imbued with historical, cultural and architectural meaning. The handles of the mace are made of mesquite wood locally sourced in the Rio Grande Valley and engraved with a decorative pattern of the state’s official turtle, the Ridley, and wind turbines. The helix, between the handles, represents the coming together of the legacy institutions. The helix is made of petrified palm, the official stone of Texas. The base is crafted from mesquite and inlaid with blue selenite, thought to be associated with mental clarity, truth and honesty, and to represent the Rio Grande River. The tip of the mace is made of El Sauz Chert excavated and donated by Dr. Juan L. Gonzalez.

MEMORY STOLE When students graduate from UTRGV they know they did not make the journey alone. The Memory Stole, a symbol of appreciation, is worn by graduates during the commencement ceremony. Following the ceremony they are encouraged to present the stole to a special family member, professor, or friend as a symbol of gratitude and appreciation for their support, inspiration or mentorship.

WE ARE UTRG

UTRGV COLLEGE GONFALONS The college gonfalon, or banner, has its roots in the Middle Ages and were symbols of units or family groups. Today, gonfalons are used at official university ceremonies as heraldic devices and are frequently carried during processionals at commencement.

School of Medicine Symbols: The central pattern intertwines the rod of caduceus, a symbol for medical practice, with the tree of life. This pattern is surrounded by a DNA helix — the foundation for all living beings — and roots which connect the human condition with all forms of creation.

Colors: Blue for healing, green for earth and white for air.

College of Education and P-16 Integration

College of Engineering and Computer Science

College of Fine Arts

Symbols:

The torch represents the guiding light – the ability for graduates to serve as a beacon for others and for the college to serve as a light that will lead the way for others.

The dominant image is an interpretation of Moore’s Law: Every year, computer chips and components are able to compute twice as much data.

The waves represent the flow of the mind, freedom, imagination and knowledge. The three waves symbolize creativity, imagination and motivation.

The multicolored flame symbolizes the forward-thinking nature of the college, bringing power to ideas.

The eye of providence symbolizes the grand architect. In this case, the engineer takes all things into consideration.

Colors:

Light blue for education, wisdom, intelligence and integrity.

Orange for engineering and the metals involved in the processing and development of technology. Purple for social ethics.

Symbols:

The interlocking shape represents unity and strength between the arts and sciences. The hummingbird stands for joy, beauty, strength, movement and independence.

Colors: Wineberry for writing, khaki for fine arts, gold for art, and pink for music.

2017 FALL COMMENCEMENT At UTRGV, each college has a custom-designed banner signifying its academic unit. Each flag is rich in unique symbolism while also showing unity through size, shape and color. The swoop at the bottom of each gonfalon represents the border of Texas, and the field of blue with gold stars of Texas represents the distributed nature of UTRGV â&#x20AC;&#x201D; from Rio Grande City to South Padre Island. The gonfalons were designed by Daniel Cardenas, Karla Castillo, Roberto Castro, Santa Hernandez, and Kimberly Selber from UTRGV Marketing & Creative Services.

College of Health Affairs

College of Liberal Arts

College of Sciences

Symbols:

The dominant image is the peony flower, symbolizing health and medicine in Greek mythology; Paeon was turned into the flower by Zeus because Asclepius was threatened by his pursuit of knowledge.

The trivium is derived from the medieval symbol for the seven liberal arts and sciences.

The infinity symbol for math and physics also represents perfection unity and balance.

The two snakes are Asclepius representing health and Hygeia representing wellness.

The symbols of the lion and the scales of justice represent the dialogue between the value of the emotions, power, and creativity within the rational, law, and historical institutions.

Colors: Colors: Blue for the caring nature of the health professions and green for health and medicine.

Crimson, gold, silver and blue represent the disciplines within the college.

The atom represents the sciences and the vertical pillars represent the foundation of all life and biology, while the vertical lines signify energy.

Colors: Golden yellow is the color of science, mathematics and physics, while gold represents wisdom, understanding and enlightenment.

Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship Symbols: The two-headed eagle represents power and authority, while also symbolizing collaboration. Both heads are facing north, signifying innovation, looking forward and success. Their wings are open, ready to take flight to discover new horizons, and being open to new ideas. Wheat symbolizes wealth.

Colors: Rust for economics, brown for business, and purple for leadership.

2017 SPRING COMMENCEMENT

The University of Texas System 601 Colorado Street, Austin, Texas 78701 512-499-4200 • www.utsystem.edu

UT System Board of Regents Sara Martinez Tucker Chairman

James Conrad “Rad” Weaver Regent

Jeffery D. Hildebrand Vice Chairman

Kevin Paul Eltife Regent

Paul L. Foster Vice Chairman

Janiece M. Longoria Regent

Ernest Aliseda Regent

Jaciel Castro Student Regent

R. Steven Hicks Regent

Francie A. Frederick, JD General Counsel to the Board of Regents

David J. Beck Regent

UT System Executive Officers William H. McRaven Chancellor Barry McBee, JD Vice Chancellor and Chief Governmental Relations Officer

David E. Daniel, PhD Deputy Chancellor Raymond S. Greenberg, MD, PhD Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs Scott C. Kelley, EdD Executive Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Steven Leslie, PhD Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Stephanie A. Bond, PhD Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives David L. Lakey, MD Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer

Randa S. Safady, PhD Vice Chancellor for External Relations Daniel H. Sharphorn, JD Vice Chancellor and General Counsel William H. Shute, JD Vice Chancellor for Federal Relations Amy Shaw Thomas, JD Vice Chancellor for Academic and Health Affairs

UTRGV Executive Leadership Guy Bailey, PhD President Janna Arney, PhD Deputy President Patricia Alvarez McHatton, PhD Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Rick Anderson, MBA Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Magdalena Hinojosa, EdD Vice President for Strategic Enrollment

John Krouse, MD, PhD, MBA, Dean, School of Medicine and Vice President for Health Affairs Juan Sanchez, PhD Interim Senior Vice President for Research, Innovation and Economic Development Kelly Scrivner, EdD Vice President for Institutional Advancement Veronica Gonzales-Villarreal, JD Vice President for Governmental and Community Relations

Michael Williamson Class of 1997 2017 Distinguished Alumnus Edinburg Market President PlainsCapital Bank

“THE WORLD NEEDS LEADERS WHO WILL PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY. THOSE WHO HOPE AND WISH TO ACHIEVE A GOAL, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO IT.” When you receive your degree, that is the starting line. That is when your achievements begin. Our world is begging for leaders who will provide significant contributions to society. Those who hope and wish to start a nonprofit, do it. Those who hope and wish to start a business, do it. There are homeless people in our community. Contribute to society. Take them a meal. We are all on this journey together, to make the world a better place, to see issues in a new light, to solve problems and to be of service to our community. I proudly join UTRGV alums who dare. Who believe. Who inspire. Congratulations to the Class of 2017! You now join the 100,000 legacy alumni who applaud your success. Together, we are UTRGV and we will inspire the world.

TOGETHER WE WILL INSPIRE THE WORLD

2017 SPRING COMMENCEMENT