Welcome
A SERVICE OF COMMENCEMENT
May 2, 2026
GATHERING
Anthony Rodriguez, ‘17, MBA,‘26 Director of University Marketing Procession
WORD
Invocation
Reading: Joshua 1:6-9
Commencement Address
Faculty and Staff Awards
Dr. Jacob Youmans Professor of Ministry
Dr. Michelle Abrego Board of Regents
Dr. Lori Einfalt
Associate Professor, Coordinator of M.Ed. Program
Presented by Dr. KC Pospisil, MBA, ‘12 Provost and Vice President of Academics and Administration
CELEBRATING
Presentation of the Candidates and Conferring of the Degrees
SENDING
Dr. Kristi Kirk, ‘95 President and Chief Executive Officer
Words of Gratitude and Encouragement
Benediction
Recession
Dr. Kristi Kirk President and Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Jacob Youmans Professor of Ministry
We ask that you be courteous to others by turning off all cell phones and electronic devices and refrain from standing in the aisles. While it is appropriate to rejoice at this festive moment, the use of air horns and other disruptive devices is not permitted. Following the service, please remain in your seats until our graduates recess and exit.
ZIELKE PROCESSIONAL MACE
The Zielke Processional Mace is a gift of the Lutheran Church in Tanzania. Carved from ebony by the Makonde people of Southeast Tanzania, the mace illustrates Proverbs 4:13, “Always remember what you have learned. Your education is your life—guard it well” (TEV). Carved on the mace are students in various roles of study and worship. The symbol of the Trinity and the cross in the world are also carved on the mace. Maces have been used as symbols of authority by governmental and educational entities for centuries. At Concordia University Texas, the mace represents the symbol of authority of the faculty to grant degrees. The mace is named after Dr. Donald Zielke who served as University Marshall for 21 years. Concordia Texas celebrates the life of Dr. Donald “Don” Zielke, who passed away in 2021 after more than 50 years of faithful service to Concordia Texas.
ABOUT LORI EINFALT, PHD
Commencement speaker
After 35 wonderful years in the K–12 public school system, Dr. Lori Einfalt is now blessed to serve as an Associate Professor at Concordia University Texas. She leads M.Ed. programs in Principal Preparation, Emerging Technology, and Coaching and Sports Administration, and teaches in both the master’s and doctoral programs.
Dr. Einfalt began her career as a classroom teacher and has served in a variety of leadership roles, including assistant principal, principal, and district leadership. She had the unique privilege of opening a new high school and shaping its vision and culture from the belief system up. She is now committed to preparing future campus leaders and co-authored The PASL Preparation Guide in 2021, which is used in Principal Preparation programs across Texas.
Above all, she is grateful to be married to her husband, Mark, for 43 years, is the proud mother of three adult children, and finds her greatest joy in being a grandmother.
Dr. Einfalt views her work in education as a calling and seeks to serve and lead in ways that reflect Christ’s love and purpose, guided by the belief that “whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23).
DEGREE EXPLANATIONS
Doctor of Education
Concordia University Texas confers the Doctor of Education upon students who have advanced their practical and theoretical knowledge in the field of education through post-master ’s-level coursework, which includes researching, writing, and defending a doctoral dissertation. Candidates for the Doctor of Education degree wear black academic gowns with purple velvet and academic hoods. Hoods are the same color(s) of the college or university conferring the degree (purple and white). Binding or edgings for the hoods are light blue Education.
Master of Business Administration, and Master of Education
Concordia University Texas confers master’s degrees upon students who have successfully completed the required credit and have fulfilled all other obligations. Candidates for the Master of Business Administration, and Master of Education wear black academic gowns with academic hoods. Hoods are the same color(s) of the college or university conferring the degree (purple and white). The binding or edgings for the hoods reflect the color distinctive of the subject to which the degree pertains.
Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Concordia University Texas confers the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees upon students who have completed at least 120 semester hours of valid credit and have fulfilled all other obligations. Candidates for the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees wear black gowns.
Academic Honors
Degree-seeking undergraduate students who have earned at least 30 credit hours at Concordia University Texas and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50 are eligible to graduate with honors awarded as follows: summa cum laude 3.900 – 4.000, magna cum laude 3.750 – 3.889, and cum laude 3.500 – 3.749. Latin honor graduates wear purple and white cords with their academic gowns.
COMMENCEMENT NOTES
Tradition of Academic Dress
The history of academic dress dates from at least the 12th century, when long gowns were needed for warmth in the unheated buildings used by medieval scholars. Today, gowns from different institutions vary in color, but most are black, except the associate gown, which is gray. Neither the bachelor’s nor the master’s gown features trim, but doctoral gowns are faced down the front with velvet and hold three horizontal bars of the same fabric across the sleeves. Hoods for master’s and doctoral attire are the same color(s) of the college or university conferring the degree. The binding or edgings for the hoods reflect the color distinctive of the subject to which the degree pertains. For academic purposes, the color associated with the different academic subject fields are as follows:
Arts, Letters, Humanities White
Commerce, Business Drab
Economics Copper
Education Light Blue
Fine Arts, incl. Architecture Brown
Journalism Crimson
Law Purple
Library Science Lemon
Music Pink
Nursing Apricot
Oratory (Speech) Silvery Gray
Philosophy Dark Blue
Physical Education Sage Green
Public Administration Peacock Blue
Public Health Salmon Pink
Science Science Gold
Social Work Citron
Theology Scarlet
HONOR SOCIETIES AND STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Α Χ | Alpha Chi
Alpha Chi - Alpha Chi is a nationally affiliated honor society for juniors and seniors with a GPA of 3.50 or greater and who rank in the top 10% of their classes. Members wear blue and green cords with their academic gowns.
Λ Π Η | Lambda Pi Eta
Lambda Pi Eta (LPH) is the National Communication Association’s official honor society at four-year colleges and universities. Membership is open to juniors and seniors who have completed at least 12 semester credit hours in communication studies, have a minimum 3.0 overall cumulative GPA, and have a minimum 3.25 GPA for all communication courses.
P L Q | Pi Lambda Theta
Pi Lambda Theta is a nationally affiliated honor society for junior or senior undergraduate, graduate, and certificate/diploma Education students with a GPA of 3.50 or greater. Members wear gold cords with their academic gowns.
Ψ C | Psi Chi
Psi Chi is an international honor society with the purpose to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship of the individual members in all fields, particularly in psychology, and to advance the science of psychology. To be eligible, students must rank in the upper 35% of their respective classes in general scholarship, earn an overall cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, and demonstrate superior scholarship in psychology by earning a GPA of least 3.0 or better in psychology courses. Members of Psi Chi wear platinum and dark blue cords or a platinum sash with their academic gowns.
S B D | Sigma Beta Delta
Sigma Beta Delta is the highest nationally recognized honor society for junior or senior undergraduate and graduate students of business management and administration. Members must rank in the top 20% of the class and be invited to membership by the faculty officers. Members wear green and gold cords with their academic gowns.
Σ Τ Δ | Sigma Tau Delta
Sigma Tau Delta is an international academic honor society, with service components in 11 countries and the 50 United States. Members represent all majors as undergraduates and English programs as graduate students. Undergraduates meet a GPA of 3.0 or greater in English, and graduate students meet a GPA of 3.3 or greater. Members wear red and black cords or stoles with their academic gowns.
Black Student Union Kente Stole
Graduates who adorn the Black Student Union Kente stole are members of the Concordia University Texas Black Student Union, a student-run organization committed to sharing and celebrating the African Diaspora with the campus community. Kente cloth is a symbol of African heritage, and the wearing of the Kente stole during commencement is in recognition of students as members of the Black Student Union and as graduates of Concordia University Texas.
Christian Mission Distinctive Pin
The Christian Mission Distinctive pin is awarded to those who served on a mission trip during their time at Concordia University Texas.
HONOR SOCIETIES AND STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Concordia Veterans Corps Cords
Graduates who adorn the Concordia Veterans Corps Cords are recognized as student veterans by the student organization, which serves to provide support, advocacy, and community for student veterans on campus. The wearing of the red, white and blue cords during commencement is in recognition of students as military veterans and as graduates of Concordia University Texas.
First – Generation Cords
Graduates who adorn the purple and gold braided cords are First-Generation college students. A First-Generation student is whom identifies as first in their family to attend college.
Tornado Trailblazers Program Cords
Graduates who adorn the lime green cords were members of the Tornado Trailblazers Program in their freshman year at CTX. Students in Trailblazers are committed to developing their identity as scholars and leaders and exploring their unique contributions to the world.
Latin American Student Organization Serape Stole
Graduates who adorn the serape stole are members of the Concordia University Texas Latin American Student Association, a student-run organization committed to building and sustaining a community of shared heritage and cultural values. The serape is a symbol of the Hispanic heritage, and the purple in the stole represents the Concordia Texas community’s support of our Latin@ graduates.
Leaders with Impact Stole
Leaders with Impact is an honor society which recognizes student leaders who serve 20 or more hours for a minimum of two semesters with the Concordia Texas Service-Learning Program. All eligible service must be done at organizations that are formal service partners of the Service-Learning Program. The purpose of the society is to give students who are passionate about service a place to grow, serve, and build community among each other.
Student Government & Leadership Association Cords
Graduates who adorn the Student Government & Leadership Association Cords are members of the Concordia University Texas Student Government & Leadership Association, the principal student organization on campus that exists to provide a means of effective communication and cooperation between students and the administration, leading to a beneficial exchange of ideas and programs for improving religious, social, and academic life. The wearing of the red and blue cords during commencement is in recognition of students as members of the Student Government & Leadership Association and as graduates of Concordia University Texas.
Honors Medal
The purple and gold honors medal is worn by students who received awards within their college or school.
School of Ministry Stole
Graduates who are completing degrees or programs within the School of Ministry wear purple stoles with white lettering.
VorTex Stole
Graduates who have served a year or longer as the Concordia University Texas mascot, Vortex, wear the purplelined gold stole to signify their identity as VorTex. The Concordia University Texas mascot embodies the spirit of our Concordia Texas students and often their true identity is unknown to the student body as a whole until later. The solid gold with purple lining stole is the opposite of Vortex’s costume. Woosh!
HONOR SOCIETIES AND STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Concordia University Texas Peer Leaders Tassel
Concordia University Texas Peer Leaders are students who have served as peer guides for incoming freshmen in the Life & Leadership classes each fall. These students embody the Concordia University Texas values and are role models and mentors for freshmen. They wear the dark purple tassel with their academic gowns.
CTX Student Clubs and Organizations President Cords
Concordia University Texas recognizes the dedication and commitment of student club and organization presidents. Their efforts help provide a rich and engaging campus culture at Concordia University Texas and provide different places of belonging for our students. Graduating students who served as a student club or organization president wear the double cord of lavender and purple with their academic gowns.
CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES Spring 2026
College
of Arts & Sciences
School of Humanities & Social Sciences
Dr. Ann Schwartz, Director
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Zabdiel Antu (Multidisciplinary Studies) cum laude
Kimberly Baker (Law and Policy)
Gilbert Beltran (Psychology)
Nestor Castellanos (Multidisciplinary Studies)
Madison Cole (Multidisciplinary Studies)
Andrew Couser (Multidisciplinary Studies)
Christian Everett (Psychology) summa cum laude
Flor Fuentes Euceda (Psychology)
Ellie Haas (Multidisciplinary Studies)
Jamie Haywood (Multidisciplinary Studies) cum laude
Sarah Herrera (Criminal Justice & Criminology)
Madison Irvin (Law and Policy)
Jamian Jackson (Psychology)
Abigail Jahnke (Multidisciplinary Studies) cum laude
Lydia Laskaris (Multidisciplinary Studies)
Armando Lopez (Criminal Justice & Criminology)
Isabella Martinez (Law and Policy) magna cum laude
Aria Moreni (Psychology)
Reagan Obermeyer (Psychology)
Abigail Ordonez (Psychology) cum laude
Zalexis Perez (Multidisciplinary Studies)
Diego Portillo O’Donnell (Multidisciplinary Studies) magna cum laude
Mayson Post (Multidisciplinary Studies) summa cum laude
Isabella Ramirez (Multidisciplinary Studies)
Andrea Rapier (Multidisciplinary Studies)
Ashley Robinson (Psychology)
Arianna Rodriguez (Law and Policy) summa cum laude
Melissa Torres (Psychology)
Josiah Wells (English)
Rebecca Williams (Multidisciplinary Studies)
Isaac Willingham (Law and Policy) magna cum laude
CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES
Spring 2026
College of Arts & Sciences
School of Ministry
Dr. Grant Carey, Director
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Casey Bartholomew (Religious Education)
Elizabeth Brown (Religious Education) cum laude
Michael Hughes (Ministry)
School of Natural & Applied Sciences
Dr. Eric Staron, Director
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Emilio Nouel (Computer Science) magna cum laude
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Dieu Donne Bizima (Chemistry)
Selena Cooper (Biology)
Joshua Crawford (Computer Science) summa cum laude
Samantha Ising (Environmental Science and Conservation)
Ella Johnson (Biology) summa cum laude
Samual Kang (Biology)
Anastasia Kokkas (Chemistry) summa cum laude
Yasmine Mills (Computer Science)
Christopher Oroxom Ixtabalan (Computer Science) (Mathematics)
summa cum laude
Santiago Quintanilla III (Biology)
Nicole Racinelli (Chemistry) cum laude
Elijah Rumbarger (Environmental Science and Conservation) cum laude
Easton Teague (Computer Science)
Kayla Yancey (Mathematics) magna cum laude
CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES
Spring 2026
College of Business & Communication
Angela Clements, Director
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
David Castelan
Tony Henrio
Payton Matthews
Lindsay Morgan
Joy Peters
Anthony Rodriguez
Evan Smith
Taylor Smrt
Sarah Tempelmeyer
Mercedes Vega Serrano
Daniel Wakeham
Taran Wiedel
BACHELOR OF APPLIED ARTS & SCIENCES
Julio Maldonado (Applied Business)
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Audrey Frost (Communication) magna cum laude
Reed Shuffield (Communication) summa cum laude
BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Ahmad Al Hendi magna cum laude
Rudy Alba
Denni Beltran Guerrero
Hailey Benavides-Estrada
Mackenzie Berger summa cum laude
Travis Brick cum laude
Lizette Coronilla
Jonathan De La Torre
Haylee Diebel
Olivia Dummer magna cum laude
Kaden English cum laude
John Engquist
Lillian Fox
Valentina Galeano Ruiz
Caleb Golden
Zachary Greenberg summa cum laude
Jake Lancaster
Jacob Limon
Jess Lollar magna cum laude
Colton Marshburn
Branden Myart
Aidyn Ogle cum laude
Makayla Orr
Karla Palacios Jaimes
Austin Pryor cum laude
Marisol Salazar Arias
Garrett Smith
Hunter Smith
Logan Smith summa cum laude
Parker Smith cum laude
Arthur So
Luis Suarez Arroyo
Eduardo Torres
Robert Villarreal
Ralph Wallace
Nicholas Young
CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES Spring 2026
College of Education
Dr. Stephanie Hartzell, Director
DOCTOR OF EDUCATION
Dianoly Cancel
¡Así aprendo yo! Language and Biliteracy in Spanish-Speaking Emergent
Bilinguals: A Qualitative Study
Amy Chiabotta
Experiences in Literacy Instruction for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
Shelisha Ervin-Landry
The Experiences of African Women with Doctorate Degrees who Graduate from Predominately White Universities
MASTER OF EDUCATION
Mathew Armes
Jenna Barton
Antoine Bush
Hilary Davis
Rodrick Davis
Katherine Derby
Alyssia Disher
William Donnelly
Mariama Fisher
Katherine Haecker
Christina Hernandez-Rios
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Briley Bove (Interdisciplinary Studies) cum laude
Elijah Garrabrant (Interdisciplinary Studies)
Audrey Kelly
Destiny Mathews
Stephanie Mcvey
Adrian Munguia
Arie Lefridge
Mind and Spirit Navigating the Interplay of Mental Health and Spiritual Well-Being through Ministry Education
Lara Raesz
An Investigation Between Teacher Quality, Measured by Teacher Evaluation, and Student Achievement, Measured Through Standardized Testing, in a Medium-Size Suburban Central Texas School
Valeria Valentina Murillo Arbito
Dakota Palmer
Rayvon Parker
Kayla Pena
Madison Rather
Eric Snead
Kenneth Stampe
Catherine Hergenrader (Interdisciplinary Studies)
Erica Talasek
Mark Tanner
Enrique Trevino
Enrique Vasquez
Allison Villarreal
Lincoln Warren
Andrea Weiland
Bonnie White
Taylor White
Donna Williams
Brooke Martin (Education Content Curriculum) summa cum laude
Camryn Parker (Education Content Curriculum) cum laude
CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES Spring 2026
College of Health Sciences
Dr. Amber Shammas, Senior Director
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Isaac Alvarado (Kinesiology)
Gage Blackwell (Kinesiology)
Emma Chavez (Kinesiology)
Devin Hammel (Kinesiology) summa cum laude
Connor Meagher (Kinesiology)
Madison Poe (Kinesiology)
Joey Ramirez (Kinesiology)
Kinlea Reeder (Kinesiology) magna cum laude
Bryan Rios (Kinesiology)
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING
Kaira Ysabelle Asis
Jessica Avila
Grace Ayala
Virginia Brownfield summa cum laude
Kate Campbell
Olivia Cass cum laude
Leah Castaneda
Ava Curry
Amireyah Daughtry
Kylie Denaro cum laude
Chloe Fackler summa cum laude
Zavian Florez
Kelsey Foster
Irma Garibay De La Rosa magna cum laude
Angelica Gonzalez
Ti’Anna Goodlow
Sherrell Hill
Caroline Hogg cum laude
Keren Hugghins
Cynthia Jarvis
Patrice Jones summa cum laude
Mason Vasquez (Kinesiology)
Rebekah Wolfmueller (Kinesiology) magna cum laude
Brittany Lucas cum laude
Erik Martinez Cuevas
Leslie Mata-Martinez
Josiah Nguyen
Mariza Nicolas
Molly Olivarez
Laila Ortiz
Christina Owen summa cum laude
Sophia Padilla cum laude
Scout Payne
Kayler Peterman
Madeline Scovell summa cum laude
Evy Solano
Kamran Sotoodeh
Sophia Staggs magna cum laude
Kimberly Thompson
Hailey Thurgood
Ronesha Tjung
John Ucol
Klarissa Vara
Calvin Wilkin
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY TEXAS
BOARD OF REGENTS
Dr. Michelle Abrego Crowley, TX
Dr. Sandra Doering New Braunfels, TX
Mr. Casey Fisher Austin, TX
Dr. Mary Beth Gaertner Magnolia, TX
Rev. Lonnie Gonzales Houston, TX
Rev. Steve Henze Spring, TX
Mr. Scott Linebrink Walburg, TX
Dr. Dallas Lusk Houston, TX
Mr. David Meade Arlington, TX
Dr. Denise Patrick Cedar Park, TX
Mr. Mike Ratke Farwell, TX
Mrs. Deborah Rich Herczeg San Antonio, TX
Mrs. Sylvia Schmidt La Vernia, Texas
Rev. Dr. Stephen Sohns Spring, TX
Mr. Lance Thompson Houston, TX
Mrs. Betty Voshage Austin, TX
OUR MISSION
Concordia University Texas empowers students of all backgrounds to lead lives of critical thought, compassionate action and courageous leadership. As a liberal arts university rooted in the Lutheran tradition and aligned with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Concordia develops the mind, heart, soul, and body, preparing leaders for lives of service.
VISION
We are the premier university where the adventure of faith, learning, and life-changing experiences leads to meaningful work.
Whether it’s funding student scholarships, academic programming, or campus growth and development, you can have a significant impact on the future of this institution by including Concordia University Texas in your will.
For more information on how you can include Concordia University Texas in your estate plans, contact the Office of Philanthropy at 512-313-5101.
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2026
Welcome to the Alumni Association
STAY CONNECTED - Stay connected with CTX by updating your contact info at concordia.edu/alumni/stay-connected.
Receive invitations to special events, keep in touch with friends and build new connections within a network spanning nearly 100 years of alumni.
SHARE YOUR EXCITEMENT - Use #CTXGrad to share your commencement memories.
alumni@concordia.edu | 512.313.4321
PSALM 60:12