McMurry University Commencement 2025 by McMurry

Ceremony Notes

Processional and Recessional Guidelines:

McMurry University asks that you read and be mindful of a few guidelines in order for the commencement ceremony to be safe and respectful at all times:

• At the end of the ceremony during the Recessional, please rise, remain standing, and wait until the graduates and faculty have exited. Wait to exit once all graduates, faculty, and the stage party have exited, and please do not block the exit.

• Please follow all staff instructions and posted signs at all times.

Photography:

You are respectfully asked to remain in the seating area while taking any personal photographs. Graduate photos will be available online the week of May 20. A link to the photos may be found on mcm.edu and on our social media.

Academic Honors Designations:

† Member of the James Winford Hunt Chapter of Alpha Chi National Honor Society.

Honors listed in the program are computed through the end of the previous semester. At the time of graduation, a student is designated for honors based on the following cumulative grade point average: Summa Cum Laude - 3.85-4.0; Magna Cum Laude - 3.7-3.84; Cum Laude - 3.5-3.69. To be eligible for graduation with academic honors, a student must have completed a minimum of 57 semester hours in resident courses at McMurry University.

University Honors Program graduates have fulfilled all requirements for Departmental Honors, maintained a grade point average of at least 3.5, and completed several honors classes in other areas of the university curriculum.

Departmental Honors graduates have completed a senior thesis in an academic discipline, usually the student’s major field, with the endorsement of the faculty members of that department, and maintained a grade point average of at least 3.25.

Completion of Degree:

This program contains the names of degree and honors for May and August 2025 candidates for graduation based on information available at time of printing. Inclusion of candidates in the program is not confirmation of completion of degree or honors designation.

Ring Turning:

As part of McMurry University’s cherished traditions, graduates are invited to turn their class rings after receiving their degrees and before moving their tassels during the Commencement ceremony.

With the emblem now facing outward, this symbolic gesture marks the transition from student to graduate — ready to carry the McMurry spirit into the world.

May this ring serve as a lasting reminder of your journey and the McMurry community.

Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

Commencement Program

* Processional ..........................….. Pomp and Circumstance ............ by Edward Elgar …………..… Key City Brass Jay Lester, Trumpet; Dr. Bernard Scherr, Trumpet; Dr. Robert Tucker, Horn; Clay Johnson, Trombone; Dr. Jeffrey Cottrell, Tuba

Marshal

Dr. Robert Wallace Professor of Sociology and Criminology

Welcome from the President ……………..………….…………………........………......……… Dr. Lynne Murray McMurry University President

* Invocation …….………….……………………………………...…………...…............. Rev. Ricky Harrison ‘14 University Chaplain and Director of Religious and Spiritual Life

* Hymn .…...................................... Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee …………………..…Directed by Amanda Guidi Adjunct Instructor of Voice

Awards and Special Recognitions

Awarding of Honorary Degree .................................................................... Dr. Lynne Murray and Dr. Cyndi Martin

Dr. Richard Drum ….....................................................…………. Doctor of Education

Mary Esther Paquet Bynum (Posthumous)................................…. Doctor of Education

Recognition of Faculty Retirees ………...…..………………..………………………….……….. Dr. Cyndi Martin Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty

Presentation of the Gordon R. and Lola J. Bennett Award

Introduction of Commencement Speaker .......................................................................................

Commencement Address ....................................................................................................

Conferring of Degrees

Presentation of Graduates and Candidates for Degrees

Awarding of Degrees

Announcing the Graduates

Dr. Cyndi Martin

Dr. Lynne Murray

Dr. Rev. Clayton Oliphint

Dr. Cyndi Martin

Dr. Lynne Murray

Ms. Neena McLain, Assistant Professor and Department Chair of Theatre

Dr. John Miller, Professor of Religion

Introduction of Degree Candidates

Presentation of the Graduates

Dr. Cyndi Martin

Welcome from the Alumni Association ………...………………………………...…................… Shaun Martin ‘99 Alumni Association Board of Directors Representative

* Singing of the Alma Mater Directed by Amanda Guidi Adjunct Instructor of Voice

* Benediction Rev. Ricky Harrsion ‘14

* Recessional La Rejouissance ................... by G.F. Handel …………………. Key City Brass

Shams Abdulsattar

Iveliz Shahany Acosta

Vern Angton III

Titus Ashton

Shannon Curtis Baldwin

Gracie Rae Bales

Blake Cameron Beach

Christopher Michael Beck

James Ryan Behrens

Noah Dennis Biggs

Bachelor of Business Administration

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Business Administration

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Business Administration

Bachelor of Arts

General Business Mansfield, TX

Studio Art San Angelo, TX

All Level Physical Education Fort Worth, TX

Entrepreneurship Flint, TX

Computer Science Pflugerville, TX

General Business Stephenville, TX

Business Administration Houston, TX

General Business Hawley, TX

Political Science Burnet, TX

English and Writing Abilene, TX Magna Cum Laude

Lydianna Jane Biggs

Bachelor of Science

Sociology Abilene, TX Cum Laude

Logan Alan Bond

Bachelor of Science

Computer Science Graham, TX Cum Laude

Mark Andrew Briseno

Abigail Brown

Pablo A Cabello

Mercedes Raquel Camacho

Najwa Campbell

Malasia S Campbell

Cole Gunnar Carlson

Bachelor of Business Administration

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Business Administration

Amarillo, TX

Theatre & English and Writing Tucson, AZ

Business Administration Dallas, TX

Business Administration El Paso, TX Bachelor of Science Criminology

Bachelor of Science

All Level Physical Education Houston, TX

Human Health Science Cypress, TX Allied Health Professions Concentration

All Level Physical Education League City, TX Cum Laude

Koy Lewis Carpenter

Bachelor of Business Administration

La Vernia, TX Magna Cum Laude

McKenzie C. Carroll

Katelyn Marie Casey

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

and Graphic Design Grosebeck, TX

Thorndale, TX Cum Laude

Katherine Amelia Cash

Bachelor of Science Public Health and Wellness Aledo, TX Cum Laude

Trey Castillo

Joseph Caton

Daniel Chavez

Andrew Charles Clute

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Bachelor of Business Administration

Bachelor of Science

Leadership and Management Abilene, TX

Abilene, TX

Fort Worth, TX

Level Physical Education Abilene, TX Magna Cum Laude

Jacorian Colbert

Willie J Collins III

Ruben Coronado II

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Business Administration

Bachelor of Science

Baytown, TX

Administration Ballinger, TX

Justice Spring Branch, TX Summa Cum Laude

Pilar Jeanette Correa Roise

Cristina Alayne Cortinez

Bachelor of Science

Oceanside, CA

Abilene, TX Cum Laude

Cooper Mac Cothran

† Jessica Davis

Bachelor of Business Administration

Bachelor of Science

Abilene, TX

Kingsport, TN Summa Cum Laude

Mary Wendy Davis

Bachelor of Science

Early Childhood Education Abilene, TX Magna Cum Laude

Jacee Nichelle Dinkins

Bachelor of Science

All Level Physical Education Azle, TX Summa Cum Laude

Justin Michael Disbrow

Damon Dozier Jr

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Business Administration

Cybersecurity Abilene, TX

Accounting Dallas, TX Cum Laude

Christopher Ellison

Xavier Rudy Escobar

Patrick Eli Esparza

Abby Ewing

Tatum Farmer

Alec Andrew Feldhousen

Erika Finado

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor Business Administration

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Bachelor of Science

Early Childhood Education, Merkel, TX Business Administration, and Psychology Concentrations

Cybersecurity Buda, TX

Business Administration Abilene, TX

Theatre Mansfield, TX

Nursing Lubbock, TX

Sports Leadership and Management Rockwall, TX

Early Childhood Education Abilene, TX Magna Cum Laude

Haygen Michelle Fleming

Andres Flores

Harrison Max Fouts

Ansynn Irene Franklin

Sarah Mahaley Fry

Torie Rain Fuentes

Bachelor of Business Administration

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Business Administration

Business Administration Petrolia, TX

Management Baytown, TX

Information Technology Rankin, TX

Biology Woodson, TX

Psychology Tuscola, TX

Accounting Albany, TX Cum Laude

Sarah Christine Fuller

Bachelor of Science

Early Childhood Education Lubbock, TX Summa Cum Laude

Baylee Fulps

Jacob Crawford Gallimore

Raul Gamez Jr.

Mackenzie Garcia

Brianna Nicole Garcia

Tiffani Leigh Gaylor

Bachelor of Science

Sports Industry San Angelo, TX

Sports Industry Robinson, TX

Sports Leadership and Management Abilene, TX

Early Childhood Education Abilene, TX

Public Health and Wellness Abilene, TX

Early Childhood Education Abilene, TX Cum Laude

Anna Elizabeth Gonzales

Elijah Gregory

Bethany Joy Guzman

Kathleen Elizabeth Hale

Magdalena Guadalupe Hernandez

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies

Criminal Justice Abilene, TX

Physics with Civil/Mechanical Engineering Billings, MT

Theatre Brownsville, TX

Sports Leadership and Management Decatur, TX

Early Childhood Education, Brownsville, TX Summa Cum Laude History, and Psychology Concentrations

Richard Hernandez

Katelyn Giselle Hernandez

Thomas Hilliard

† Kelly Regina Hipple

Bachelor of Science

Exercise Science and Human Performance El Paso, TX

Public Health and Wellness Sunray, TX

Sports Leadership and Management New Orleans, LA

Sociology Chula Vista, CA Summa Cum Laude

Angelica Hobbs

Bachelor of Science

Cybersecurity Fort Walton Beach, FL

Reagan Douglas Owen

Bachelor of Science

Environmental Science Sonora, TX Cum Laude

Jose Luis Pena

Bachelor of Science

Biomedical Science Abilene, TX Magna Cum Laude

Matthew Peña

Isaiah Jorrel Ramos Segui

† Sarah Elizabeth Robinson

Bachelor of Science

Criminology El Paso, TX

Life Sciences Grades 7-12 Lakewood, NJ

Early Childhood Education Abilene, TX Summa Cum Laude

Kino-sha Rodriguez-Thompson

Madalyn Rose Marie Rohrer

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Business Administration

Sports Industry San Antonio, TX

Accounting Aubrun, WA Summa Cum Laude

Kristy Madrid Salazar

Bachelor of Science

Early Childhood Education Colorado City, TX Summa Cum Laude

Cadence Ella Sanchez

Bachelor of Science

Criminology Littlefield, TX Cum Laude

Isabella Eden Sanchez

Nolan Riley Scherencel

Logan Schneider

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Business Administration

Bachelor of Science

Biochemistry Fredericksburg, TX

Management Arlington, TX

Computer Science Winters, TX Cum Laude

Mason C. Schronk

Bachelor of Business Administration

Business Administration Round Rock, TX Magna Cum Laude

Mason Matthew Scott

Ravin Rashmikumar Shah

Ashley Constance Shea

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Business Administration

Biology Lubbock, TX

General Business Houston, TX

Entrepreneurship Bulverde, TX Magna Cum Laude

Grace Leighann Singleton

Courtney Renee Smith

Kyle Smith

Bachelor of Business Administration

Business Administration Sachse, TX

Bachelor of Science Early Childhood Education Abilene, TX Summa Cum Laude

Bachelor of Arts Multimedia and Graphic Design Houston, TX

Preston Stal

Colby Hunter Starbuck

Andrew Stevenson

Kane Reid Strohman

Kimberly Lee-Ann Stulir

Michael Elwin Taylor

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Business Administration

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Science Allen, TX

Thornton, CO

Psychology Killeen, TX Counseling & Human Development Concentration

Engineering Physics Katy, TX

Early Childhood Education Rule, TX

Multimedia and Graphic Design Abilene, TX Summa Cum Laude

Marcos Antonio Tellez

Cullen Douglas Timms

Morgan Travis

Michael Philip Tupa

Casey Turner

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Science Sports Leadership and Management Mansfield, TX

Bachelor of Business Administration

Administration Abilene, TX

Fort Worth, TX

Kingwood, TX Magna Cum Laude

Alliyah Kay Villanueva

Caitlyn Nicole Wallis

Dazhaun Walton

Drake Holland Warner

Bachelor of Science Criminology Brownsville, TX

Bachelor of Science

Early Childhood Education Trent, TX

Bachelor of Science Psychology & Sociology Honolulu, HI

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Elmo, TX