Fall 2024 Commencement Program – 2 p.m. ceremony

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Fall 2024

Commencement

Saturday, December 14, 2024 2:00 p.m.

American Bank Center Arena

A Member of The Texas A&M University System

Fall 2024 Commencement

President Kelly M. Miller, presiding

Prelude and Processional*

Carrier of the Mace

Dr. Charlene Tintera Professional Senior Professor of Mathematics, College of Science

Welcome .............................................................................................................. President Kelly M. Miller

Presentation of the Colors TAMU-CC Army Islander Battalion

National Anthem ............................................................................................................ Jessica Valdez ’25 Senior, Music Major, School of Arts, Media, & Communication

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

Mr. Rudy D. Garza President & CEO, CPS Energy

Presentation of Degree Candidates Dr. Cate Rudowsky Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs

College of Engineering & Computer Science Dean David Ma College of Education & Human Developent Interim Dean Don Melrose College of Science ......................................... Associate Dean of Academics Dr. Barbara Szczerbinska School of Arts, Media & Communication ............................................................. Director Diana Sipes

Conferring of Degrees

Announcing ................................................................................................

President Kelly M. Miller

Dr. Carmen Tejeda-Delgado Professor and Director of Transformative Alliance for Student Success College of Education & Human Development

Hooding of Doctoral and Terminal Degree Candidates ............................. Candidate’s Major Professor

College of Education & Human Development Assisting: Interim Dean Don Melrose College of Engineering & Computer Science .............................. Assisting: Dean David Ma College of Science ....... Assisting: Associate Dean of Academics Dr. Barbara Szczerbinska School of Arts, Media & Communication ........................... Assisting: Director Diana Sipes

Alumni Presentation ....................................................................................................

Kimberly Cook ’94 President, TAMU-CC National Alumni Association

Recessional*

*Audience will remain seated.

Scan to link to digital program

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership

Dr. Juan Francisco Aleman III

Dissertation: School Discipline Disparities in Texas Through the Lens of Conflict Theory

Dr. Joan Sotero Alvarez

Dissertation: Grit Among First-Generation Students Who Persist Through College / La Firmeza Entre Los Estudiantes De Primera Generación Que Persisten En La Universidad

Dr. Audrey Chyrelle Benavidez

Dissertation: Racial Essentialism in the Online Classroom: A Phenomenological Study of Black College Students

Dr. Charlotte Anne Caraker

Dissertation: School Culture, Job Satisfaction, and Education Level: Their Impact on Teacher Retention Rates

Dr. Susan Huff Douglas

Dissertation: Faculty Trust in the Principal

Dr. Sandra Garza

Dissertation: The Secret is in the Ganas: Examining Grit in Texas Principals

Dr. Twila Marie Guajardo

Dissertation: Distributed Leadership Practices and Burnout in Texas Secondary School Principals

Dr. Heather Ann Herrera

Dissertation: Autoethnography: A Self Reflection of the Transition from First-Generation Student to Student Affairs Practitioner

Dr. Megan Brennan Limerick

Dissertation: Checking in Before They are Checking Out: The Role Strain of School Librarians A Quantitative Study

Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education

Dr. Kelsey Jae Barrera

Dissertation: A Parent Training Program for Addressing Emotional Dysregulation and Problematic Behavior of Children

Dr. Isabel Eyamin Santos

Dissertation: Exploring the Impact of Coping Self-Efficacy as a Moderator for Perfectionism and Burnout Among BIPOC Counselor Education Doctoral Students

Dr. Tina Louise Whittaker-Smith

Dissertation: Anti-burnout variables for SOTPS

Dr. Arlett Zamarripa

Dissertation: The Lived Experience of Latinas With Autoimmune Disease Who Have Received Mental Health Care From Mental Health Professionals

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE

Doctor of Philosophy in Geospatial Computer Science

Dr. Bradley Koskowich

Dissertation: An Assessment of Methods For Effective Single Camera Resection Solutions to the Cross-view Geo-localization Problem

Dr. Evan Andrew Krell

Dissertation: Using Hierarchical Superpixels to Improve Neural Network Attributions For Geospatial Models

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

Doctor of Philosophy in Coastal and Marine System Science

Dr. Shelby Lynne Metoyer

Dissertation: Advancements in Remote Sensing in the Aquatic Environment and Turbulence: Infrared, Visable, and Insitu Measurements

Dr. Youwen Wang

Dissertation: Species Interaction Dynamics: Multifactorial Analysis, and Post-Catastrophe Assessments

Doctor of Philosophy in Marine Biology

Dr. Nin Gan

Dissertation: Synergistic Effects of Petroleum Production and Marine Environmental Changes on Oyster Health

Dr. Wing Man Charlotte Lee

Dissertation: Investigating Marine Particulate Organic Matter with Nitrogen Isotopes of Amino Acids and Nitrate

Dr. David Nicholas Weber Jr.

Dissertation: Applying Genomic Techniques to Fisheries Management: A Focus on the Snapper-Grouper Complex

SCHOOL OF ARTS, MEDIA, & COMMUNICATION

Master of Fine Arts

Mr. Joshua John Dancause

Thesis: 2010 Cortez: Loss and Vernacular Photography

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Master of Science

Abby Jay Ables

Oluwatosin Mercy Anjorin

Charlee Jeanette Baker

Aricel Lia Bordayo

Price Brownlee

Ashley Cartwright

Iris Cynthia De La Garza

Karla Monique Flores

Joe Garcia III

Cody David Hall

Ketavion De’Ron Humber

Kendall Yvonne Laboy

Patricia Kelly Lopez

Jessica Luna

Santiago Luis Luna

Lanny Tyler McKinney

Meghan Leigha McQuary

Taylor Leigh Mondragon

Epifania Lupita Olvera

Salma Antonia Perez

Rayghan Claire Poimboeuf

Ramona L.M. Ramon

Chase D. Resendez

Sabrina Rodriguez

Destiny Rae Sanchez

Jace A. Schmidt

Melissa Silvas-Porter

Angel Simonyan

Michaela Marie Stanley

Andrew C. Stephen

Erica Velasquez

Faith Rochelle Walker

Olivia Jean Whitehurst J.

Brianna Renee Melvin

Josie Marie Wilson

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE

Master of Science

Sravani Adusumilli

Tarun Sai Reddy Ambati

Om Preetham Bandi

Sai Kumar Bheempaka

Praveen Kumar Bodapati

Dhanush Chalvadi

Sai Tejaswi Chiruvolu

Sowmya Sai Daddanala

Harsha Vardhini Daram

Venkata Siva Bhargav Guggilapu

Venkateswara Rao Gutta

Mona ShivaniHajiesmaeeli Jilukara

Dinesh Reddy Kandari

Meghana Kodali

Nandini Kodali

Thirumala Devi Kola

Jayanth Reddy Kolipally

Meghana Kolthuri

Reddy Bhuvan Korlakunta

Sai Kiran Kotha

Venkata Phanindra Kotupalli

Vijay Kummari

Manoj Reddy Kunta

Sujith Lakkimsetti

Tiffany Tram Ly

Sugnani Maddukuri

Vineela Madduri

Poojitha PardhasaradhiMandadiModiboina

Tarun Narasimha Varma Muppalla

Malathi Sindur Myle

Sai Datha Nagamoni

Naveen Kumar Reddy Nagireddy

Aparna Nannapaneni

Oluwaseun Omolayo Ogunfile

Vikas Reddy Padigomla

Samuel Titov Palacios

Uttej Reddy Pasuladi

Achyuth Kumar Pasupulati

Kiran Kumar Patcha

Rohitha Pathuri

Manideep Reddy Pati

Akhil Polsani

Nandini Poludasu

Hemanth Sai Pothuru

Abhishek Raparthi

Vamshi Sadya

Devika Samineni

Madhava Sai Sandrana

Mohammed Ali Sheriff Shaik

Vinay Sai Tummala

Thriveen Ullendula

Shalini Valluri

Srihitha Reddy Velumula

Nikhilesh Vemana

Sravya Sri UshakamakshiVirigineniViswanadha

Harvini Vuppala

Sri Kalyan Reddy Akiti

Jesus Eduardo Baca

Lucero Anais Barraza

Yeying Chen

Mohit Chilukuri

Travis James Danek

Abril Esmeralda Garcia Lunar

Jacob A. Harris

Emorie L. Bonner

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

Master of Science

Alan Jorge Innes

Alicia M. Jimenez

Dijani L. Laplace

Manuel Lopez Videla

Dylan Lee Mack

Akhila Mandhala

Michael Christopher Pena

Melanie Ann Ponce

Laura E. Ramirez

Daniel Rosas II

Amanda Regnier Rose

Nicholas Slade Shropshire

Alexis H. Trujillo

Felipe Dejesus Urrutia IV

SCHOOL OF ARTS, MEDIA, & COMMUNICATION

Master of Arts

Krista Nicole Ramirez

Savannah Barbara Spears

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Bachelor of Science

Maricris Deguzman Albarda

Raul Alonso Jr.

Savannah Leigh Anderson

Emma Banks

Maegan B. Bender‡

Kellyn C. Brown*

Gunner Mclain Bryson

Mitchell Anthony Ceja

Summer Raine Chamberlain*

Bailey Layne Cook‡

Jade Isabella De La Rosa*

Mia KileeDelgado C. Dudik•

Hailey Kristine Emmons*

Austin Bradley Estanislao‡

Samuel Clive Feltz•

Briana Danielle Garza

Gina Marie Garza*

Jessica Lynn Gonzalez

Melissa Anahi Gonzalez

Skylar Pace Goodwin

Kathryn E. Grivich

Dyeanna Marie Hernandez

Samantha Hinojosa

Baylee Camille Hosek

Briana Aileen Lara

Kaleb Luna

Caleb Anthony Lyles

Jaren Miguel Marmolejo

Katya Mistral Mata

Elizabeth Christine Mattingly•

Ashlyn N. Minton•

Heather Yvette Moore

Chase Morales•

Madison Savannah Moreno-Prater

Ariel Elise Morin•

Rosalinda Rasquel Musquiz

Hevan Noelle Nieto

Noella Mbombo Nkola•

Jacqueline Faith Prado

Meagan Nicole Price‡

Adrian Manuel Rivera Jr.

Jameson Mary Roddie*

Samantha A. Rush

Emily Mae Smyder• Isabella Jolie Soriano•

Gavyn Bjorn Steffek

Sebastian A. Trinidad•

Grace Verdeja

Angelica G. Villela*

Zachary George Walker‡

Lillie Thomas Weyel

Hannah Charlotte Williams

Brianna Hope Wilson•

Sandye Mathis Zgarba‡

Jaslyn Raquel Zuniga‡

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE

Bachelor of Science

Bryan Bermudez

Kameron Harvey Burkett

Eric Zac Castaneda

Emberly Nicole Catalina

James Josef Coates

Max H. Doemland

Dante J. Duran

Tarek Elharoun•

Jaden Evan Ellis

Gavin G. Eyerly

Pablo V. Fernandez III

Fermin Gomez Gallegos Jr.

Bryson Ty Gardner*

Lizette Peraza Gonzales‡

David Austin Green

Ryan Matthew Grieb•

Ray Hernandez Jr.

Darious Laverne Johnson

Faith Elizabeth Adams*

Alyssa Alaniz

Alanna Elyse Alvarado*

Alex Ryan Bailey

Olivia Michelle Bass

Raydiance T’Gwen Brooks

Emily Ann Brownfield

Juan Jesis Camacho

Joyce Janelle Vilela Camota*

Kristen Sarah Johnson*

Jacob A. Jones

Madhuri Kar

Dylan Thomas Koliba

Yohance Machado•

Miguel Martinez

Paige Devian Martinez

Brittany Christine Marx*

Francisco Xavier Mireles Jr.

Reid A. Mittag•

Luke James Moellering

Cody Curtis Mongeau

Jayden Jearlpree Nails

Steven James Nava

Thai Quoc Nguyen•

Deven Javier Perez

Dejan Tirvan Ramdath

Rafif Abdulkarim Rendusara

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

Bachelor of Science

Jake Thomas Carney

Luke Andrew Churchman‡

Brittany Elizabeth Creacy

Bryanna Ambriz Davis

Hallie Day Dugosh

Kathleen Elizabeth Edmiston

Caitlyn Alyssa Engh

Brianna Lynn Escochea

Kathie Renea Frenzel

Joshua Thomas Robertson

Christopher Jay Salazar

Ryan Garrett Seidel*

Breanna Rosario Sifuentes

Ryan Allen Smith

William Leroy Songer

Elizabeth Soto

Alex Thompson

Aaliyah Debra-Michelle Timms*

Lee A. Tisdale

Alexander Anthony Vasquez*

Jennifer Vasquez•

Ian Timothy Wall

Branton A. Winkenwerder‡

Nathaniel Bosley York

Samuel Ray Gamez

Erica Dawn Given*

Luka Nook Gray

Autumn Raeyn Hampton•

Ashlyn Octavia Holmes

Gillian Elizabeth Jaime

Fathi Kahia

Ryan N. Lau‡

Victoria Nicole Lichtenberger

Madeleine N. Licker‡ Honors Program Graduate

Cecile Gunnel Delano Ligon*

Kelsie G. Luong•

Ashley Nicole Marines

Colton B. Mayfield

Susanna Abigail Mccall

Patricia Ann Mccutchen

Hailey Brianna Medina• Honors Program Graduate

Brandon Abel Medina Garcia•

Alejandra Maria Mendez

Gwendolyn Menzies

William Quentin Mixon

Sara Raquel Mohammed*

Bianca Molina

Isabelle Morales

Jeramy Lane Baucom

Charles Travis Blalock

Sara Marie Carlson‡

Cristian Andrew Cortez

Elli Grace Darnell*

Emily Elizabeth Delaune*

Enzo Antonio Gentile‡

Carly N. Glynn•

Jose Gonzales IV*

Marcel M. Gonzales

Isabella Megan Guillot

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

Bachelor of Science, continued

Dante William Morland

Alayna N. Munoz

Michael Conrad Myers

Noah Andrew Nelson

Juan Raul Ortega

Christian D. Oserraos•

Kyndal M. Payne•

Natalia Pellum-Mackey

Anna Puiliakya Perreault

Emily Natalia Ponton

Aimee Veronica Prado

Archie Price

Oliver Elizabeth Puckett•

Hannah Ranae Richardson

Victoria Nevelyn Rivera

Vivian Rodriguez

Noemi P. Ruiz

Cassandra Lauren Salazar•

Joshua Dylan Salinas

Jody Mae Sifuentes

Nicholas Alexander Solis

Nathan Boone Stauber

Zoe Michelle Theriot

Alicia Celine Tolley

Martin Armen Vartanian

Grace Alma Vierling

Hanna B. Vinklarek•

Heaven E. Vonrosenberg•

Victoria A. Waddell

Emily Elizabeth Watts•

Lisa Alexandria Winn

Shaelee Madison Wood

Elizabeth Selah Woodward

SCHOOL OF ARTS, MEDIA, & COMMUNICATION

Bachelor of Arts

Piper Roeann Harper

Ashley Nicole Jimenez‡

Christian Faith Johnson•

Katie Barbara Jean Kiggins

Kai Mckenzie Lipscomb

Lawson William Love

Adrian Christopher Martinez

Benjamin

Danny Martinez Jr.

Kayla Marlene Munoz•

Cameron Drew Nucete•

Justin Cade O’Neal

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Ariana Del Mar De Jesus Martinez

Enrique Martin Rios‡

Sammy Iverson Buentello Ezequiel Jacob Cuestas•

Bachelor of Music

Lisbeth Puerta-Vasquez

Joseph Anthony Rivas Jr.

Carli Braxton Rowles

Jay Rose Satterwhite

David A. Tafolla

Joseph Manuel Tafur

Alfred Mason Urias

Tito L. Valdez•

Anais Wiatrek

Indigo Devarien Rodriguez•

Danielle Victoria Saldana

John Paul Culpepper

Jacob A. Ramos

The names on this program include all students who have applied for graduation. Conferral of the official degree is based upon completion and certification of all degree requirements.

Commencement Speaker

Rudy D. Garza is the President and CEO of CPS Energy, the nation’s largest community-owned electric and natural gas utility. As the first Hispanic leader to hold the position, Garza brings over 25 years of experience to the utility industry, having served in both the public and private sectors throughout his career.

After graduating from Roy Miller High School in Corpus Christi, Garza went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Texas.

Joining CPS Energy in 2012, Garza previously served as Chief Customer and Stakeholder Engagement Officer, as well as Senior Vice President of Distribution Service and Operations, where he oversaw the maintenance and construction activity of the electric distribution system.

Under Garza’s leadership, CPS Energy successfully navigated the approval of two rate cases in 2022 and 2023. He also led the development of a comprehensive strategic engagement plan, which resulted in the Board of Trustees’ approval of a blended generation planning approach to power the community’s growing needs, both now and in the future. To further deliver on CPS Energy’s mission, Garza has spearheaded the creation of a strategic plan called Vision 2027—a roadmap to guide CPS Energy through the rapid transformation of the industry.

Dedicated to public service, Garza is actively engaged in his community through multiple board roles.

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents

Mr. William Mahomes, Chairman ............................................................................... Dallas

Mr. Robert L. Albritton, Vice Chairman Fort Worth

Mr. David C. Baggett ............................................................................................... Houston

Mr. John W. Bellinger San Antonio

Mr. James Randy Brooks .................................................................................... San Angelo

Mr. Jay Graham ........................................................................................................ Houston

Mr. Michael A. Hernandez III Fort Worth

Mr. Michael J. Plank ................................................................................................ Houston

Mr. Sam Torn Houston

Ms. Cage Sawyers ................................................................................................ Fort Worth

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Official Ring

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and the Islander Alumni Association unveiled the official ring in 1999. The ring itself is a symbol of achievement, unity, and University spirit. Upperclassmen wear the ring with the school’s name facing their heart. Upon the granting of degrees at commencement, graduates turn the ring around, with the name facing outward. This symbolizes that the graduate is now ready to face new challenges outside the University.

The official ring is a visible, tangible manifestation of the long-lasting bond between Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi and its alumni, offering symbolic representation of one’s past, present, and future as an Islander. As always, it is alumni who carry the same pride in their University, and a seamless gold band holds together the many people who have shared a dream—to earn a college education.

University Mace

The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Mace is the wooden staff that is carried by a mace bearer leading the academic processional for commencements, convocations, and special university ceremonies. Originally, the mace was a long-handled club used by knights during the Middle Ages to crush the armor of enemies. Later, ceremonial maces were carried by guards of French and English monarchs. Later still, the mace was carried or placed by a magistrate or dignitary to establish authority. In sessions of the British House of Commons, the mace is placed on the treasury table. In the U.S. House of Representatives, it is placed to the right of the speaker. Today, the University Mace is used to symbolize the authority of the University President and is a grand emblem of tradition at

Academic Regalia

Academic regalia (cap, gown, and hood) date to 12th-century Europe, where they were worn primarily for warmth by university students as well as laymen. As laymen gradually changed their garb to capes and breeches, institutions of learning prescribed the gown of black for scholars, with a hood draped down the back when not worn over the head and a mortarboard cap shaped like the mortarboard of the master workman.

In 1985 in the United States, the Intercollegiate Commission prepared a code, specifying the design and color of academic regalia for colleges and universities in the United States. Under this code, the bachelor’s gown has long pointed sleeves. The master’s gown has an oblong sleeve. The doctor’s gown has bell-shaped sleeves. Gowns are generally black; however, a number of schools have adopted special regalia for the doctor’s gown.

The velvet border of the hood may represent either the color of the degree or the color of the field of study. The current trend is for the color to represent the field of study rather than the name of the degree, but in earlier years dark blue was characteristic for a Ph.D. in any field. Hoods are lined with the official colors of the college or university from which the degree is received.

Caps are the traditional mortarboard except for the doctor’s degree, where a four-sided velvet tam is optional. Caps from schools with special color gowns or from foreign universities may be more distinctive. Cap tassels for the doctor’s degree are gold, while the tassels for the master’s and bachelor’s degree are typically black. Holders of all these degrees wear the tassel on the left. The ritual of bachelor’s degree candidates shifting the tassel from right to left marks the conferring of one’s first university degree.

Hood Color Code

Arts, Letters, Humanities ..................................... White

Commerce, Accountancy, Business Drab

Dental ..................................................................... Lilac

Economics Copper

Education Light Blue

Engineering ........................................................ Orange

Fine Arts, Architecture Brown

Library Science ...................................................Lemon

Medicine Green

Music.......................................................................Pink

Nursing Apricot

Philosophy..................................................... Dark Blue

Physical Education Sage Green

Public Administration Peacock Blue

Public Health ............................................. Salmon Pink

Science Golden Yellow

Social Work .......................................................... Citron

Speech Silver Gray

Academic Honors

Students earning academic honors wear cords in recognition of academic excellence. The following honors are awarded at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi:

‡ Summa Cum Laude: the silver honor cord is awarded to graduates whose cumulative grade point average is 3.9 and above.

* Magna Cum Laude: the blue honor cord is awarded to graduates whose cumulative grade point average is 3.7 to 3.899.

• Cum Laude: the green honor cord is awarded to graduates whose cumulative grade point average is 3.5 to 3.699.

*The honors presented during the ceremony are calculated on the student’s institutional cumulative grade point average and institutional credit hours through the semester prior to filing for graduation. Official honors designation, which includes the calculation of the final semester’s grades and hours, will be indicated on the final transcript and diploma.

Honor Society Medallions and Cords

Students at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi have the privilege of being asked to join honor societies. Membership is based on grade point average and special criteria for each organization such as major, community service, and service to a profession. Students belonging to these honor societies wear cords and medallions that represent their high achievements and the colors and symbols of the organization.

Music Provided by Symphonic Winds

Directed by Dr. Seth McKnight, Assistant Professor of Music Education

Special thanks to the faculty, staff, Student Government Association, and Island Ambassadors who participated in today’s events.

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