Fall 2025 Commencement
Saturday, December 13, 2025
2:00 p.m.
Hilliard Center Arena
A Member of The Texas A&M University System
Fall 2025 Commencement
President Kelly M. Miller, presiding
Prelude and Processional*
Carrier of the Mace ................................................................................................... Dr. Suzan de Ghizé Professor of Music Theory , School of Arts, Media, & Communication
Welcome ...................................................................................................
President Kelly M. Miller, Ph.D.
Presentation of the Colors ................................................................ TAMU-CC Army Islander Battalion
National Anthem ........................................................................................................... Jessica Valdez ‘25 Alumna, TAMU-CC
Commencement Address ...............................................................................................
Patrick D. Murray
National President of the Coastal Conservation Association
Presentation of Degree Candidates ............................................................................ Dr. Cate Rudowsky Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs College of Engineering and Computer Science ............................................................. Dean David Ma College of Nursing and Health Sciences ................................................................... Dean Hassan Aziz College of Science .............................................................................................. Dean Robert McKallip School of Arts, Media, & Communication ............................................................ Director Diana Sipes
Conferring of Degrees ............................................................................
President Kelly M. Miller, Ph.D.
Announcing ............................................................................................... Dr. Carmen Tejeda-Delgado Professor and Director of Transformative Alliance for Student Success College of Education and Human Development
Hooding of Doctoral and Terminal Degree Candidates ............................ Candidate’s Major Professor College of Engineering and Computer Science | Assisting: Dean David Ma College of Nursing and Health Sciences | Assisting: Dean Hassan Aziz College of Science | Assisting: Dean Robert McKallip School of Arts, Media, & Communication | Assisting: Director Diana Sipes
Alumni Presentation .................................................................................................... Kimberly Cook ’94 President, TAMU-CC National Alumni Association
Recessional*
Scan to link to digital program
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
Doctor of Philosophy in Geospatial Computer Science
Dr. Lapone Techapinyawat
Dissertation: Development of Integrated Hydrological and Geospatial Methods for Urban Stormwater Management
Dr. Lei Zhao
Dissertation: AI in Agriculture: In-Season Cotton Management and Yield Prediction
COLLEGE OF NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCES
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Dr. Azra Barakovic
Project Report: Improving Emotional Well-Being, Functionality, and Performance of Intensive Care Unit Nurses Using Debriefing Methods Following Code Blue Events
Dr. Charolette Denise Harfield
Project Report: Appropriate Utilization of Constant Observation
Dr. Lauren Michelle Jerige
Project Report: Improving Identification and Management of Incivility Among New Graduate Registered Nurses (NGRNs)
Dr. Elizabeth Rae Long
Project Report: Non-Pharmacological Management of Adolescents Who Are Overweight and Obese in the Pediatric Primary Care Clinic
Dr. Veronica Florence Morales
Project Report: Enhancing Leadership Engagement to Support New Graduate Nurses in Transition to Practice
Dr. Megan Sousa Mosley-Mick
Project Report: Novice Nurse Transition to Practice: A Nurse Residency Program for Case Management
Dr. Elisabeth Jo Rodgers
Project Report: Bridging the Gap: Evidence-Based Practice Mentor Training in a Safety-Net Hospital
Dr. Karl Allen Schneider Jr.
Project Report: Promoting Mental Health Awareness in Youth Sports: Evaluating the Impact of a Coach Training Initiative
Dr. Jessica Lynn Six
Project Report: Improving Behaviors for Skin Cancer Prevention by Providing Personal Risk Factors and Education in a Primary Care Setting
Dr. Laura Elaine Wagner
Project Report: Improving Nursing Students' Interprofessional Clinical Communication Self-Efficacy with TEAMSTEPPS
Dr. Melissa Tyann Weinman
Project Report: Decreasing Sepsis Predication and Optimization of Therapy Response Time Through Targeted Education
COLLEGE OF NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCES
Doctor of Nursing Practice, continued
Dr. Shaina Lynnee Westbrook
Project Report: Bridging the Gap: Addressing Mental Illness in Primary Care
Dr. Austin Ackerley Wiseman
Project Report: Use of Simulation for Nursing Faculty to Increase Confidence and Competence in Clinical Evaluation Practices
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
Doctor of Philosophy in Coastal and Marine System Science
Dr. Patricia Malamalama Cockett
Dissertation: Navigating Climate and Hydrologic Effects on Basin-Bay Estuarine Responses, Guided by Traditional Knowledge Systems
Doctor of Philosophy in Marine Biology
Dr. Jacquline Arden Rich
Dissertation: Molecular, Physiological, and Anatomical Drivers of Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops ssp.) Semen Quality
SCHOOL OF ARTS, MEDIA, & COMMUNICATION
Master of Fine Arts
Ms. Katelyn Suzanne Girouard
Thesis: Filling the Void
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
Master of Science
Rohit Achyutuni
Guru Ganesh Adigopula
Venkata Sai Charan Adipudi
Sowjanya Allam
Charan Sai Amuru Jr.
Siva Ranjit Sashank Annavajhula
Jisvitha Athaluri
Thanu Sathwik Reddy Bandi
Sowmya Sri Bathini
Mahalaxmi Bellamkonda
Prem Chand Betham
Emily Ioudas Brennan
Satya Preethi Brundavanam
Sai Rakshith Butna
Chandana Daggumati
Jeremy Ray Dean
Lahari Doddapaneni
Sushma Edem
Rahul Reddy Ekkati
Beto Estrada Jr.
Aaron Fortner
Nikhil Chowdary Garikapati
Julia Fernanda Gomez-Rangel
Saketh Gudi
Chandrahaas Reddy Guntaka
Rohan Gnanesh Jagadesh Hanumulu
Jobit Jose
Lakshmi Tripura Kanagala
Sai Krrishnaa Reddi Kanamaataredi
Ramya Sree Kanijam
Matthew Kastl
Navyasri Kathi
Siva Karthik Kilaparthi
Velangini Divya Hars Killi
Lakshmi Siva Kanth Reddy Kondamadugula
Sravani Kudumula
Shiva Kumar Kunsi
Alam K. Sathya Chowdary
Karthik Manda
Rahul Marri
Khaja Faizan Mohammad
Varshith Goud Munimanda
Divya Sai Nagabhairu
Yogendra Reddy Nallapa Reddy
Sravani Naragani
Siri Chandrika Nentoori
Sadhana Nidiginti
Ayesha Nuzha
Hema Sindhuja Pagadala
Keerthi Reddy Pakanati
Dharma Reddy Pandem
Chinmai Nageswari Panguluri
Yasaswi Polasi
Swathe Poojari
Abhinav Pulijala Venkata
Harishma Purella
Pujitha Pusuluri
Hema Sahithi Raavi
Varshith Reddy Raavi
Ganesh Ragula
Priyusha Rajapudi
Shubh Ketankumar Rana
Malaka Sudhakara Reddy
Meghana Reddy Samreddy
Amarnath Sevella
Meerasa Shaik Chennupalli
Pramit Man Shrestha
Jaswanth Sirigiri
Ashish Kumar Soulla
Prudhvi Chandra Srimath Tirumala Peddinti
Venkata Santosh Valli Sunkarapalli
Vrunda Reddy Teeleru
Shailendra Sainath Toleti
Sri Nikitha Veerla
Leo H. Veloz
Naresh Vemula
Dong Phuong Vo
Mithil Sai Yachamaneni
Susmitha Yeddula
COLLEGE OF NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCES
Master of Science in Nursing
Samantha Leigh Dunn
Sarah Elizabeth Evans
Brittany Taylor Hernandez
Harshitha Madhuri Garikapati
Zahra Hasan
Olivia Patricia Nicole Hughes
Christopher Wade Jones
Daisy Elizabeth Lopez
Danny Daniel-Llido Matsunaga
Araceli Venessa Moreno
Britni Dawn Newell
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
Master of Science
Samantha Renee Maupin
Emily Lynn Mcghee
Sandeep Mudhurakola
Claire Josephine Mueller
Angelica M. Ovalle
Shannon Lorraine Potter
Alyssa B. Wilburn
Jagruthi Pillalamarri
Wendy Michelle Rangel
Alissa Nicole Richbourg
Jezreel Cea Wilson
Mahima Yogesh
SCHOOL OF ARTS, MEDIA, & COMMUNICATION
Master of Arts
Alexa Elizabeth Akers
Leonard Hamilton
Aleisha Marie Vincent
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
Bachelor of Science
Yuva Praneeth Adapa
Marcelo Jesus Barahona Rivera
Nicholas Lee Bearer*
Christopher Joseph Benton
Logan Samuel Borer
Jacob C. Burns
Daniel Gulapa Carlos*
Anya N. Carlson‡
Christopher Lee Corkill
Kaselyn B. Counterman•
Cole N. Cueva
Daniel A. Deleon
Robert A. Deleon Jr.
Aaron J. Duncan
Rozita Sara Farahnakian
Louis Angel Flores Jr.
Alonzo Garcia
Jason Louis Garcia‡
Joseph Miguel Garcia
Victoria Celeste Gomez
Andrew Anthony Gresham
Kendall Leroy Hilburn III
Thien Tho Phuoc Hoang•
Michael Austin Jose
Jackson Blaine Kace
Lauren Ashlee Lutz
Malak A. Mahdy*
Cole Allen Maples
Victoria G. Marroquin
Robert Andrew Medina
Atharva Navin Mehra
Wyatt Ray Miller
Jake Tanner Million
Jesse R. Molina
Syed Muhammad Murtaza•
Honors Program Graduate
Denny Nguyen
Alyssa Kaye Pauler*
Zayn Andrew Perry
Antonio Gabriel Pinon
Tristan Angel Resendez
Robert Amado Reynoso
Rylie L. Rezapour
Santiago Rios Jr.
Matthew D. Rodriguez
Mikayla Rose Rodriguez
Noah D. Rodriguez
Dante Salazar
Manuel Sanchez Jr.
Jaidean Soto‡
Mark Mendoza Spangler
Savannah Lynn Stephenson‡ Honors Program Graduate
Matthias Ezekiel Talbert
Steven James Valdez
Pedro Federico Velasquez
Esteban Alexis Villagran Moreida*
Cassandra Villalobos*
Angelle Eulynda Williams
COLLEGE OF NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCES
Bachelor of Science
Jasmine Naomi Blakeslee‡
Chloe C. Carmona
Brianna S. Chipy•
Alaina Nicole Corbitt
Raven Jewels Drake
Esperanza Barrera
Miranda Christine Basaldu
Layne Larae Blevins
Amber L. Bovaird
Jackson Richard Boxwell
Lauren A. Butler
Jordyn Leigh Carrillo
Shelbi G. Druesdow
Leinardz Mik F. Eden
Janelle Gonzalez-Vega
Vanessa Michelle Gutierrez
Rebecca A. Hawkins
Annadalay Hernandez
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Alexia Hannah Gomez
Kaden L. Harder*
Giovanni M. Jimenez
Rebeka Marie Knight
Avery M. Kubecka
Victoria Anne Longo•
Adali Longoria
Lindsey Renee Nanninga*
Laura Jasso•
Jessica Renae Martinez
Havanna Jane Pogue
Hailey R. Salinas
Madison Irene West*
Festus Moturi Nyangau
Kassandra Quiroga
Lori Nicole Silguero
Elia Marie Soliz
Garner Steven Thomas
Tiffany M. Webb
Aleyna Zapata
Melina J. Aguirre-Robinson
Andrea A. Alaniz
Jade Alexandra Allen‡
Erica C. Anguiano
Lesly Vivian Anguilu
Aiden C. Baker
David Barajas III
Elizabeth Rose Lynor Calrow Blue*
Danielle Michele Bravo•
Charles Mitchell Brett
Mason Ellis Bridgeman
I'sys Mylon Brisker
Emily Ann Brownfield
Clair Elizabeth Cardwell
Paulina P. Caro
Dylan Edward Chapa
Briana Yaneli Chavez•
Annie Marie Chrane
Coralynn B. Coapland•
Garrett Blaise Crabb
Henry S. Cropper-Bravenec
Ashanti Alexandria Davis
Jordan Van Davis•
Gilbert Thomas Delgado
Garrett Diehl
Blakeley F. Drumright
Caitlyn Alyssa Engh
Maria Eduarda Fernandes De Melo
Kaila N. Flanagan
Mercedes E. Flores
Alexis Nicole Garcia
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
Bachelor of Science
Robert Corbin Garcie•
Martha Madeline Garza
Lyann Nicole Gonzalez
Tyler Braedon-Paul Gonzalez
Blake Tristan Gossett
Antonio M. Hernandez
Velina Hernandez
Paris L. Hons
Tristen Rea Hull
Maria Paula M. Islas
Charles J. Jackson‡
Gianina Marie Jahnke
Amy Marcela Jimenez
Kaylee Danielle Kelton•
Honors Program Graduate
Katelyn Krienke‡
Connor David Larson
Kaytlyn Jean Leerskov*
Daniel A. Leos Jr.•
Alejandro J. Lerma
Robin M. Loessin
Madison A. Long‡
Bethany Sue Lowe
Mayrena D. Lugo•
Chester N. Maillart
Areli O. Martinez
Margarita Nicole Martinez
Jaclyn E. McCollum•
Jacqueline E. Mora
Rowan G. Moss•
Amore B. Navarro
Layla R. Nice
Joseph C. Norman
Yazmin Ariana Ortiz Colon‡
Alexandra Vlada Padron
Zach H. Pardue•
Derek Joseph Petter
Claire M. Phan
John Salomon Pineda
Abigail Pirkle*
Rebecca F. Ramirez
Angela Remmers•
Alexis D. Richardson
Connor P. Rye•
Summer Oralia Salazar
Jolene A. Serna
Ethan Asher Smith•
Julia Faith Stinson•
Mackenzie I. Stone•
Teya Danae Svoboda
Kami N. Tiemann*
Novalon F. Trevino
Noah Michelle Valadez-Mora
Brianna Adelfa Valdez
Arturo A. Vega
Gabriela Vanesa Villalon
Samantha Aileen Watson
James Christopher Whiteman
Taylor Brakayle Wiltshire
Rourke A. Zigrossi
SCHOOL OF ARTS, MEDIA, & COMMUNICATION
Bachelor of Arts
Manuel Gerardo Alvarez*
Amber Renee Basaldu
Emily Frances Berger‡
Juan Bernal
Niairia R. Brager
Brody Payton Bush
Ashley Nicole Cantu
Thanasak Cheng‡
Caroline Celest Clark
Shameka Ayesha Cobb‡
Kimberly Coss
Melita M. Couch*
Laramie Ann Dearing
Kaitlyn R. Estrada*
John Angel Flores*
Eddina M. Coppage‡
Elizabeth Espinoza*
Annaliese Caroline Goukler*
Elijah Samuel Galvin
Reagan Kay Grafe
Jadyn M. Hall*
Cody Hunter Heinly
Cheyenne A. Horman
Amanda Michelle Hutton*
Claire Renee Janson•
Malana Rene Kinnett
Jason D. Leal
Lawson William Love
Precious Naa-Shormeh Martin
Nicole Meier‡
Elyzette J. Moncada*
Mia Gabriela Moreno
Megan L. Nauman
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Maytanee E. Grassman•
Alexandra Elena Moya
John P. Oliva‡
Hannah Celeste Perez•
Jaylyn Ramirez
Michelle Rios
Leticia Marie Romanucci
Allissa D. Sanchez*
Brooke B. Sanford*
Christina Annick Semonis•
Jamie Lee Soliz•
Gwen Elizabeth Villarreal*
Ray Amando Villarreal
Cinco Hap Wardlaw
Kya L. Wight
Kenna Marie Williams
Alexandra Adelle Young•
Gabrielle Renee Pena*
Caleb Nicholas Terry‡
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
Pat Murray is the national president of the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), one of the nation’s largest marine resource conservation organizations, with more than 125,000 members and 224 chapters across 17 coastal states.
A lifelong advocate for ocean and fisheries conservation, Murray also serves as vice chairman of the Advisory Board for the Harte Research Institute (HRI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
Under his leadership, CCA has championed numerous conservation efforts, including the Bringing Baffin Back initiative and programs supported through the Mark W. Ray CCA Texas Endowed Directorship of the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation at HRI.
Before leading CCA at the national level, Murray worked as a fishing guide along the Texas Coast, later becoming an award-winning editor of TIDE Magazine and the author of two acclaimed books.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, and pursued further study in nonprofit management and public policy at Harvard Kennedy School.
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents
Mr. Robert L. Albritton, Chairman ...................................................................... Fort Worth
Mr. Jay C. Graham, Vice Chairman ........................................................................ Houston
Mr. David C. Baggett .............................................................................................. Houston
Mr. John W. Bellinger ....................................................................................... San Antonio
Mr. James R. "Randy" Brooks ........................................................................... San Angelo
Mr. Michael A. "Mike" Hernandez III ................................................................ Fort Worth
Mr. Bill Mahomes, Jr. ................................................................................................. Dallas
Ms. Kelley Sullivan Georgiades ............................................................................. Houston
Mr. R Sam Torn ....................................................................................................... Houston
Mr. Cage M. Sawyers ............................................................................................... Texoma
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 University-Corpus Christi and its alumni, offering symbolic representation of one’s past, present, and future as an Islander. As always, it is alumni who carry the same pride in their university, and a seamless gold band holds together the many people who have shared a dream—to earn a college education..
University Mace
The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Mace is the wooden staff that is carried by a mace bearer leading the academic processional for commencements, convocations, and special university ceremonies. Originally, the mace was a long-handled club used by knights during the Middle Ages to crush the armor of enemies. Later, ceremonial maces were carried by guards of French and English monarchs. Later still, the mace was carried or placed by a magistrate or dignitary to establish authority. In sessions of the British House of Commons, the mace is placed on the treasury table. In the U.S. House of Representatives, it is placed to the right of the speaker. Today, the University Mace is used to symbolize the authority of the University President and is a grand emblem of tradition at commencement ceremonies for colleges and universities.
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. Brian Shelton, Professor of Music
Special thanks to the faculty, staff, Student Government Association, and Island Ambassadors who participated in today’s events.