Students Honored During August 2008 Commencement

Texas Tech alumnus Clay Sell, who serves as senior vice president for the Hunt Oil Co., spoke at Texas Tech University's commencement ceremonies Saturday (Aug. 9). More than 1,253 undergraduate and graduate students received diplomas during the 9 a.m. ceremony at the United Spirit Arena, 1701 Indiana Ave. in Lubbock. Sell served as the deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy and played a key role in enacting the Bush Administration's landmark energy legislation in 2005 and 2007. The ceremony included students from the Colleges of Architecture, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Visual and Performing Arts, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Education, Human Sciences, Mass Communications, the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business Administration and the Honors College. Outstanding students carried banners representing their respective colleges. Administrators selected the banner bearers based on all-around achievement. The banner bearers were: Sarah Elizabeth Dierschke, a food science major from Wall, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources; Kristin Nicole Slavin, an architecture major from Austin, College of Architecture; Martha Elizabeth Penturf, a political science and Spanish double major from Lawrence, Kan., College of Arts and Sciences; Tom E. Sweatt, an energy commerce major from Midland, Jerry S. Rawls College of Business; Tracie Louise Sparks, multidisciplinary studies major from Lubbock, College of Education; Jeremiah Edward Mangold, an environmental engineering major from El Paso, College of Engineering; Matthew Wisnewski, a general business major from Plano, Honors College; Megan Maurine Smith, a nutritional sciences major from Amarillo, College of Human Sciences; Jacqueline Marie Hill, an advertising major from Houston, College of Mass Communications; and Kimberly Cypert, a studio art major from Sugar Land, College of Visual and Performing Arts. Catherine Polydore Roseau, Dominica, was selected to carry the banner for the Graduate School. Also recognized during commencement exercises were bachelor's degree candidates with the highest grade-point-averages in their respective colleges. Highest ranking August graduates for each college are:

• College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and Honors College: Jordanna Leigh Copeland, an animal science major from Sterling City

• College of Architecture: Kristin Nicole Slavin, an architecture major from Austin

• College of Arts and Sciences: Melanie Ann Whiting, an English major from Lubbock

• Jerry S. Rawls College of Business Administration: Tiffany V. Hernandez, a management major from O'Donnell, and Sweatt of Midland

• College of Education: Tracie Louise Sparks, a multidisciplinary studies major from Lubbock

• College of Engineering: Jeremiah Edward Mangold, an environmental engineering major from El Paso

• College of Human Sciences: Kirby Don Jacobson, a personal financial planning major from Bedford, and Smith of Amarillo

• College of Mass Communications: Humberto Martinez, a photocommunications major from Houston

• College of Visual and Performing Arts: Lauren Sue Boldon, a studio art major from Houston