Students Participate in Summer 2017 Commencement
Texas Tech University will host summer commencement ceremonies Saturday (Aug. 12) at United Supermarkets Arena. A total of 1,478 undergraduate and graduate students will walk the stage.
Ceremonies can be viewed online via livestream.
The 9 a.m. ceremony features Graduate School students and undergraduates in the colleges of Arts & Sciences, Education, Media & Communication, Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, the Honors College and Architecture.
The 1:30 p.m. ceremony features Graduate School students and undergraduates in the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business, College of Human Sciences, University Programs, Wind Energy, the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering and the J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts.
Texas Tech Associate Professor Jeffrey Lastrapes will speak at both commencement ceremonies.
About Jeffrey Lastrapes
Jeffrey Lastrapes is a visually impaired cello professor in the School of Music. He was born with a birth defect that caused him to be nearly blind in both eyes. At the age of 16, Lastrapes was recruited for his accomplishments in cello by Temple University. He advanced to the Curtis Institute of Music and then the prestigious Julliard School. Lastrapes has performed around the world and cofounded the West Texas chamber music outreach group, Caerus Ensemble. In addition to his role at Texas Tech, Lastrapes is on the faculty of the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts. He was recently honored for 20 years of teaching at the famous Interlochen Center for the Arts.
Banner Bearers
Outstanding students, chosen based on their overall achievement, will carry banners representing their colleges. The banner bearers are:
- College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources: Macy Fangman, agricultural communications
- College of Architecture: Maria Leon, architecture
- College of Arts & Sciences: Elaine Tveit, English
- College of Education: Megan Rivera, multidisciplinary studies
- College of Human Sciences: Naomi Snider, restaurant, hotel and institutional management
- College of Media & Communication: Kylie Boyd, communication studies
- Graduate School:
- 9 a.m. ceremony: Hai Nguyen, history
- 1:30 p.m. ceremony: Chamila Dissanayake, systems and engineering management
- Honors College:
- 9 a.m. ceremony: Karla Reyes, honors arts and letters
- 1:30 p.m. ceremony: Brooke Henney, accounting
- Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts: Ashlea McCleskey, art
- Rawls College of Business: Kylie Naughton, accounting
- University Programs: Jonathan Gill, university studies
- Whitacre College of Engineering: Aaron Trusty, computer science
Honor Students
The highest-ranking summer graduates for each college/program are:
- College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources: Cari Hendryx, plant and soil science
- College of Architecture: Maria Leon, architecture
- College of Arts & Sciences: Zachary Coomes, geography; Mackenzie Ewart, biology; Vu Phan, mathematics; Elaine Tveit, English
- College of Education: Megan Rivera, multidisciplinary studies; Tori Ruiz, multidisciplinary studies
- College of Human Sciences: Naomi Snider, restaurant, hotel and institutional management
- College of Media & Communication: Kylie Boyd, communication studies
- Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts: Avery Turner, music
- Honors College: Karla Reyes, honors arts and letters
- Rawls College of Business: Kylie Naughton, accounting; Chrissy Morris, accounting
- Whitacre College of Engineering: Asse Aneye, petroleum engineering; Michael Falcon, electrical engineering; Joshua Macfie, electrical engineering; Vu Phan, computer science; Melvin Powell, computer engineering; Avery Rains, mechanical engineering; Aaron Trusty, computer science
- University Programs: Alexis Baker and Ashley Sursely. Both will graduate with a bachelor's degree in University Studies
- Wind Energy: Caleb Lawson, wind energy
Reception Information
(immediately following respective ceremonies)
- College of Architecture: College of Architecture gallery
No other colleges will have receptions following the ceremonies. Graduates will receive their diplomas by mail.
Additional Information
For more information about commencement, including maps and parking, visit the commencement web page.
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