Students to Participate in Summer 2020 Commencement

August 5, 2020

Schedule, top graduates and banner bearers are announced.

Texas Tech University will virtually host the summer commencement ceremony Saturday (Aug. 8) at 9:30 a.m. The ceremony will be live-streamed via Texas Tech's commencement website. A total of 2,172 undergraduate and graduate students will be honored.

Ginger Kerrick will serve as the commencement speaker. Kerrick is the Deputy Director of the Exploration Integration and Sciences Directorate at NASA, Johnson Space Center. She also serves on Texas Tech University System's Board of Regents.

Armando Elizalde-Velazquez and Rachel Givens will serve as student speakers for the commencement ceremonies. Elizalde-Velazquez, graduating with a doctor of philosophy in environmental toxicology, will serve as the graduate speaker. Givens, graduating with a bachelor of arts in psychology will serve as the undergraduate speaker.

Banner Bearers

Outstanding students, chosen based on their all-around achievement, have been named banner bearers for their colleges. The banner bearers are:

• College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources (CASNR): Hagan Dirk Wright, natural resources management
• College of Architecture: Anna Margaret Gonitzke, architecture
• College of Arts & Sciences: Marta Anna Wojtkowski, biology
• College of Education: Emily Beam, education
• College of Human Sciences: Tezarea Secanze Derry, nutrition
• College of Media & Communication: Karena Friesen, digital media and professional communication
• Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering: Tristan Atkin, mechanical engineering
• Graduate School: Jonathan E. Verbeten, doctor of philosophy in fine arts
• Honors College: Hafsa Zuberi, general studies
• Jerry S. Rawls College of Business: Crystal Nkiruka Onwukaife, accounting
• J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts (TCVPA): Michelle Shin, art
• University Programs: Jennifer Rubio, university studies

Honor Students

The highest-ranking summer graduated for each college/program are:

• CASNR: Hagan Dirk Wright, natural resources management
• College of Architecture: Anna Margaret Gonitzke, architecture
• College of Arts & Sciences: Kaci E. Norwood, biology; Parker J. Zimmerman, history; Hafsa Zehra Zuberi, general studies
• College of Education: Emily Anne Beam, education; Allison Lee Beam, education
• College of Engineering: Blake Anthony Barcia, electrical engineering; Hans William Hudyncia, mechanical engineering
• College of Human Sciences: Tezarea Secanze Derry, nutrition; Peggy Lynn Frye, human sciences, Lauren Ashley Helm, human development and family studies; Monisha Jeraldin, apparel design and manufacturing; Sabrina Marie Rebaldo, restaurant, hotel, and institutional management
• College of Media and Communication: Karena Friesen, digital media and professional communication; Samantha L. Ward, communication studies
• Honors College: William Lowell Little, honors sciences and humanities, microbiology, history
• Rawls College: Sujan Aryal, finance; Audrey Jade Green, accounting; Tien Hoang, accounting; Candra Naomi Hurley, accounting; Michael S. Russo, accounting; Kendall Ann Tilton, accounting
• TCVPA: Breanna Elisa Velasquez, arts
• University Studies: Jennifer Rubio, university studies; Samantha R. Lynne, university studies; Christy M. Werner, university studies
• Wind Energy: Kevin M. Mosher, wind energy

For additional information, visit the commencement web page.

tags: Academics, Achievements, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, College of Architecture, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Media and Communication, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Feature Stories, Graduate School, President, Rawls College of Business Administration, Stories, Students, TTU Features, college of human sciences, events, honors college, provost, wind

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