By Holly Green
Staff Reporter
May 17, 2008 01:19 am
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Approximately 300 students will be graduating from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences this weekend, and more than 50 were honored for their outstanding accomplishments during a ceremony on Friday afternoon.
The event was held from 2:30-4 p.m. in the Criminal Justice Center’s Killinger Auditorium.
During the ceremony, the college recognized all of its graduates, as well as acknowledged honor program students, those graduating with honors, master’s students who have completed a thesis and the outstanding undergraduate in each department, according to CHSS administrative assistant Toni Abshire.
“It is a more intimate way to congratulate those students for their hard work and diligence in completing either their undergraduate or graduate degrees in our college, and to provide those graduates and their families more personal access to faculty, chairs, and the dean during this time of celebration,” Abshire said. “These students will be alums, and we want them to feel a continued connection to our college.”
John M. de Castro gave the welcome and invocation, reminding parents and faculty of the success stories sitting around them.
“We are here today to celebrate the achievements of our graduating seniors,” he said. “I know each and every student has a wonderful story to tell and I wish we could hear them all.”
J. D. Ragsdale, chair of the Department of Communication Studies, said he is proud of students who strive for excellence.
“The kinds of people being honored here today have been slandered throughout their career, being called things like ‘nerd,’ ” he said. “However ... these people are truly the elite.”
Students recognized in the Department of Communication Studies included Abby Beal and Pare Radillo.
Students recognized in the Department of English included Brandon Strubberg, Pamela Barrett, Jessica Otto, Julie Krieger, Dawn Anders, Dawn Clingaman, Jennifer Fox, Rachel Hurst, Nickolus Reasoner, Amy Cook and Jose de la Garza.
Students recognized in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences included Amanda Abbott, Larissa Wade, Teresa Dillard, Amber Valdes, Natasha Stevenson and Amanda Brown.
Students recognized in the Department of Foreign Languages included Idalia Rodriguez, Heather Grasse, Ashlyn Remmert, Amber Baxter, Chance Christiansen, Beatriz Duarte, Elsa Gonzalez, Audrey Hopson, Phyllis Kirkby, Flor Lopez, Iris Rivera, Andrew Rohm and Justin Breeden.
Students recognized in the Department of Mass Communication included Kristin Edwards, Kristen Lundgren, Courtney Lundgren and Rhema Hill.
Students recognized in the Department of Political Science included Blake Holub, Brandon Reese, Alexias Bell, Stephanie Brim, Amber Castro, Matala Idi, Rachel Ragosa, Jason Smith, Cali Luco, Marredia Rogers, Thomas Schulte, Kristen Sterba-Schultz and Shawanesh Scott.
Students recognized in the Department of Psychology/ Philosophy included Heather Grasse, Rachel Ragosa, Lauren Lara, Leslie McConnell, Lisa Thompkins, Michael Deveau, Elizabeth Hartwell, Christina Hidalgo, Mark Patterson, Stevie Puckett, Jason Randall, Patti Sexton, Kyriea Kana, Shelly McCain, Mandy Rothrock, Sherry Shirley, Grace Ekeke, Amanda Amacker, Traci Heintzman, Amanda McGorty, Mark Stonger, Jennifer Vickery, Crystal Debbendener, Alyssa Ashford, Ashley Fournier, Brandi Herrera, Sabrina Stringer, Kristy Lawson, Erika Marosi, Kimberly Parker, Johana Scot and Matthew Webster.
Students recognized in the Department of Sociology included Cheryl Hudec, Lisa Thompkins and Thomas Chapmond.
Closing the ceremony, Marta Edwards, CHSS alumni board member, spoke to students about the Sam Houston State Alumni Association.
“I know you are all excited for the graduation ceremonies this weekend,” she said. “More than 85,000 students have graduated from SHSU and the alumni association is the tie that binds us together. It’s about getting connected and staying connected to the lifelong friends you’ve made here at SHSU.”
De Castro said he has high hopes for the students’ future endeavors.
“I will guarantee that these graduate will accomplish great things and become great leaders that will inspire the next generation of future leaders,” he said.
The College of Business Administration will also hold a commencement ceremony today at 10 a.m.
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