Winter commencement moved indoors

Inclement weather expected on Saturday has moved the UTB-TSC commencement celebration indoors and split the event into three different ceremonies at the Jacob Brown Auditorium, officials announced Thursday.

There is not enough space in the auditorium to hold one ceremony for University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College graduates and their supporters, a UTB official said. The auditorium is on International Boulevard and May Street across from the Oliveira Library.

On Saturday, more than 1,000 UTB-TSC students are set to receive certificate, associate, bachelor, master and doctoral degrees on the Cardenas South Hall lawn at 9 a.m. This is the 17th winter commencement, according to a press release.

The following is the schedule Saturday for all graduates:

• 9 a.m.- Associate degrees and certificates for all the schools and colleges. Check in for graduates is 7 a.m. at the Arts Center Red Room.
• 11:30 a.m. - Bachelor, master and doctorate degrees in the College of Education, College of Nursing, College of Biomedical Sciences and Health Professions and College of Science, Mathematics, and Technology. Check in for graduates is 9:30 a.m. at the Arts Center Red Room.
• 2 p.m. - Bachelor and master degrees in the College of Liberal Arts and the School of Business. Check in for graduates is noon at the Arts Center Red Room.

Students receiving more than one degree should attend the ceremony of their highest degree.

Faculty will check in at the Women’s Center next door to the Jacob Brown Auditorium. Seating will be on a first-come, first-serve basis and the doors will open to the public 30 minutes prior to each ceremony.

In the event of an overflow crowd, each ceremony will be broadcast live in the Garza Gym, between Gorgas Hall and Cardenas South Hall.

Joint graduation

On Wednesday, while attending TSC’s 85th anniversary celebration, UTB transition team leader Michael Putegnat told The Brownsville Herald the last joint UTB-TSC graduation has not been scheduled yet. The end of the 20-year UTB-TSC educational partnership has progressed for more than a year now.

Putegnat acknowledged that a graduation ceremony is an important part of a school’s identity and said over time TSC’s identity will likely steadily emerge.

As for the last joint graduation, he said the time when that comes is up to TSC.

“We’re leaving it in their hands,” Putegnat said.

Even when UTB and TSC have separate graduations they may be on they same day, but at different times for the sake of convenience and logistics, he said.

David G. Oliveira, a long-time TSC trustee, will be the keynote speaker at the ceremonies on Saturday.

Notable achievements

The winter 2011 class of UTB-TSC students graduating on Saturday includes firsts and major achievements in the face of adversity.

According to a press release, a year ago this winter, the university awarded its first doctorates. On Saturday, three graduates will receive doctor of education degrees. One of them, Mary Soto, is the daughter of Yvonne and David Freeman, who are both professors in the university’s College of Education. Vanessa Martinez will be the first UTB-TSC student to receive a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction.

From Sulema Sosa, who continued to earn a bachelor of science in criminal justice after losing her father to a drunk driver in 2009, to Jose Luis Rodriguez, a cancer survivor and winter graduate, there are stories of triumph among this class.

Rodriguez will receive his bachelor of applied arts and sciences/interdisciplinary studies on Saturday. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2008, but continued his education with the support and encouragement of his children.