For a whole semester, students have been working hard to graduate from Texas A&M International University in 2009, and on Saturday, Dec. 12, all their hard work paid off.
Nearly 700 students received their diploma in two Commencement Exercises, one at 10 a.m., followed by a second at 2 p.m. The ceremonies were abruptly moved from their traditional location on the “green” located in front of the Killiam Library, due to weather conditions, to the Kinesiology and Convocation Building, or the gym.
“The University (was) committed to having a beautiful ceremony for its Graduates and in no way was this move made without much consideration for the safety of every graduate and his/her guests,” said Dr. Pablo Arenaz, Provost for TAMIU in a e-mail sent to students Thursday evening.
“All students were given six tickets in their last correspondence from the Registrar’s Office, along with an explanation of the procedures that would be followed should we have to move the ceremony indoors,” continued the e-mail.
The decision to move the graduation to the gym limited the amount of tickets each student was given for family and friends, which resulted in a backlash from some students.
“I was disappointed at first to hear that we would receive six tickets for family only,” said Ricardo Luna who received his bachelor’s degree in Management and Information Systems.
In an effort to ease this backlash, and accommodate for the limited amount of seating in the gym, the University allowed the “overflow” of attendees to watch a “Live Simulcast of the ceremony” held in the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts’ Recital Hall and Theater, according to the e-mail.
When the ceremony began, I looked around for everyone in knew, and when it was all said and done, the people that have been supporting me over the years and those who mattered the most to me where there, Luna said.
“It was a memorable event,” said Luna adding that he was able to graduate with students he had formed tight bonds with throughout his college career.
“It’s the end of the road…we have the future to look forward to and see where the road takes us,” Luna said.
As opposed to his high school graduation, Luna said that college is the perfect opportunity to network with people in similar fields, who share “the same aspirations and goals,” which can help in the long run.
During the morning ceremony, one attendee, Eddie Richmond, noted the fact that the University recognized the diverse group of graduates, some of which have come from different countries, including Mexico, and assorted regions of Europe and Asia.
Richmond, whose sister and brother-in-law both received their bachelor’s and master’s degree respectively, continued praising the ceremony as a Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) cadet was sworn into the United States Army as Second Lieutenant upon completion of his degree.
“They ceremony lasted about two hours…it was very packed but overall it was a good event,” said Richmond.