College of Arts and Science Hooding and Honors Ceremony

The College of Arts and Science held the Hooding and Honors Ceremony Friday, December 16, 2011 at the Texas A & M International University's Student Center Ballroom.  The ceremony was a personal and private ceremony to honor those students graduating with University honors, honors, or a master's degree. 

Dr. Deborah Blackwell, Director of the University Honors Program, was privileged to recognize three of her students with a University Honors Program Diploma.  The University Honors Program is a four-year scholarship given to students with high academic achievements and standards. Some of the requirements entail that students must maintain a minimum of 15 credit hours per semester with a 3.2 grade point average, completing 30 community service hours each academic year, writing a thesis to be presented at the Lamar Bruni Vergara Conference, and a final senior 25 page thesis paper to be presented in front of a select panel. 

Undergraduate Sara Herrera is one of the three students from the College of Arts and Sciences graduating with a University Honors Diploma.  Ms. Herrera found it especially challenging to complete the program after becoming a mother.  However, she found the strength and dedication to complete the program a semester early with the support of her loved ones.  "When I came here tonight I thought of my grandfather who passed away in 2006…he was a very big educator and every time I wanted to give up or felt like I couldn't complete my education I thought of him. So first and foremost I would like to thank my grandfather", says Herrera.  Ms. Herrera has a passion for Journalism and will be receiving a University Honors Diploma with a Bachelors of Communications.

Undergraduate students were honored with cords by their professors to signify graduating with honors, high honors, and highest honors.  Students graduating with honors, Cum Laude, must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 to 3.69.  Those students graduating with high honors, Magna Cum Laude, must have a GPA ranging from 3.7 to 3.89.  To receive highest honors, Summa Cum Laude, a student must have a GPA of 3.9 and above.  Within the College of Arts and Sciences, three students will graduate with highest honors, eight students with high honors, and 11 with honors. 

Finally, graduate students were honored during the hooding ceremony for completion of their master's degree.  Graduate students had the opportunity to write a 75 word paragraph giving thanks to those people in their lives that encouraged and supported them through their academic journey.  They also had the chance to ask the professor that made a significant impact in their lives to read their words of gratitude aloud as they were hooded. 

 (For more information regarding this article, please contact Elisa Zubeldia at eazubeldia@dusty.tamiu.edu.)