A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business Hooding and Honor Cord Ceremony

On Dec. 14, 2012, the A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business hosted their Hooding and Honor Cord ceremony in the Fine and Performing Arts Theater at Texas A&M International University. Honorary guests present at the ceremony were Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, Dr. Jeffrey M. Brown; Vice President for Student Success, Dr. Minita Ramirez; Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Mary T. Treviño; and A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business faculty. The ceremony was officially initiated by the Dean of the A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business, Dr. Steven Sears.

The students receiving their hoods and honor cords were congratulated by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Pablo Arenaz. In his congratulatory remarks, Arenaz stated, "You have a reputation in this community to keep up because we want to continue to send our graduates from the A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business to local businesses, so you need to make sure you do a really good job out there because you are the trailblazers for the next generation of people who will graduate from this institution."

Dr. Steve Sears explained to the students and audience the importance and significance of the graduate hoods. As stated by Sears, those receiving their honor cords and hoods were "outstanding students who have excelled in their academic achievements and maintained very high grade point averages." In order to graduate with honors, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above throughout their college career.

The presentation of honor cords was conducted by Dr. Steve Sears, Associate Dean Dr. Antonio J. Rodriguez, and undergraduate Maggie Blasco. The director of University Honors Program Dr. Deborah L. Blackwell presented the university honors program recognition to Itahi Caballero as well.

Graduate students had the honor to be presented with their hoods by interim Chair of the Division of International Banking and Finance Studies, Dr. Antonio J. Rodriguez, Chair of the Division of International Banking and Finance Studies Dr. S. Srinivasan and graduate advisor Imelda Lopez. Each graduate student wrote a remark of their journey to accomplishing their graduate degree, the readers of those remarks were Dr. Robert D. Evans, Jr., Dr. Heriberto Garcia and Dr. Andres E. Rivas-Chavez.

Sears concluded the ceremony by congratulating the students and their loved ones for their accomplishments and achievements.

(Evelyn Camero and Joana Santillana may be reached at evelyn_camero@dusty.tamiu.edu & joana.santillana@dusty.tamiu.edu)