innovation. UNT's inseparable ties to Denton go
back to that 1890 beginning
when a group of local business leaders known as
the Syndicate purchased ten
acres to establish the college. Before the new
campus was ready, classes met on
the top floor of a hardware store downtown. 70
students, men and women,
attended and later a group of Creek Indians
helped boost enrollment. The new
Normal building, financed by the city, opened
on campus in 1891. Our second
president, J.J. Crumley, continued the
challenge of establishing the college
and gained state recognition for the school's
degrees. The legislation named
us North Texas Normal College and North has
been a part of our name ever since.
The college embraced innovative research in the
mid-30s with scientists like J.K.G.
Silvey, whose water quality studies, some of
the institution's earliest funded
research, started the rising tide of UNT's
passion to protect the environment.
In 1935, our first master's degree programs
began. Today, UNT is a hub for
bio-based research focused on preserving the
planet. In 1961, the college
officially became North Texas State University.
Acknowledgement that we were
transforming into an academic institution of
the first order. The
University Day celebration featured speeches,
dancing, and the ringing of the
victory bell. In the 1980s, led by President
and Chancellor Alfred F. Hurley,
the university set a course for becoming a
national research institution, bringing
distinguished faculty and research to campus
and contributing to the success
of our region, state, and nation. Over the
years, the research and scholarship
enterprise has expanded to include plant
science, materials science, engineering,
computational chemistry, and logistics, just to
name a few. Today, with 12
colleges and schools, UNT is a pacesetter in
finding multidisciplinary innovative
solutions in energy, agriculture, nutrition,
medicine, and many other areas.
We have come a long way from 70 students above
a hardware store, but the vision of
founding President Chilton to become leaders in
the education of young men
and women rings as true as ever. Today, our
16th president, Neil Smatresk, leads a
UNT that aspires to national prominence as a
research institution, offers the
best education, and remains vibrantly tied to
the North Texas region and our
Denton community.
At UNT, we're just like every other university.
No, we're not. You can be yourself at UNT, be
part of a
tier-one research university, and get the best
college food anywhere. UNT likes to have fun,
with so many degrees to help you soar, all in a
caring community.
Oh, it was a long journey, but to be here today
is really an honor.
Honestly, we're really proud because we've seen
the man-hours that she's put
into all the time, effort, homework,
assignments, everything. So, I think it's
really exhilarating to see her finally make it.
It's just huge. We are so proud. I get very
emotional. Is that okay? I'm so
overwhelmed. Oh my gosh, it's just a blessing,
and we're so proud of him.
I believe getting a degree, period, would do
wonders for us, and the fact that we've
done it, and there are other things that are
coming forth, I'm just very excited.
UNT was actually one of two schools that I
applied for. The other one was in
Sweden, and that was just to piss my mom off.
UNT was my first choice.
We had teachers that helped motivate us the
entire time. They were truly there
for us to do our best and be successful in the
future. So, I mean, even at those
times that we felt like we were going to fail,
they made sure we didn't.
If it wasn't for the program, I wouldn't have
been able to do it.
I definitely sought out a whole plethora of
things to do at UNT that
could definitely help me in my career.
I'm actually going back to UNT for a Master's
of Public Administration, and
yeah, and I just landed a really great job with
the Children's Advocacy Center
in Ferdinand County.
They helped me in mostly everything, but then
I'm probably going to help them now
that I have my education.
We'll get it in writing.
Good day to UNT.
Love you guys.
I love you guys.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the University
of North Texas Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremony
for the College of Science.
Our ceremony will begin in just a few minutes.
Please take this opportunity to turn off all
cell phones and other electronic devices.
For the safety of our candidates and guests,
only authorized press, university photographers,
faculty, staff, and graduates are permitted on
the Coliseum floor.
We hope you will enjoy this ceremony and
remember it fondly for many years to come.
Because this is a special day for all our
graduates, we ask you to stay until the end
of the ceremony so that everyone will feel
honored by your presence.
Now, please stand as you are able and remain
standing for the processional and the National Anthem.
National Anthem
Ladies and gentlemen, the members of the
platform committee.
Dr. Neil Smatresk, UNT President.
Mr. Brandon Busby, Vice President for
University Advancement.
Dr. John Quintanilla, Dean of the College of Science.
Dr. Kiko Kawamura, Principal Lecturer of Mathematics.
Dr. Lee Hughes, Associate Dean of the College
of Science.
Dr. Jody Shaw, Chair of Biological Sciences.
Dr. Lee Slaughter, Chair of Chemistry.
Dr. Ralph Schmidt, Chair of Mathematics.
Dr. Jingbao Cui, Chair of Physics.
Dr. Rudy Thompson, Associate Vice President,
Digital Strategy and Innovation,
and College of Science Director of TEACH North Texas.
Mr. Jermaine J.T. Turner, President of the
Student Government Association.
O say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's
last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through
the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting
in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was
still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Please be seated.
Good afternoon. I am John Quintanilla, Dean of
the College of Science.
Welcome to the University of North Texas on
this wonderful graduation day.
Today is truly an exciting occasion as we honor
the Spring 2023 graduates of the College of Science.
Let me begin by thanking our great musicians,
Ms. Natasha Becker, Doctor of Musical Arts in
Vocal Performance,
who led us in singing the National Anthem,
and was accompanied by Ms. Yuxuan Liu,
Doctor of Musical Arts in Collaborative Piano.
It is an honor to have us today,
UNT Vice President for University Advancement,
Mr. Brandon Busby.
Thank you for coming.
It is my pleasure to extend congratulations to
each of you.
Today you have achieved a new milestone in your life,
no doubt overcoming multiple obstacles along
the way.
Four short years ago, I suspect that only a few
of you had even heard of Zoom,
or Respondus, or a cam scanner, or maybe even Canvas.
Arriving at this day has not been easy.
Here you are surrounded by people who helped
you get where you are today
and who are so proud of you to see you take on
new challenges and opportunities
as you transition from your life as a college
student to a college graduate.
Many of the people who love you and who have
supported you are here today to share in your joy.
In the audience, for those who are able,
Would the parents of the graduates please stand up?
Any grandparents here, please stand up.
Please stay standing. Grandparents, please
stand up.
Spouses or children, friends, other relatives,
please, all in the audience, please stand up. (applause)
Graduates, please take this moment to stand and
turn and thank the people in your life
who supported you in your academic endeavors. (applause)
Please be seated.
I'd now like to invite President Smatresk to
the podium to offer his congratulations to the graduates.
Thanks, Dean Quintanilla.
Wow, what a great day, huh?
The stands are packed.
Your friends and family are here to celebrate
your achievements.
And what a few years it's been for all of you, right?
I mean, let's recap here.
A couple years of COVID.
Snowmageddon times two.
And a really rigorous curriculum that you've
all had to challenge yourself with.
I mean, math, chemistry, biology, physics.
Whew, that's some steep stuff.
Now, the Good news for me is you are my people.
I'm a biologist by trade, although I kind of
hung up my spurs about 20 years ago
as I entered administration and began doing the
kinds of things I'm doing now.
But that doesn't mean I'm any less invested in
a future that is led by STEM professionals.
So what are you going to do?
What are you going to do to help the world get
to be a better place?
It's kind of worth thinking about because in
front of me right now are the science and
technology leaders of the future.
And whether it's advanced analytics, artificial
intelligence, qubits, and quantum computing.
By the way, I don't know if you've been
following the breakthroughs that have been
happening in Quantum Computing and Entanglement.
It's kind of creepy, weird, and amazing all at
the same time.
Really, things happening faster than the speed
of light?
I thought that wasn't possible.
So many technological advances are occurring on
a daily basis.
Whether it's intervention to stop terrible
diseases and pandemics.
Whether it's life extension.
Whether it's growing new types of food sources.
There is an infinite array of possibilities
ahead for each of you.
So all you have to do is figure out where you
sit in that array and what you want to go after.
Some of you will probably go on to professional
school. Great.
Some of you probably don't know what you're
going to do with that biology major.
Is anybody here not quite sure what they're
going to be doing in the future?
You can raise your hand.
I'm not sure. I'm going to raise my hand.
Okay, there's four of you.
I don't believe that.
But if that's the case, congratulations, then
you've got it figured out.
And you won't need to have too many course corrections.
But if you haven't got it figured out, you have
an incredible base of training.
Think about what you've all had to go through.
You're all quantitatively capable.
You've all taken rigorous math classes,
probably statistics classes.
You certainly understand the basic process of
research and how to analyze the things that are
put in front of you.
You know deep content knowledge in a broad area.
You have mastered many of the skills that would
serve you well.
It wouldn't matter if you were working on Wall
Street or working for a logistics firm or
pursuing some advanced research.
You're capable.
So never sell yourself short.
Your skills are remarkable.
Now, for the audience, you may have noticed we
dress kind of fancy for these things.
And there are reasons for that.
The garb that I'm wearing is a robe.
Like, who gets up and dresses in robes?
This started a long time ago, probably back
around 1,000 years ago, in the drafty old
lecture halls of parts of England and so forth,
where we derived much tradition in higher
education from.
People wore robes to keep warm.
It's pretty straightforward.
They didn't always wear these funky hats, but
for some reason we decided we'd add hats to our
regalia and caps.
You see everybody has a cap.
You'll also see that some of us, let me look.
Let's see.
John, you want to stand up?
And turn around so everyone can see.
You also see that we have these fancy things.
Now, they look to me kind of like drapes or scarves.
But in fact, they're called hoods.
And I think at one time they were really hoods,
and you had to put them up.
So we celebrate hoodies here in academics.
Thank you, John.
You'll also see that people are wearing and are
festooned with any number of decorative items.
Let's see.
JT, come on up here.
JT is highly decorated.
He's wearing stoles that represent social
organizations that he's in or professional
activities that he's served in as your student
government leader.
He also has an array of cords.
Hold it.
Show them the cords.
Cords also denote an extra special engagement
or affiliation with a specific group.
Thank you, JT.
And you might see people who have academic bling.
Medals, medallions around their necks that
denote membership, for example, in the honors
program or high academic honors of some flavor.
In fact, today you'll be learning a little bit
more about our people who graduated with Latin
honors, cum laude, Magna cum laude, summa cum laude.
I didn't have any of those.
So if you didn't have them, don't worry.
You can still save your life and have a great
academic experience.
So what I want you all to know is on today,
today, as you become the newest graduates
anywhere in the world, that the sky is the
limit for all of you.
That uncertainty and failure are fine.
I've made any number of mistakes in my life,
most of which I walked away from.
Making mistakes is not the end.
Failing is not the end.
You can challenge yourself and try hard and
then learn a lesson from whatever happens next
and carry that forward.
In the coming years, you will certainly achieve
at high levels, and many of you in this group
will go on to great things.
What I'd ask you is that you communicate back
with your faculty members.
We've got some faculty up front here.
Our faculty in the College of Science and
elsewhere are as good or better than any
faculty anywhere that you've ever seen.
The mentorship that you received is important,
and it's exciting.
It's why we're here.
It's why we do this.
So when you go on to achieve or when you hit a
stumbling block, why don't you shoot us an
email or a text or whatever it is we happen to
be using 10 years from now, and let us know how
you're doing.
I still get notes from students that I had 30
years ago, and every time I do, it makes me
smile, and it makes me more excited than ever
that I get to serve in this capacity and change
so many lives.
One final thing.
A number of you may be first-generation college students.
Any of you first-generation? Yeah.
Was it a little bit scary to be a science major
as a first-generation college student?
Maybe, maybe not.
Some of you have some bravado and confidence,
and some of you are like, yeah, it was a little scary.
I'm a first-generation student.
I was supposed to be a ditch digger in Buffalo,
New York.
That was going to be my fate.
That's what my father told me.
I was going to be a laborer, and I took a
different path.
And, boy, am I happy I did, because working as
a laborer in the winter in Buffalo is just not
fun, even a little bit.
But you who are first-generation are part of
what we do as a social mobility elevator.
We transform lives.
We've transformed your life, but it doesn't
stop there.
Your moms and dads will have a better quality
of life.
Your brothers and sisters will be more likely
to go to school.
Your nieces and nephews have a role model.
And through time now, your family will be
changed because you made the decision to go to college.
And I'm proud of you for that decision.
It's really exciting.
So, you've already thanked those who came here
to celebrate with you, your loved ones and your
friends and your family.
And today, it's going to be my privilege to
confer degrees on you and help you become UNT alumni.
And that's a special and honored distinction
that you will never leave.
You are part of the Mean Green family forever.
And that's also exciting.
You join a network of over 400,000 alumni.
You'll hear more about that a little bit later
from our advancement officer and VP for advancement.
So, finally, congratulations.
We need you more than ever.
Climate change, global strife, the rise of dictatorships.
Take your pick.
Missions to Mars.
There's a place for all of you.
And I know that you're going to guide us into a
better future.
So, with that, I'll leave you with my three
favorite words.
Congratulations and go Mean Green!
I love you, Nicole! Yeah!
It is my pleasure to introduce our commencement
speaker, Dr. Kiko Kawamura.
Dr. Kawamura is a principal lecturer of
mathematics where she teaches everything from
algebra to calculus to statistics.
Her research on fractal geometry has led to the
publication of more than 20 peer-reviewed papers.
On her end-of-semester evaluations, here are
the adjectives that her students use to
describe her.
Organized, enthusiastic, amazing, and fun.
Dr. Kawamura organizes the students' talk
research seminars, spotlighting the excellent
work of her undergraduate researchers.
Among her many accomplishments as an educator,
Dr. Kawamura has been honored as a Teacher of
Merit by the Society for Science's Regeneron
Science Talent Search.
She received a College of Science Faculty Award
for Teaching and a Teaching Excellence
Spotlight Award from the UNT Center for
Learning, Experimentation, Application, and Research.
Will you join with me in welcoming Dr. Kawamura? (applause)
Thanks, Dean Guinera, for the wonderful invitation.
Hello, everyone!
I am honored and humbled to be standing on this stage.
About 20 years ago, I came to UNT as a
postdoctoral research fellow.
It is a little bit surprising to imagine that
you are just babies 20 years ago.
In fact, I was also like a baby because I
couldn't speak English at all.
So, I feel we are all together here to
celebrate our milestone.
Let me introduce myself briefly.
I was born and raised in Kyoto, Japan.
My father is a traditional Japanese clothes
artisan, and my mother is a household wife.
According to my parents, I was slow with everything.
They couldn't find any mathematical talent in
me at all.
In fact, I had a hard time to understand 1 plus
1 equals 2.
Well, let me explain about this.
Just imagine the one cloud coming from the left
and another cloud coming from the right.
They crash together and then to make a big cloud.
So, 1 plus 1 equals 1.
Make sense?
Of course, my father was worried about me.
He started teaching me math every morning at 6 a.m.
I hated it because my father always scolded me
if I made a mistake.
So, I was always scared and crying every morning.
Oh, don't think that my father is a
child-abusing man.
No, no, no.
He just loved me and wanted to help me out.
In fact, without his sparring training, I could
not have succeeded in getting a Ph.D.. in math.
So, thanks to that.
My mother is kind of like opposite.
She's a person who can believe her child is genius.
If I say 1 plus 1 is 1, she can believe that.
Oh, don't think that, you know, my mother is stupid.
No, no, no.
She just loved me unconditionally.
Just like your mom loves you.
Today, I want to give you two messages from my life.
The first message is, don't judge if something
is good or bad instantly.
Let me give you one example.
30 years ago in Japan, it was still rare for
women to study sciences.
Some smart female classmate gave up to going to
the graduate school.
Because their parents said,
Oh, no, you will not be able to get married to
a nice man if you keep studying math.
Well, fortunately, my parents didn't say that.
So, I went to graduate school.
There, I met a wonderful advisor, Professor Yamaguchi.
He told me how interesting and beautiful
mathematics is.
And I discovered incredible satisfaction that
math research could bring to me.
However, some other professor worried about my
future and warned me saying,
Kiko, you will not find any job at all in academia
because female mathematicians need to prove
that they are five times better than male mathematicians.
Well, indeed, I could not find any full-time
job in Japan even after receiving my Ph.D..
On top of it, I broke up with my fiancé.
Life is tough sometimes.
I was 27 years old.
I lost confidence in myself and was deeply
depressed about my future.
Well, I didn't see it then, but actually it was
a good turning point in my life.
Because otherwise I would not come to the
United States.
I would have lost forever the chance to see the
world and my background and myself from the outside.
So, please don't think that Japan is a terrible
country for female mathematicians or scientists.
Situation has changed in these 30 years.
My second message is, be bold.
Never assume something is impossible.
When I arrived in the Denton 20 years ago, I
didn't have anything.
No job, no money, no boyfriend, no family
member nearby.
And I could not speak English.
Of course, some people might have thought that
I was just crazy.
Well, United States is the number one country
which attracts the top researchers from all
over the world.
So, I was just simply very excited to work with
a world-famous mathematician in UNT, Dr. Dan Morden.
I met Dr. Morden in an international conference
held in Japan.
Since I really wanted to impress him with my
research talk,
I acted as I could to speak English fluently.
Surprisingly, it worked.
He believed me and he invited me to the UNT and
even suggested me.
I teach classes at UNT to support myself financially.
I could not believe that to get such a nice offer.
Of course, it was pretty scary at that moment,
but I decided to trust it would all work out okay.
Well, it was not so romantic.
The language barrier was real and tougher than
I expected.
I still remember the first day in Denton 20
years ago.
I tried ordering a cup of coffee saying, saying,
Okay, try again.
Gosh, it was the moment I finally understood
the reality.
I cannot even order a cup of coffee.
How can I teach the math courses in English
after three months?
It was clear that the most urgent thing to do
is improving my English.
So instead of doing my math research, I went to
the IELI, Intensive English Language Institute.
There was absolutely no time to cry or be depressed.
I had the limited saving, just a little bit, I
have a limited saving in the bank.
And I really needed to improve my English as
quickly as possible.
Otherwise, no classes to teach.
It meant no financial support.
There was no other choice.
Just do it, even if it seems impossible.
The human brain is interesting.
By facing such a desperate situation,
my depression was gone and I was back to the life.
I rather felt happiness to discover my hidden
ability and strength every day.
And during this chaotic time,
I also met a nice young man who later became my
husband, Peter.
Peter Aratt.
Obviously, I could not have succeeded to
survive without Dr. Morden's support.
He could have been angry with me, but instead,
he calmly accepted who I was.
He called International Overseas Studies,
He calmly accepted who I was.
He called international office to find a good
graduate student who helped me to settle in London.
He even asked his own son to teach me how to
drive the car.
Dr. Dan Morden was not only a great mathematician,
but also a nice Texan with southern hospitality.
Fortunately, after three months, the math
department hired me first as a math lab tutor,
then as a teaching assistant, and finally one
year later as a visiting assistant professor.
I really thank Dr. Neubrand, who was the chair
of the math department at that time,
for his trust and strong support.
The UND math department has been my home ever since.
I have never felt isolated, even though I am a
minority in the department.
I also learned a lot from you, the student.
And I'm proud of overcoming my heavy language barrier
to establish my own teaching style.
And now, here I am.
Thank you.
Twenty years ago, nobody could possibly imagine
that I would be standing on this stage
and giving this speech.
So thank you so much, Dean Quintanilla.
Well, as you graduate now, to begin a new
chapter in a new life,
I wish for you, be bold.
If you find something interesting or exciting,
go for it.
You know, nobody knows what is good or what is bad.
So don't be afraid of failure.
Never assume something is impossible,
because it may just be possible.
Thank you so much for listening.
And congratulations, the class of 2023.
We made it!
Thank you.
Thank you, Dr. Kawamura, for an inspiring
speech to our graduates.
I am Lee Hughes, Associate Dean for
Undergraduate Studies.
The College of Science supports a wide variety
of academic interests,
and I'd like to recognize some of the different
paths that some of you have taken to get here today.
If you completed more than one major, if you
double or even triple majored, please stand.
Please be seated.
If you made the Dean's List or the President's
List at least once, please stand.
Please be seated.
If you completed one of the college academic
certificates in Actuarial Science, Forensic
Science, or Data Analytics, please stand.
Please be seated.
If you participated in a research project or
research course, completed a senior thesis,
worked at an internship, or attended a
professional conference, if you did any of
these, please stand.
Please be seated.
If you were an ambassador for the College of
Science, or if you were a member of one of our
student organizations
focusing on mathematics, science, teaching,
actuarial science, or a health-related club,
please stand.
Please be seated.
If one degree isn't enough, and you've been
accepted to graduate school for a master's
degree or a Ph.D..,
or if you've been accepted to a health
professional school such as medical, dental,
physician assistant, or pharmacy, please stand.
Please be seated.
If you obtained teacher certification through
Teach North Texas and are about to work in a
local high school
and impact the lives of your own students,
please stand.
Please be seated.
If you have made a gift back to the university
to commemorate your graduating class,
thank you for supporting those following in
your footsteps.
Your generosity and care for others exemplifies
everything the UNT community stands for,
and your gift will go back to help others succeed.
Will those who have made a gift back to the
university, including those wearing a special
green and gold philanthropy cord today, please stand.
Please be seated.
And finally, if you are in the first generation
of your family to graduate from college,
like me, Dean Quintanilla, Dr. Smatresk, and
several others on the platform, please stand
and stand proudly.
Please be seated.
We now recognize our students graduating with
Latin honors.
The primary objective of UNT is academic excellence,
and I am pleased to recognize those students
who have not only completed their degree, but
have done so with distinction.
Undergraduate candidates whose overall grade
point averages are between 3.5 and 3.69
graduate cum laude with praise.
At this ceremony, there are 75 students
graduating cum laude.
Would those candidates please stand and be recognized.
Those candidates whose GPAs are between 3.7 and
3.89 graduate Magna cum laude with high praise.
At this ceremony, there are 81 students
graduating Magna Cum laude.
Would those students please stand and be recognized.
Please be seated.
Those candidates whose GPAs are from 3.9 to a
perfect 4.0 graduate summa cum laude with
highest praise.
At this ceremony, there are, count them, 45
students graduating summa cum laude.
Would those students please stand and be recognized.
The next part of our program is the conferral
of degrees, that little detail.
Graduates, this is the moment you have all been
waiting for.
At this moment, would all of the candidates for
the baccalaureate degree in the College of
Science please rise and remain standing until
all degrees have been conferred.
President Smatresk, on recommendation of the
faculty of the College of Science, I am pleased
to present to you these candidates for the
baccalaureate degree.
You look good.
On the recommendation of the faculty and your
dean, and by the authority vested in me by the
State of Texas through the UNT System Board of Regents,
I hereby confer upon you the degrees for which
you have been certified, with all the rights,
privileges, and honors pertaining thereto.
And now I ask the audience to join me in
celebrating the newest graduates in the universe.
Please be seated.
It's now time to recognize today's graduates individually.
Graduates, please come forward as escorted by
our ceremony marshals to be recognized
individually by name.
As you cross the stage, don't forget to stop
about right here to receive your diploma cover,
look at the camera, and take a picture with me
so that we can capture your special moment.
Marshals, please usher these new graduates to
the platform so they can be recognized.
Graduates, after you've been recognized, please
return to your place and be seated.
Presenting the candidates from the Department
of Biological Sciences.
Please be seated.
Chloe Bridget Agus
Summa Cum Laude
Chidera C. Agugo
Malika M. Ahmed
Magna Cum Laude
Beatrice Alapat
Magna Cum Laude
Pamela Alonzo
Khalid El-Ridaide
Jeanette Q. Alsemary
Magna Cum Laude
Hiba Al-Shamari
Laura Alvarez
Katherine A. Anderson
Bettina S. Anil
Magna Cum Laude
Katrina Renea Ahrens
Cum Laude
Erin N. Ashbaugh
Dulce A. Avelar
Josue Bustos
Cum Laude
Jalaya Nicole Bullock
Ryan Dinh Bao Bui
Magna Cum Laude
Elizabeth T. Bui
Jaden Breon Brown
Scott Evan Brothers Jr.
Fernando Guillermo Bravo
Kishmari A. Bravo Umpiere
Cum Laude
Kaylee J. Bragg
Summa Cum Laude
Nathan Lane Fox
Cum Laude
Julia Ryan Fox
Summa Cum Laude
Hetvy Dushyant Bhat
Darla Hassell Benavidez
Cum Laude
Chance Gregory Bell
Ellie R. Basham
Summa Cum Laude
Logan Baker
Cum Laude
Jolie A. Bongiorno
Hadiya Azam
Magna Cum Laude
Mikayla Irene Cook
Astrid Sofia Contreras
Megan K. Collins
Cameron T. Collier
Magna Cum Laude
Monica Nicole Coleman
Maren Lynn Clark
Magna Cum Laude
Kayla Krishal Siddha
Lizbeth Chavez
Magna Cum Laude
Juan Carlos Castillo
Angela M. Casillo
Adrian Carrington II
Monserrat Carrillo
Victor N. Cancino
Muhammad Ahmad Chowdhury
Cum Laude
Natalie Abigail Campos
Rishia Campbell
Caden Justin Cabrera
Cum Laude
Isabel Nicole Caballero
Nancy Alexander Ekpe
Cum Laude
Cristabel Gozechukwukwa Egede
Alyssa Lynn Edwards
Cum Laude
Stephanie Achang
Tanaya Apurva Dutt
Jarrett Spencer Drillick
Ashley Nita Douglas
Magna Cum Laude
Ashley Nita Douglas
Magna Cum Laude
Rafael V. Diaz
Nicole C. Depavia
Cum Laude
Amanda L. Daniels
Cum Laude
Ja'Kya Kimone Dale
Karen Nade Da Silva
Candida Cassian Charles
Nu Queen Dong
Cum Laude
Abigail M. Kreitz
Victoria C. Kreger
Cum Laude
Alia M. Crawford
Matias A. Crapanzano
Christopher Kyle Gilson
Magna Cum Laude
Shayan Bahram Ghofrani
Summa Cum Laude
Dylan Jean-Marie Geter
Cum Laude
Morgan Riley Gotro
Summa Cum Laude
Rosario G. Garza
Jorge Andres Garza
Grace Gardner
Cum Laude
Isela Jacqueline Garcia
Peyton M. Gage
Lechicia B. Furumoto
Cum Laude
John Marco Franco
Cum Laude
Juan Manuel Flores
Jayden Justine Flores
Kennedy Ann Fitzgerald
Magna Cum Laude
Teresa Fierro Retana
Emily C. Espinosa-Tannery
Cum Laude
Sharon Chisholm Emahel
Nadine R. Ramos
Nadine Rania Elborai
Cum Laude
Colleen Rita Elendary
Summa Cum Laude
Jaheem Harvey
Dylan J. Harrison
Cum Laude
Jayden N. Harris
Elijah Nathaniel Hansen
Summa Cum Laude
Callie J. Hammond
Cum Laude
Karina Alejandra Guzman
Cum Laude
Jordan Danielle Gus
Tristan Avery Guillen
Cum Laude
Christian H. Gabara
Cum Laude
Jacob Marion Green
Takiyah L. Gowans
Chantelle Gormer
Taylor L. Gould
Preston J. Gonzalez
Kedara Itamar Gonzalez
Amanda Kaitlyn Gonzalez
Liliana Karen Gonzalez
Jazzyz Y. Gochenko
Magna Cum Laude
Hunter Theory Glenn
Mary Catherine Glennaugh
Kalechi C. Eich
Amy Tien Yuen Huynh
Haley Alexis Hughes
Summa Cum Laude
Rebecca Huang
Sarah Michelle Howard
Allison P. Horton
Summa Cum Laude
Jenny Brianne Hallwell
Davani L. Holguin
Summa Cum Laude
Alexia V. Holmes
Karen K. Hong
Magna Cum Laude
Esperanza A. Hinojos
Magna Cum Laude
Noni Ko Hille
Abigail B. Higginbotham
Summa Cum Laude
Hallie Magnolia Henderson
Alex Colby Heiser
Magna Cum Laude
Banu Heas
Magna Cum Laude
Shantay Araya Lee-Bell Hawkins
Emanuela N. Ahaneni
Cum Laude
Christopher Mark Hawkins
Magna Cum Laude
Jihand Hassel
Cum Laude
Sammy Andrew Hasham
Oluwatafunmi Adefoluke Koropeke
Hallie Jean Kolb
Summa Cum Laude
Tiana Alyse Knott
Cum Laude
Luke T. Kline
Phillip G. Kimberlin
Magna Cum Laude
Emran A. Khan
Jasmine Kemnon
Audrey S. Kaneda
Hamza A. Kayani
Christopher H. Juarez
Magna Cum Laude
Krishna Ketanku Joshi
Magna Cum Laude
David John Jordan
Rebecca G. Johnson
Rachel Michelle Johnson
Kennedy Johnson
Axel Andre Jimenez
Magna Cum Laude
Abigail Jaramillo
Jordan Lumaica James Rollins
Juliette A. Jackson
Dana L. Ivey
Cum Laude
Kizia O. Itua
Summa Cum Laude
Ilham Hajjali
Shilin Mura Asuma
Cum Laude
Jessica T. Long
Cum Laude
Carell B. Lucusa
Magna Cum Laude
Paola Crystal Lugo Miranda
Christina Tomomi Loverin
Magna Cum Laude
Angel David Lopez
Magna Cum Laude
Allison Brianne Little
John Luis Bual Linogao
Magna Cum Laude
Abby Nicole Lepe
Jasmine Ledezma
Magna Cum Laude
Lisa Ann Lee
Cum Laude
Kelly Queen New Lee
Summa Cum Laude
Jamie Lynn Lawson
Lorena Landaverde
Summa Cum Laude
Jenny Yen Mai
Magna Cum Laude
Varaidzo Hajine Makina
Magna Cum Laude
Tavimbaneshi Mangoma
Cheyenne Dawn Manray
Lissandro Martin
Magna Cum Laude
Yesi Martinez
Cum Laude
Zohair Amar Martinez
Silvana Martinez
Magna Cum Laude
Mikayla B. Mason
Ryan Masood
Summa Cum Laude
Abel Matthew
Ryan Michelle Main
Elizabeth Marie McCauley
Cum Laude
Joseph Henry Meeks
Rodrigo Melendez
Magna Cum Laude
Isabella Michaels
Kennedy Alexandra Mills
Cum Laude
Shlok F. Mistry
Summa Cum Laude
Monica Fernanda Morales
Fatemeh Mohamedian
Magna Cum Laude
Hur Mohamed
Cum Laude
Nadia Alexis Matos
Magna Cum Laude
Tori L. Moss
Magna Cum Laude
Kimberlyn Emyra Moy
Cum Laude
Salim Mucho
Selene Y. Mujica
Cum Laude
Abby Elizabeth Mullen
Magna Cum Laude
Michael N. Musambi
Margarito Nava
Magna Cum Laude
Lane Lee Neely
Magna Cum Laude
Dalam Hu Nguyen
Ni Trinity Thu Nguyen
Magna Cum Laude
Colin Reese Nichols
Crystal Rahama Wanjiru Jogu
Magna Cum Laude
Miranda Elizabeth Nowak
Rain I. Ochoa
Abigail Julia Olson
Cum Laude
Sebastian Mohamed Omar
Cum Laude
Jessica R. O'Neill
Brianna O. Onyebua
Summa Cum Laude
Odalis A. Ortiz
Cum Laude
William J. O'Shaughnessy
Kylie Renee Phillips
Cum Laude
Clarissa Marie Molina
Cum Laude
Edgar Rodriguez
Mikel Matthew
Marie L. Muniz
Magna Cum Laude
Brandon Travis Meadows
Tracy Nguyen
Summa Cum Laude
Atik Noorani
Obioma Mbore Regina Okore
Carolina Perez Vargas
Dante Shaquille Roberson
Annelise Pacheco
Sakshi Pandey
Magna Cum Laude
Hena N. Patel
Cum Laude
Suryanshi Devendra Patel
Summa Cum Laude
Joseph Vincent Patton
Cesar Augusto Paz
Jesse Pena
Brandy H. Peralta
Alexis V. Perez
Paige Madison Petrus
Cum Laude
Joseph Reed Post
Samantha Christine Puente
Magna Cum Laude
Nicole R. Quintero
R. Quintero
Juliana Ramirez-Ortiz
Janet Ramirez
Jayla Elizabeth Reedy
Stefan Raymond Rene
Magna Cum Laude
Ariadne Yuray Reyna
Gabriela Sarina Reynoso
Victoria Leigh Rhodes
Jason Rice
Phoebe K. Richardson
Cum Laude
Katherine Elizabeth Ball Rine
Magna Cum Laude
Nicole J. Rivera
Eric Gerard Roach II
Summa Cum Laude
Jalen Jameah Robey
Alyssa Marie Rodriguez
Magna Cum Laude
Andrew Louis Rodriguez
Francisco Antonio Rodriguez
Maya A. Rodriguez
Ia Noreen C. Saldia
Magna Cum Laude
Jared L. Salgado
Caroline Y. Sanchez
Genesis Sanchez
Gloria Poleth Sanchez
Megan Leigh Sanders
Gabriela Isabel Santiago
Magna Cum Laude
Siyam Sarkar
Jacob E. Schlegel
Savannah Schultz Logie
Ebony Carolyn Scott
Jenny Allison Scott
Cum Laude
Jack Laverne Seale III
Kalkidan M. Seifu
Magna Cum Laude
Jameson Lewis Simla
Hanin Sheikh
Summa Cum Laude
Mohamed Hassan Siddiqui
Magna Cum Laude
Edgar Daniel Sierra
Lizette Sierra
Alexander Sloan
Brianna C. Smith
Shanique Rodneyesha Shackelford
Janine Patrice Smith
Lindsay B. Smith
Arvind Somasundaram
Magna Cum Laude
Trish Ngoc Son
Magna Cum Laude
Adam Z. Sumro
Magna Cum Laude
Claire Elizabeth Spann
Magna Cum Laude
Cole R. Stevens
Magna Cum Laude
Jasmine Alexandria Stone
Addison Grace Strange
Magna Cum Laude
Erin Lynn Strosters
Sandra Suarez
Magna Cum Laude
Mostafa Kaja Syed
Summa Cum Laude
Liliana K. Silva
Ngoc Tran Hoang Tha
Cum Laude
David A. Tavankovic
Emil N. Tanganyi
Natalie Lisette Tapia
Leila Tasneem Tarhouni
Kelvy Dorvell Tennyson
Jocelyn Tice
Magna Cum Laude
Thi Minh Thuong Nhu
Magna Cum Laude
Griselda M. Torres Ramirez
Anh Thuy Tran
Hoa Dang Tran
Summa Cum Laude
Melissa Rayanne Travis
Ivan Trevizo
Cum Laude
Aaron Connor Trinh
Summa Cum Laude
Jayden Sinise Turner
Felicia Valadez
Myra Valencia
Alexis Casey Vaughter
Summa Cum Laude
Rosa Isela Verdugo
Karla Christina Villalobos
Magna Cum Laude
Hendry A. Villatoro
Rudy Vittal
Eric D. Vo
Magna Cum Laude
Karen Hoang My Vo
Magna Cum Laude
Mackenzie Bao Anh Vu
Cum Laude
Ashton Wagner
Cum Laude
Matthew Jakin Wallace
Altera M. Walquist
Cum Laude
Joshua Scott Warner
Logan J. Warner
Cum Laude
Jasmine Leona Waters
Katherine E. White
Cum Laude
Kayla Rose Whitehead
Alyssa Diane Wilcoxon
Monica Sophia Williamson
Summa Cum Laude
Samara Nicole Woods
Tracy Rebecca Wright
Summa Cum Laude
Ilham Batool Yacoubi
Taylor Allowyn Young
Christian M. Youssef
Summa Cum Laude
Jacqueline Nicole Zagul
Ubed Oz Zaman
Magna Cum Laude
Mark Anthony Zamora
Summa Cum Laude
Leah Zulfikar
Magna Cum Laude
Destiny Michelle Young
Presenting the candidates
from the Department of Chemistry.
Tori Elizabeth Abel
Summa Cum Laude
Marco Antonio Arellano
Joshua Antonio Camacho
Ivane Isomi
Soraya K. Davis
Jessica M. Demophilus
Veena H. Doan
Summa Cum Laude
Jewelyn Lorraine Fort
Magna Cum Laude
Sergio Gandara
Kostas A. Jackson
Magna Cum Laude
Tashfan S. Khan
Ngoc Quynh Anh Le
Lane Catherine Longacre
Summa Cum Laude
Christina Lynn Liverett
Magna Cum Laude
Vincent Montgomery Lowe
Magna Cum Laude
Susan Elizabeth Grace Martin
Summa Cum Laude
Grace Marie Nordley
Cum Laude
Austin Russell Rudine
Magna Cum Laude
Jennifer Sigala
Oriana Mercedes Silva Belisario
Cum Laude
Mario Silva
Mackenzie Rae Todd
Nicholas Wesley Sterritt
Presenting the candidates
from the Department of Mathematics.
Melissa Mercedes
Ceci Rita Abadje
Carlos F. Alvarez
Michael Anthony Biancardi
Summa Cum Laude
Taylor M. Bigelow
Galen Quinn Bugion
Riley Nicole Burden
Cum Laude
Katie R. Clark
Magna Cum Laude
Jakub Kazimierz Drewniak
Brendan Michael Fruth
Kristina A. Fowler
Brendan Michael Fruth
Aileen Garcia
Summa Cum Laude
Fidel Carlos Gonzalez
Joshua Kincaid Grabeel
Clayton Heath Groves
Magna Cum Laude
Emma Louise Natalie Henche
Brian Lamar Leslie
Hannah M. Page
Magna Cum Laude
Samantha Nicole Paxton
Cum Laude
Alexia Danielle Reed
Magna Cum Laude
Ryan L. Ciano
Robert William Statum
Auburn Tiny Thompson
Cum Laude
Luis Orlando Vasquez
Cum Laude
Brandon N. Waters
Summa Cum Laude
Katherine Grace Wells
Cum Laude
Andrew Bridges Whitecotton
Presenting the candidates
from the Department of Physics
Haram Ahmed
Magna Cum Laude
Adrian Azizi
Jackson Derek Beam
Cum Laude
Miriel Julia Caradonna
Summa Cum Laude
Kendra Leigh Hamilton
Summa Cum Laude
Whitney Maskell
Cum Laude
Malora Jane Millerborg
Cum Laude
John W. Mitchell
Joseph A. Morin
Katherine Bryson Perov
Jonathan Hugh Pond
Brandon Busby
Hello, UNT graduates.
My name is Brandon Busby.
I'm the Vice President for University Advancement
at UNT.
First, I want to share my sincere congratulations
on your remarkable achievement.
Earning a degree is worth celebrating,
and I hope you're proud of your perseverance
and determination that brought you to this moment.
In my time at UNT,
I've discovered that this university
is more than a place.
It's a proud and powerful community.
Beyond your personal achievements,
your UNT degree signifies
that you are a member of a truly caring,
creative, and resilient
alumni family.
On this important day,
you're joining ranks with a network
of imaginative leaders and innovators,
people who are changing
the world around them.
We are 476,000
alumni strong
across the country
and the globe.
Wherever you are,
we are there with you.
Now it's time for you to join that network
and create your own legacy.
As you move on to pursue
your purpose, remember
that your alma mater will be there
for you through every stage
of your life and career.
The UNT Alumni Association is a special organization
that keeps our students and alumni
connected to the university
and to one another.
We want to make sure you have the support of a strong
Mean Green network long after you
receive your diploma, so stay
connected to your alma mater
through the Alumni Association.
Join us at alumni events.
Participate as a mentor
online with the Mean
Green Mentors program.
Connect with us on social media and tell us about
your successes so we can
celebrate with you.
Now and then take a moment to look back
at your time as a UNT student
and then go forward and do great
things with the confidence that you have the
lifelong support of your university.
Know that your Mean Green community
is proud of you and
excited to watch you go out and make a
difference in the world.
And lastly, to our
graduates with class rings,
it's now time to turn
that ring so the University of North
Texas faces away from you.
The tradition symbolizes
that you are ready to face the world.
We hope you will continue to wear
your UNT ring with pride.
To everyone, always remember
that you are part of a community that believes
in you and cares about your
future. Welcome
to our alumni family.
Congratulations and Go Mean Green.
Graduates, I would like you to all rise
to perform one more ritual.
Please rise. It is now my
honor to instruct you to move
the tassel of your cap to
proclaim your new status as college graduates.
Please remain
standing as we conclude
this wonderful ceremony.
I know you will join me in thanking all
the staff who made this commencement possible,
including our Master of Ceremonies,
Ms. Phyllis Slocum, Principal Lecturer
of the Department of Media Arts.
Thank you.
At this moment,
I would like to invite everyone else
to also rise for the closing.
Ms. Natasha Becker will lead
us in singing the Alma Mater
after which the
marshals will lead the recessional. Singing
glory to the green
glory to
the white
For we know
is striving
for the right
the corridor of years
We'll forget
the joys and tears