Texas A&M Recognizes August Graduates

Texas A&M University will award 2,005 degrees to August graduates online as health concerns regarding COVID-19 continue. Additionally, the university’s colleges have planned a variety of virtual events to celebrate the accomplishments of degree recipients.

Texas A&M President Michael K. Young said commencement has always been a special way to celebrate the extraordinary efforts and achievements of students.

“Even in these challenging times, I’ve been so impressed to see our entire academic community respond with such optimism and resolve, collectively sharing our pride in all of the students who have reached this memorable milestone,” Young said. “Our students’ accomplishments and perseverance are an inspiration to us all, and we know this is only one step in a future filled with even greater success. On behalf of the entire Texas A&M community, we salute our graduates and families and look forward to celebrating with you virtually and in person when the time is right.”

Texas A&M Provost and Executive Vice President Carol Fierke said she has seen the Aggie spirit on full display in all of the students who are achieving academic success during these times.

“Our summer 2020 graduates will soon enjoy the end result of their years of hard work and preparation as they earn one of the most respected diplomas in the nation,” Fierke said. “Nearly 29,000 students enrolled at Texas A&M this summer, and they embody the willpower and leadership Aggies are known for, particularly during the extraordinary times in which we find ourselves. We are proud of them all and wish our graduating seniors the rewards and success they have earned and so richly deserve.

“We look forward to seeing the graduates participate in a formal graduation ceremony when it is safe in the future.”

The following are among the virtual recognitions for August graduates:

Texas A&M University
The university will recognize degree recipients with an official “Conferral of Degrees” video featuring The Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp, Young, Chairman of the Board of Regents Elaine Mendoza, Fierke and President of the Graduate and Professional Student Government Association Purna Chandra Doddapaneni. In addition, a new website has been created with social media graphics available for graduates to download, a collection of student-posted content and special videos.

The conferral of degrees video will be released on Aug. 7 at 9 a.m. Beginning at noon, the names of all of the degree recipients will appear on the video board at Kyle Field. The display will be live streamed on Facebook and YouTube.

College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Agriculture & Life Sciences’ digital graduation celebration features a pre-recorded message from Vice Chancellor and Dean Patrick Stover, and well-wishes and encouragement collected from former students across the college. Access to photos, posts of graduates and connection points to other celebration highlights will be available across the college’s social media.

 College of Architecture
Architecture will have a pre-recorded celebration video featuring a message by Dean Jorge Vanegas, an undergraduate message by Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Shelley Holliday and a graduate message by Assistant Dean of Graduate Students Katie Reed. There will also be social media frames for 2020 graduates to use if they wish.

• Department of Architecture
  Architecture will have a celebration of graduates on Aug. 6 at 6 p.m.
• Department of Construction Science
  Construction Science (COSC) will have a hard hat ceremony including a pre-recorded video with student-elected guest speaker Professor Larry Fickel, pictures of students’ retrospectives and a section on what it means to obtain the coveted COSC hard hat. The video will be available on Aug. 6 at 7 p.m.
• Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning
  Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning will host a live Zoom event on Aug. 7 at 2 p.m. The celebration will consist of a welcome by Department Head Shannon Van Zandt, remarks from elected student speakers, names read by the program coordinator and recognition of graduate students. The event will be followed by a virtual reception.
• Department of Visualization
  Visualization will host a Zoom graduation celebration on Aug. 7 at 2 p.m.
• University Studies – Architecture
  University Studies-Architecture will have a pre-recorded celebration on Aug. 7 featuring messages from Associate Dean Leslie Feigenbaum, Director of the Office of Student Services David Wentling, advisors Michael Clement and Alondra Rojas, and the reading of graduate names.

Mays Business School
On Aug. 7 at 10 a.m., Mays will host a virtual recognition of graduates with remarks from Dean Eli Jones.

College of Dentistry
On July 25, a recorded message from Dean Lawrence Wolinsky was shared with degree recipients and followed by awards recognition. Each graduate was called by name and their photo presented.

College of Education & Human Development
The college is congratulating its graduates with a pre-recorded message from Dean Joyce Alexander and various faculty members.

College of Engineering
Engineering will present a Graduation Recognition Celebration event on Aug. 7 at 10 a.m. The pre-produced celebration video will premiere on YouTube Premieres and remain available for viewing post-event. Graduates’ names will be read and the celebration will feature an Aggie Network welcome and Turning of the Ring ceremony. It will conclude with a virtual scrapbook featuring photos submitted by students and faculty along with faculty messages.

College of Geosciences
Geosciences will host a Zoom commencement celebration on Aug. 7 at 3 p.m.

College of Liberal Arts
The College of Liberal Arts will be producing visual content that celebrates graduates and will be shared across all of the college’s social media channels beginning Aug. 7. Content will include photos, videos and quotes that were submitted by students along with celebration video messages.

College of Nursing
Nursing will hold its commencement on YouTube on Aug. 7 at 6 p.m., marking students’ successful completion of the nursing program. The ceremony will include an introduction and conclusion by Dean Nancy Fahrenwald, messages from class representatives, reading of the graduates’ names with photos displayed, student awards and reciting of the nursing pledge. The video will be available for replay once the premiere has concluded.

College of Science 

• Department of Biology
  The department will present a pre-recorded YouTube video on Aug. 7 at 2 p.m. which will include remarks from Young, Fierke, Dean Valen Johnson and Department Head Tom McKnight. It will also include a brief presentation of awards to outstanding graduating students, and individual recognition of students with photos, honors and awards, and future plans (if provided).
• Department of Chemistry
  Chemistry will host a Zoom event on Aug. 7 at 6 p.m. to recognize and celebrate its graduates.
• Department of Mathematics
  Mathematics will host a virtual event on Aug. 7 at 2 p.m. including videos from Young and others. Graduates will have their names read and be presented with awards.
• Statistics
  The department is hosting a virtual Graduation Recognition Celebration via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Aug. 7 which will recognize each degree candidate individually. The event will feature video remarks from a variety of university and college administrators, faculty and staff members.

College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Veterinary Medicine will celebrate its graduates virtually on Aug. 7 at 11 a.m.

 Office of Graduate and Professional Studies
The Virtual Doctoral Degree Conferral will be Aug. 7 at 10 a.m. It will include greetings by Sharp, Mendoza and Fierke, invocation by Doddapaneni, conferral of degrees by Young, and presentation of doctoral students. It will conclude with remarks by Young and a closing montage with highlights of the last four years set to “The Spirit of Aggieland.”

School of Public Health
Messages from administration, faculty and staff will appear on the Public Health graduation page and on social media beginning at 10 a.m. on Aug. 7. Degree recipients are invited to share photos on social media using #12thForHealth.