And the Award Goes to...
President Mitchell and Keynote Speaker Cooper welcomed more than 1,000 students into the field of health care on Saturday during commencement.
As of Saturday, more than 700 graduates now hold something powerful in their hands your health.
President Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., presided over the commencement ceremony on Saturday with students from all schools.
Mitchell said commencement is an exciting time for faculty, students and family members.
“I have the honor of not only presiding over this ceremony, but also witnessing the celebration of all their hard work,” Mitchell said. “These graduates have received an exceptional education and have endless possibilities of contributing to patient care and research across this country.”
Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., founder and chairman of the Cooper Aerobics Center, served as the keynote speaker.
May graduates (and approximately another 400 students as December and August graduates) received degrees in various health disciplines. And while it was a special day for all, a few were recognized with hooding and student awards presented at individual school convocations prior to the commencement ceremony.
Awards Included:
The Dean’s Recognition Award for the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences was awarded to Sarah Renee Willis, M.S., and the Outstanding Graduate Student selected by students and faculty, Vivek Gupta, Ph.D.
The Gold Headed Cane was presented to Jamie Wilkerson, M.D. The Gold Headed Cane is a symbol for excellence in the art of medicine and in the care of patients. Faculty and students selected Wilkerson as the individual who best exemplifies those attributes most desirable in a competent and caring physician.
Special awards were given to a select group of students for their outstanding achievements at each school's convocation ceremony.
Hosam Nabil Attaya, M.D., Ashley Brandon De La Cerda, M.D., Amber Michelle Moreland, M.D., and Rita Marie Pandya, M.D., received the Dean’s Highest Academic Achievement Awards in the School of Medicine.
The School of Nursing Dean’s Award for Excellence-Doctorate was presented to Sylvain Trepanier, DNP, MSN, R.N., CENP. The School of Nursing Dean’s Award for Excellence-Graduate was presented to Yesenia Trevino, R.N., BSN, MSN.
The Dean’s Award for Excellence in Nursing-Undergraduate was presented to Kathleen M. Martinez, R.N., BSN. This award recognizes graduating students who have best exemplified excellence in nursing through practicing holistic philosophy in patient care.
The School of Allied Health Sciences presented Kristi Beth Drennan, MOT, the Dean’s Award for Excellence-Graduate, Whitney Layne Ensor, BS, SLHS, was honored with the Dean’s Award for Excellence-Undergraduate and Christopher Lee Bolinger, MS, SLP, awarded the Dean’s Award for Excellence-Research. The awards recognize excellence in academic achievement and overall performance by individuals chosen as the top graduate and undergraduate students.
Antonia Leigh-Pettit Edgar, Pharm.D., received the Bowl of Hygieia award for the School of Pharmacy. The award is an internationally recognized symbol for the profession of pharmacy. Universally depicted as a snake wrapped around a bowl, it comes from Greek mythology. Hygieia was the daughter of Zeus and the goddess of purity. Her bowl represents medicine and the snake indicates potency. The Bowl of Hygieia symbolizes “pure and potent medicines.” Elizabeth Ann Riney, Pharm.D., earned the highest GPA in the School of Pharmacy.
Gallery
Related Stories
How Does Your Garden Grow?
As spring approaches, some people’s thoughts turn to gardening. Whether it’s a flower garden they desire or a vegetable garden want to have, they begin planning what they’ll plant and what they need to do to ensure a successful garden.
Adopt a Growth Mindset for a Better Life
A “growth mindset” accepts that our intelligence and talents can develop over time, and a person with that mindset understands that intelligence and talents can improve through effort and learning.
Drug Use, Family History Can Lead to Heart Disease in Younger Adults
Abstaining from drug abuse and an early diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) can help prevent heart disease.
Recent Stories
TTUHSC’s La-Beck to Use NIH Grant to Study Cancer Drug Delivery Via Nanoparticles
Ninh (Irene) La-Beck, Pharm.D., with the TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, received a five-year, $2.49 million grant to investigate how nanoparticles interact with the immune system and cancer.
TTUHSC’s Wilkerson to Investigate Links Between Pain and Basal Sex Hormone Levels
To help investigate the influence basal sex hormone alterations may have on chronic post-op pain, the NIH recently awarded a grant to Jenny Wilkerson, Ph.D., from the Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy.
Tackling Heart Health for Athletes
Scott Shurmur, M.D., a cardiologist at the Texas Tech Physicians Center for Cardiovascular Health, shared his expertise and his experience as a former collegiate athlete.