Texas A&M University-Kingsville

KINGSVILLE - April 16, 2009

Contact: Julie Navejar
julie.navejar@tamuk.edu or 361.593.2590

Graduating students from Texas A&M University-Kingsville who purchased an official school ring received them during a special ceremony held Sunday, April 5.

Graduates and alumni are able to purchase an official Texas A&M-Kingsville ring. Students have made the ring purchase and ceremony an annual tradition of the university. A committee of students, staff, alumni and faculty selected a company to design the ring. Its symbols reflect the university’s history and traditions.

The symbols include the school’s mascot, the javelina, because of its tenacity; mesquite and cactus, because they personify the students’ ability to survive and prosper; palm trees, because they are found all over campus; the Lone Star, because it symbolizes the state of Texas; and the College Hall clock tower, because it is the most recognized landmark on campus.

Students receiving their official school ring are listed, along with their hometown and major. All are from Texas except where otherwise noted.

Agua Dulce: Sandra Herrera, food and nutrition science

Alice: Jaime Garcia, sociology; Nora Govea, human development and family studies; Billy Hales, geology; Robert D. Kaiser III, range and wildlife management; Jeanette A. Ybarra, development and family studies

Amarillo: Dustin M. Brooks, English; Meisha Patterson, kinesiology

Beeville: Matthew T. Garza, animal science; Evelynn Maegan Porter, human development and family studies

Benavides: Audrey Lee Pena, food and nutrition science; Gilbert Rodriguez, kinesiology

Bishop: Ezequiel Delgado, computer science; Marina E. Martinez, communication sciences and disorders

Boerne: Marcelo A. Arreola Jr., mechanical engineering

Brenham: Tommy Dudenhoeffer, range and wildlife management

 Bryan: Rene Elisa Pequeño, civil engineering

Buna: Haley Smith, communication sciences and disorders

Concepcion: Edwardo F. Huerta, counseling and guidance

Corpus Christi: Gabriel I. Carrion, biomedical sciences; Patricia Ann Contreras, biomedical sciences; Michelle Hayden, finance; Kyle Plumley, industrial technology; Jose J. Rodriguez, music

Danbury: Kristen Kay Grassmuck, general business

Del Rio: Abelardo S. Garcia, criminology; Christine Renee Sanchez, agriculture science

Edinburg: Omar Cano, civil engineering

El Campo: Garret Pool, industrial technology

Falfurrias: Rick J. Saenz, theatre arts

Garwood: Layton Gold, accounting

George West: Mary Victoria Rangel, biomedical sciences

Harlingen: Tasha N. Perry, agriculture science

Hebbronville: Jose A. Betancourt, finance

Houston: Carla C. Villalobos, psychology

Kingsville: Patricia A. De La Paz, applied arts and sciences; Stella Flores, communication sciences and disorders; Jose Ramon Garza, electrical engineering; Glenda Gloria Montalvo, history; Sammy Posada Jr., music; Adrian Oden Reyna, industrial technology; Rolando Rodriguez, industrial technology; Elizabeth Marie Stokes, computer information systems; William Stokes, computer information systems; Celeste Marie Ude, counseling and guidance

Lake Jackson: Cody Schiefen, mechanical engineering

Laredo: Juan Antonio Sauceda, computer science

Mission: Jaime Jesus Flores, music education

New Braunfels: Kyle Koepp, agriculture science

Odem: Crystal Zamora, accounting

Odessa: Russell Ritchie, agriculture science

Palacios: Andy Beard, range and wildlife management

Pharr: Ricardo Pedraza, civil engineering

Premont: Ariela M. Martinez, communication sciences and disorders

Raymondville: Cara Smith, communication sciences and disorders

Rio Grande City: Lucio Diaz Jr., music; Noel Javier Garcia, biology

Rios: Griselda Cruz-Sanchez, accounting

Riviera: Cristina Suarez, Spanish

Robstown: Jose A. Martinez, chemistry; Israel Mendoza Jr., general business

San Antonio: Vanessa T. Iracheta, English

San Diego: Josef Andrew Lopez, biology

Sinton: Erin Michelle Smith, agriculture science

Sweeny: Colby Lowrie, civil engineering

Uvalde: Albert Gayton, Spanish

Victoria: Donna Perez, mathematics

Weslaco: Thomas Castillo, mechanical engineering

Wharton: Brett Rachunek, agribusiness

Zapata: Vanessa M. Porras, general business

San Clemente, California: Saul Oliver, marketing

Vallejo, California: Welana L. Toki, criminology

Winnsboro, Louisiana: LaKeisha Jones, interdisciplinary studies

Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico: Antonio C. Carcur Gonzalez, international business management