For immediate release
UTB/TSC confers degrees at commencement
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS -- May 10, 2008 – About 500 of more than 800 graduates received degrees at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College’s 2008 Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 10,
on the grounds of the Student Union.
The ceremony marked the 16th commencement for The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College partnership.
“It takes a multitude of people to enable a student to achieve graduation; their professors, advisors, librarians and computer specialists and many, many more behind the scenes every day making sure the path is open,” UTB/TSC President Dr. Juliet V. Garcia told graduates and attendees at the morning ceremony. “It is also an individual celebration, because, after all, each graduate had to decide for themselves that today was possible”.
Graduate Tamara Arroyo, 26, of Brownsville received a bachelor’s of science degree in environmental sciences. She will soon move to Austin to begin work at the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality to do water quality monitoring.
She said she would miss working with her classmates on important area environmental issues like recycling and sand dune restoration.
“I’m really looking forward to applying everything I’ve learned,” Arroyo said.
Two Upward Bound Mathematics and Science program students, Harlingen residents April Juarez and Stephanie Huerta, both received associate of arts degrees through concurrent enrollment. Juarez, a Harlingen South High School senior, will attend UTB/TSC this fall while Huerta, a Harlingen High School senior, will go to St. Mary’s University in San Antonio in the fall.
Uzziel Guzman, a UTB/TSC lecturer, piano instructor, Master Chorale accompanist and Patron of the Arts director, received the university’s first master’s of music degree in music education. Guzman earned a bachelor’s of music degree in music education at UTB/TSC in May 2004.
Garcia recognized this year’s Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients, Dr. Ciro Valent Sumaya and Dr. Ruben Gallegos. Both were also honored at the Distinguished Guests Ceremony held Friday, May 9, at the Science and Engineering Technology Lecture Hall. 
Sumaya was the commencement keynote speaker. He has been the founding dean of the School of Rural Public Health at the Texas A&M University System Health Science Center since 1997. He also holds the school’s Cox Endowed Chair in Medicine.
He was born in Brownsville and was the valedictorian of Brownsville High School’s Class of 1959. He attended Texas Southmost College from May 1959 to August 1960. A 1962 Phi Beta Kappa graduate with high honors from The University of Texas at Austin, Sumaya also earned a master’s degree in public health and tropical medicine from Tulane University School of Medicine and School of Public Health in New Orleans. He earned a medical degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in 1966.
Sumaya told graduates it is important to set goals, be flexible and set a career direction.
“If we advance, we need to make sure others advance with us,” he said.
He told graduates that passion is important for people to have through their life’s journey.
“We need to be bold and take charge of our destiny,” Sumaya said.
Sumaya also gave the commencement address at Texas Southmost College’s 1972 Spring Commencement.
Gallegos, a native of El Calaboz, Texas, Texas Southmost College graduate and executive director of International Educational Services, will speak at the 2008 Winter Commencement.