Congratulations First HT Master’s Degree Graduates
Tuesday May, 10 2016
(AUSTIN, Texas) 5.10.16 — Huston-Tillotson University’s 2016 Commencement Convocation was completed this past weekend with historical significance. Master’s degrees were conferred for the first time; the 189 graduates represented the largest graduating class to date, including 17 W.E.B. DuBois Honors Scholars; and President and Chief Executive Officer Colette Pierce Burnette presided over her first HT convocation before a record crowd of more than 3,000. In addition, the convocation included a special military commissioning ceremony.
Mariana E. Hansen, Raoul C. Howard, Shereen K. McKenzie, and Corey M. Wiggins were the first HT graduates to complete the Master of Education Degree in Educational Leadership with Principal Certification. Hansen is an eight year bilingual educator and certified dyslexia therapist, Howard has 15 years of classroom experience as a teacher, McKenzie is a seventh-eighth grade science teacher, and Wiggins has worked as an English Language Arts teacher at Kealing Middle School for the past four years.
City of Austin Mayor Steve Adler rendered the keynote address navigating strong winds during the outdoor ceremony under sunny skies. Adler urged the graduates to “capture moments..to live in the moment.” He also encouraged them to “get out there and become the biggest failures you can as quickly as you can,” clarifying to “feel free and empowered to try new things, to be an agent of change for yourself, your family, and your community.”
The 2016 ceremony also included the commissioning of psychology major and Second Lieutenant Allen M. Wright as a member of the Air Force ROTC program through HT’s military science partnership with the University of Texas at Austin. Wright, the first African American Cadet Wing Commander of Detachment 825, Air Force ROTC, was pinned by his father Retired Sergeant First Class Alfred Wright, Jr., his mother Maria Wright, and his sister Kierra Wright with Colonel David A. Haase, Chair and Professor of Air Force Science Commander, AFROTC Detachment 825, leading the ceremony.
Dubois graduates receiving their diplomas and their respective hometowns included: Shaniqua R. Castille, Beaumont; Brittany M. Chopane, Jarrell; Jyuno A. Daniels, Kyle; Angelica M. Erazo, Houston; Justin J. Frank, Beaumont; Sherlisha B. Haywood, Bastrop; Jelisa D. Johns, Austin; Morghan Jones, Waco; Korey A. Lewis, Cypress; Sara-Ashley Mackey, Nassau, Bahamas; Lynn G. Nanjala, Kampapa, Uganda; Igoboye Samuel Ned, Kampapa, Uganda; Joseph J. Reese, Somerville; Raveen R. Robinson, Austin; Khoryan A. Strange, Mesquite; Olivia De-Anne Thomas, College Station; and Kiera S. Williams, Austin.
Commencement Convocation occurred in conjunction with HT’s Honors Convocation and Reunion Weekend 2016 activities. Patrick Patterson, Assistant Vice President of the Longhorn Center for School Partnerships, enlightened the honor students with his insight into Millennials, Generation X, and Generation Y. He encouraged the honorees to “reach up, meaning work harder than anyone else. Reach back. Bring someone with you. Finally, reach out.”
In addition to the convocations, HT’s 50th year Class of 1966 visited City Hall as part of their weekend festivities to receive a proclamation from Adler before joining the 2016 graduates. The class included the Honorable Ora Houston who serves as Austin City Councilwoman, District 1. Houston becomes the second HT graduate to serve on the City Council with the Honorable Charles E. Urdy, Class of 1954, serving in the Place 6 seat from 1981 to 1994.
Wright will be stationed in Atlanta, Georgia, as a Gold Bar Recruiter.
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Pictured left to right are Raoul C. Howard, Shereen K. McKenzie, Mariana E. Hansen, and Corey M. Wiggins, Huston-Tillotson University’s first graduates to earn the Master of Education Degree in Educational Leadership with Principal Certification.
Austin Mayor Steve Adler Renders Huston-Tillotson University Commencement Convocation Address
“Capture moments..to live in the moment. Get out there and become the biggest failures you can as quickly as you can. Feel free and empowered to try new things, to be an agent of change for yourself, your family, and your community.” City of Austin Mayor Steve Adler.
Read Mayor Adler’s full speech.
Pictured are Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Huston-Tillotson University President and CEO Colette Pierce Burnette.
