Alumni Success

Mary Spencer, 1972 graduate of East Texas State University, commits to $1 million planned gift
Alumna Mary Spencer has recently bequeathed $1 million to A&M-Commerce. Spencer hopes that her gift will give students the extra push needed to graduate, pursue their dreams and make the world a better place. “I love those students who have…

New Scholarship Fund Established for Future Educators
The Key Women Educators of Hunt County recently established the Key Women Educators of Hunt County, Texas, Beta Lambda Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma endowed scholarship at A&M-Commerce. The scholarship will benefit selected applicants who have graduated from a public…

ETSU Alumnus Receives AIGA Fellows Award for Significant Contributions to Design
The Austin Chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) presented David Kampa with the Fellows Award on October 4. The Fellows Award program recognizes designers who have helped raise the standards of excellence in practice and conduct within…

ETSU Alumnus Receives Emmy Award
ETSU alumnus Earl Nottingham received a 2018 Lone Star Emmy Award for his work on Texas Parks & Wildlife's PBS show. The award is given by The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in recognition of excellence in television.…

A&M-Commerce Distinguished Alum Receives 2018 Juanita Craft Humanitarian Award
Robert Edison, a 1971 graduate of East Texas State University, was honored with the Visionary Award by the Steering Committee of the Juanita J. Craft Civil Rights House and Museum in Dallas on October 11.
The Visionary Award recognizes an…

College of Business to receive $100,000 from alum Scott Wheeler
R. Scott Wheeler, President of Daseke, Inc. and his wife Kathryn Wheeler, recently pledged $100,000 to the Texas A&M University-Commerce Foundation for the purpose of supporting the College of Business Excellence Fund and the College of Business Finance Excellence Fund.…

2018 GRADS FACED COMMON & UNCOMMON CHALLENGES ON THE ROAD FROM GRIT TO GREATNESS
In the midst of another graduation season, it is easy to get caught up in the distractions of the caps, gowns, regalia and celebrations. The pomp and circumstance mask the gritty journeys students often face before taking that much-anticipated walk…

Leaders In Business, Education And The Community To Be Honored At The 2018 A&M-Commerce Alumni Awards Gala
Texas A&M University-Commerce will host its 2018 Alumni Awards Gala on May 4, 2018. During the ceremony, two Gold Blazers and nine Distinguished Alumni will be awarded for their invaluable contributions in business and the community.
“The Awards Gala is…

VisCom Seniors Impress at Dallas ADDY Awards
On March 8th, the 56th Annual ADDY Awards were held at the Bomb Factory in Dallas, TX. Three VisCom students were awarded with gold medals: Karina Pérez-Fajardo (BFA ‘18) for her XXV International Congress of Entomology poster, Cooper Weinstein (BFA…

Dr. Joe May to Keynote Fall 2017 Commencement
A&M-Commerce alumnus and seventh chancellor of the Dallas County Community College District Dr. Joe May will be the commencement speaker for the Fall 2017 commencement ceremonies to be held on Friday, December 15 and Saturday, December 16.
A first-generation college…

Support of Professor Emeritus Benefits Outstanding Student Performance
Dr. Bill Aslan, former faculty member and Professor Emeritus, recently established two mathematics awards and increased the Aslan Family Graduate Endowment by $10,000. These combined gifts amount to $30,000.
Aslan's recent contributions follow 23 consecutive years of support, benefitting Texas…

Alumna Honored as 2016 AACSB Influential Leader
Texas A&M University-Commerce alumna and Executive Director of the Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) Zenetta Drew has been selected to be a part of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business's (AACSB) 2016 class of Influential Leaders.
“It was…

East Texas State University Alumnus Receives Sam B. Hall Civic Service Award
Michael C. Smith, an East Texas trial lawyer from the Marshall office of Siebman, Burg, Phillips & Smith, LLP, was recently honored with the 2016 Sam B. Hall Civic Service Award by East Texas Baptist University. Smith, who graduated from…

Hunt County Public Art to Install Pieces by University-Connected Artists
The 2016 Hunt County Public Art project will install three major pieces of artwork this year by artists with connections to Texas A&M University-Commerce.
Hunt County Public Art is part of the Keep Greenville Beautiful Project and Hunt County Public…

Alumni Relations to Host 33rd Annual Alumni Ambassador Forum
Texas A&M University-Commerce Alumni Relations and The Division of Academic Affairs will host the 33rd Annual Alumni Ambassador Forum on February 25.
Departments across campus have invited back a successful alumnus to serve as an Ambassador. These former students are…

University Visual Communication Alumnus and Current Instructor Gets Financial Boost from Ross Perot Jr.
Raul Varela (MFA '10) is a founding partner of PICKUP and serves as the chief brand officer. PICKUP, an Addison-based on-demand delivery service, has attracted several million dollars from an investment fund co-created by Ross Perot Jr. as well as…

Distinguished Alum Named Senior Vice President of NAHRO
Texas A&M University-Commerce Distinguished Alumnus Carl Richie, Jr. was recently sworn in as the Senior Vice President of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO).
Richie graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree from then-East Texas State University…

Donor Appreciation Wall Unveiled
A Texas A&M University-Commerce Giving Society wall was unveiled in the Rayburn Student Center during the inaugural Lucky's Thank You Celebration, a biennial appreciation event for donors.
“In fiscal year 2015, University Advancement collaborated with faculty, staff, students and friends…

University Flag to Fly Over Hopkins County
By Mary Grace Rodriguez and Sara Wray
Texas A&M University-Commerce secured the right to fly the university's flag over the Hopkins County Courthouse in Sulphur Springs after alumni raised $5,500 during the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation's “Fly Your Flag”…

Alumnus Mike Moses Recognized at Gala
Distinguished alumnus, Mike Moses, will be honored at the 11th Annual Friend of the Year Gala at McLane Stadium in Waco on Dec. 2, 2015, hosted by Friends of Texas Public Schools. The Friend of the Year Award is given…