Graduation candidates gear up to walk the Commencement stage

Dec. 9, 2019 — A sea of blue and orange will fill the Alamodome stadium floor as more than 4,400 students gather to celebrate the years of late-night study sessions, research papers and projects that will soon be behind them.

UTSA’s fall 2019 class of graduation candidates will finally cross the stage to receive their diplomas on Sunday, Dec. 15 and Monday, Dec. 16.

Students graduating from the College of Engineering and the College of Liberal and Fine Arts will take the stage first at 10 a.m. on Sunday.

San Antonio Express-News chairman Susan Lynch Pape ’86 will give the keynote address. Lynch Pape received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from UTSA in 1986 before moving on to make her professional career in San Antonio at several companies, including KENS-TV, Harte Hanks Television and Ernst & Young. 

As the graduates walk into life as an alum, each will always have a personal story about how they made it to UTSA and the impact it had on their lives long after.

The ceremony for the College of Education and Human Development, College of Sciences and University College will follow at 3 p.m. with a keynote address by Texas State Rep. Philip Cortez ’02, M.P.A.’07.

Cortez earned his bachelor’s degree in political science in 2002 and a master of public administration in 2007 from UTSA. Prior to being elected to the legislature, Cortez served in the U.S. military and represented the Southwest Side of San Antonio as the District 4 city councilman.

The final ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. on Monday for the College of Architecture, Construction and Planning; the College of Business and the College of Public Policy. Cortez also will give the keynote address at this ceremony.

As the graduates walk into life as an alum, each will always have a personal story about how they made it to UTSA and the impact it had on their lives long after.

For Gene Alviar, attending UTSA as a first-generation student and history major allowed him the opportunity to make an impact in the LGBTQ community. Alviar researched and archived the history of the community through his scholarly article “Recovering Queer History in Texas: Female Impersonators, Public Opinion, and Policy Responses in the Early Twentieth Century.” He said he purposefully chose to study gay history to correct current notions that being part of the LGBTQ community is a modern phenomenon.

“I want to help dispel that notion by researching and doing archival work to provide a history for the LGBTQ community,” Alviar said. “A history that is not easily accessible to those of us who do not have access to university resources or are not taught it in the public education system. I will always be grateful for the research UTSA offered me in Texas queer history.” 

⇒ Before the grand day, discover the significance of various academic regalia as well as traditions you’ll see at the event.

⇒ During the event, tag your videos and photos shared on social media with #UTSAGrad19 and #UTSA.

⇒ Learn more about the Fall Commencement ceremonies for 2019.

After years of being in the U.S. military and raising a family, Judith Rivera will receive her B.A. in public administration. Something that’s been a decade in the making. While it’s taken some time, Rivera knew what her calling would be once she was done. Rivera plans to work at the Air Force Personnel Center based in San Antonio.

“I want to provide excellent customer service to all the men and women in uniform as well as their families,” she said. “UTSA will allow me to ensure governing policies regarding pay, leave, benefits and other administrative policy matters are being followed or implemented to make military enlistees’ life in the military better.”

The day of the commencement graduates are encouraged to arrive about two hours before the ceremony for check-in, located on the ground level of the Alamodome. Guests of the graduates will be allowed to enter the Alamodome at the same time as the graduates through the main entrances.

— Valerie Bustamante

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