MAY 20, 2023 — UTSA will hold two Commencement ceremonies today at the Alamodome, honoring the success of 4,768 Roadrunners who will cross the stage to receive their degrees.
Graduates of the College for Health, Community and Policy, the College of Education and Human Development, the College of Sciences and University College will cross the stage during the first ceremony at 2:30 p.m.
Graduates of the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, the Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design (Klesse College) and the College of Liberal and Fine Arts will receive their degrees during the second ceremony at 7 p.m.
Among those who will cross the stage during the first ceremony is Jenelle Millison, who will receive her bachelor’s in computer science with a concentration in data science. The Colorado native initially came to UTSA to take advantage of its reputable cybersecurity program. What she ultimately developed was a love for data science, spurred by mentors like Amanda Fernandez, an assistant professor in the computer science department.
After graduation, Millison will join the John Hopkins Applied Physics Lab in Maryland. She’ll be working on artificial intelligence projects with applications to various sectors, including public health.
At the same ceremony, Eunice de la Cruz, a UTSA housekeeping coordinator, will be graduating with a bachelor’s degree in public health. The accomplishment will pave the way for the 55-year-old to begin a career in epidemiology, fulfilling a lifelong dream and following in the footsteps of her three adult children.
Nixon Maldonado will cross the stage on Saturday evening to receive a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the Klesse College.
A native of El Salvador, Maldonado moved to the U.S. when he was 12 years old, joining his parents who had already moved to the U.S. to establish a life of opportunity for their son away from the shadow of gang violence. In architecture, Maldonado found a discipline dedicated to creating structures that will stand the test of time.
“Architecture has the power to make you feel something; it’s transformative,” Maldonado said. “Buildings are something that will shelter and protect you. That’s how I think of architecture – as a place of healing, a place of safety.”
Alamodome doors will open at 1:30 p.m. for the first Commencement ceremony and at 6 p.m. for the second ceremony. Each event is expected to be two to three hours in length. Tickets are not required. Handicapped seating will be available.
As graduates like Millison, De La Cruz and Maldonado cross the stage and begin their next journey, they are grateful for what UTSA provided them.
“There’s such a great support system here at UTSA,” said Millison. “College was something that I didn’t have to do alone. Classes are an integral part of university, but there are also different clubs, internships and events happening to help you professionally.”
UTSA is a Tier One research university and a Hispanic Serving Institution specializing in cyber, health, fundamental futures and social-economic transformation. The university aspires to become a model for student success, a great public research university and an exemplar for strategic growth and innovative excellence.
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