Faculty, staff, family and friends gathered on the evening of Thursday, May 8 to salute the Spring 2014 graduating class. The honored guests were among the 445 College of Technology students who received their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees during the ceremony held on Saturday, May 10.
Award-winning students were recognized during the program, including the Dean’s Medal recipient, the honorary College of Technology Outstanding Student, the Outstanding Engineering Technology Outstanding Student, Graduate Studies Banner Bearer and four departmental Banner Bearers.
The Banner Bearers represented the entire College, Graduate Studies and the four departments during our commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 10.
Graduate Studies Banner Bearer, James Breaux, earned his Master of Science degree in Foresight. An alumnus of the University of Houston who earned his Bachelor of Applied Science, Industrial Engineering, Breaux is an experienced executive, serving as Vice President of Pipeline and Facilities at S & B Infrastructure, Ltd. in Houston.
Peter Valdivia, won the Dean’s Medal of Academic Excellence, an honor that is awarded to the College’s highest-ranking student, graduating with a grade point average of 3.75 or above with the final 66 hours in residence at the University of Houston. A one thousand dollar award accompanies the medal. As the honorary College of Technology Honorary Banner Bearer, Valdivia earned his B.S. in Organizational Leadership and Supervision in the Department of Information and Logistics Technology.
Named College of Technology Outstanding Undergraduate Student, Ayazhan Zhakhan received his B.S. in Electrical Power Engineering Technology. This award provides an opportunity to celebrate a student who has demonstrated remarkable academic achievements, considerable research activity, and a strong awareness of social and cultural concerns marked by their involvement in organized community service programs or activities. The winning student must have completed a minimum of 54 hours in residence at the University of Houston. A one thousand dollar award accompanied this honor.
In recognition of exemplary performance of an Engineering Technology student, Katherine Martinez was named the Outstanding Undergraduate Student in the Department of Engineering Technology. A $500 prize accompanied the award.
Banner Bearers for each of the other departments include Austin Loya, B.S., Digital Media, Department of Information and Logistics Technology; Jared Nash, B.S., Construction Management, Department of Construction Management; Michael Taylor, B.S., Electrical Power Engineering Technology, Department of Engineering Technology; and Julia Pecina, B.S., Retailing and Consumer Science, Department of Human Development and Consumer Sciences.