Some 2,380 Texas Tech students, including 110 from the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, received diplomas at the university's commencement ceremonies Saturday (Dec. 17) at the United Spirit Arena in Lubbock.

During the event outstanding students carried banners representing their respective colleges. Brent Cole Brown, an agricultural and applied economics major from Turkey, and Emily Wolter, a food science major from Kingwood, represented CASNR. Administrators selected the banner bearers based on all-around achievement.

Graduation recipients from the individual departments and majors included:

• Agricultural & Applied Economics 32
• Agricultural & Applied Economics/General Business 1
• Agricultural Communications 13
• Animal Science 19
• Environmental Conservation of Natural Resources 6
• Environmental Crop & Soil Sciences 6
• Food Science 4
• Horticulture 11
• Interdisciplinary Agriculture 7
• Landscape Architecture 1
• Range Management 2
• Wildlife & Fisheries Management 8

Edward Whitacre Jr., former chairman and CEO of General Motors and chairman emeritus of AT&T Inc., served as commencement speaker for Saturday's ceremonies. In recognition of his commitment to business and community, BusinessWeek magazine named Whitacre one of the "Top 25 Executives of the Year" in 2010.

Whitacre has earned a number of awards for his contributions to business and civic affairs, including the Corporate Leadership Award from the National Minority Supplier Development Council and the Obelisk Leadership Award. The Ennis native graduated from Texas Tech in 1964 with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering.

Written by Norman Martin

CONTACT: Michael Galyean, Interim Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or michael.galyean@ttu.edu

0110NM12 / Photo Illustration: N Martin