More than 2,723 Texas Tech students, including 127 from the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, received diplomas at the university's commencement ceremonies on Saturday (Dec. 15) at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock.

During the event outstanding students carried banners representing their respective colleges. Rachel Sosebee Little, an animal science major from Campbell, represented CASNR. Administrators selected the banner bearers based on all-around achievement.

Graduation recipients from the individual departments and majors included:

• Agribusiness, 2
• Agricultural & Applied Economics, 24
• Agricultural Communications, 8
• Animal Science, 40
• Conservation Law Enforcement, 2
• Food Science, 2
• Interdisciplinary Agriculture, 4
• Natural Resources Management, 29
• Plant and Soil Science, 16

Edward Whitacre Jr., a 1964 graduate of Texas Tech University and former chairman and CEO of both AT&T and General Motors served as the commencement speaker for CASNR's Saturday afternoon ceremony. "Texas Tech helped make me into the person I am today and gave me the tools necessary to succeed in business and in life," he said.

In addition to his success in the business world, Whitacre also has been a supporter of both academics and athletics at Texas Tech. His efforts have led to improvements in the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering, which changed its name in 2008 to reflect his generosity, as well as spearheading renovations to Jones AT&T Stadium and construction of the new Whitacre Athletic Complex, which includes the new indoor football and track facilities.

A native of Ennis, Whitacre earned his bachelor's degree in industrial engineering while working as a facility engineer for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, eventually rising to head the company's Kansas division from 1982 to 1985. He joined the corporate offices, serving as the company's chief financial officer before being named president and chief operating office in 1988.

CONTACT: William Brown, Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or william.f.brown@ttu.edu

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