More than 2,500 Texas Tech students, including 150 undergraduates from the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, received diplomas at the university's fall commencement ceremonies on Saturday (Dec. 14) at the United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock.

During the event Sam Jackson, a professor with Tech's Department of Animal and Food Sciences, served as the Texas Tech Presidential Mace bearer. The symbolic staff represents the power and authority of the university during the ceremony. Crowned by a flame symbolizing the light of knowledge, it's constructed of lathed and molded bronze covered with a layer of 24K gold.

Separately, outstanding students carried banners representing their respective colleges. Alyssa Soles, an agricultural communications major from Sweetwater, represented CASNR. Administrators selected the banner bearers based on all-around achievement.

Separately, Texas Tech officials recognized other CASNR highest-ranking spring graduates. They included:

• Hannah Decker, a plant and soil science major
• Sherri Halsted, an animal science major
• Emily Wade, an agricultural communications major
• Cole Perkins, a food science major

Graduation undergraduate recipients from individual departments and majors included:

• Agribusiness, 6
• Agricultural & Applied Economics, 32
• Agricultural Communications, 11
• Animal Science, 43
• Conservation Law Enforcement, 3
• Food Science, 5
• Agricultural Education, 6
• Natural Resources Management, 21
• Plant and Soil Science, 23

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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