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Wed May 14, 2025

By April Lovette

UAHT confers 576 certificates and degrees, 130 go to high school students

#uaht #university of arkansas hope texarkana #jay sylveria #collegiate academy #christine holt #Jessica Schroader #misty hughes #wendy jones #aubrey ferguson #uaht graduation #graduation 2025 #freddie smith #scouts troop 5

The University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana held a Commencement Ceremony at Hempstead Hall Tuesday night to confer degrees and certificates to those deserving graduates who completed certification programs or courses of study. This year, 576 degrees and certificates were awarded, and 130 of those went to high school students who accomplished these feats while also completing their high school classes. So it’s no surprise that the venue was overflowing with proud families and supporters who were there to help honor the graduates and their achievements.

After the presentation of the flag and Pledge of Allegiance from Scouts Troop 5 and the singing of the national anthem by UAHT's Haley Patillo-Thompson, UAHT Chancellor Dr. Christine Holt welcomed guests and shared a few words with the audience, a good portion of which were the soon-to-be graduates adorned in all their regalia. She advised them to “Be a leader … on your job, with your family, and in your community.” In the closing of her remarks, she told the students, “We are all so very proud of you, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for all the great leaders that we have in the audience. Go ye therefore into the world and make your tremendous mark.”

Holt also shared with the audience a few special awards for this academic year. Jessica Schroader was selected as the UAHT 2025 Outstanding Faculty Member, Wendy Jones was selected as the UAHT 2025 Outstanding Staff Member, and Misty Hughes was selected as the UAHT 2025 Outstanding Alumna. This was followed by a few remarks by SGA President, Aubrey Ferguson.

Jay B. Sylveria, the new UA System President, also addressed the students during the ceremony and began with a little sentimental humor by taking a selfie in front of the large audience filling the Hall. He said it was a special night for him because it was his first opportunity to offer remarks at a commencement ceremony since he took the role of systems president in January. During his speech, he addressed the importance of student support systems like family, friends, faculty, and staff, and advised the soon-to-be graduates to honor and recognize those who helped them in their journey. He also shared with them some interesting facts about the UA system and UAHT in particular. One of note is that out of all the students in Arkansas who are graduating with an associates degree as part of a collegiate academy, 20 percent of that number comes from UAHT. During his closing remarks, he told the students, “With the degree you are about to receive tonight, you unlock a future of possibilities. What you have tonight is a ticket. You get to decide how you use that ticket. … This ticket wasn’t given to you; you earned it.” Sylveria concluded by asking, “What are you going to do with your ticket?”

Following the heartfelt messages presented by the speakers, the students were then called to the stage to receive their certificates and diplomas. Excited families and supporters looked on as each walked the stage to receive their degree/certificate and become an official graduate of UAHT. Of the 576 degrees and certificates that were awarded, 32 of that number were students in the UAHT Collegiate Academy, high school students enrolled in an on-campus program who spent the last few years simultaneously earning their high school diploma and an associate’s degree from UAHT. Hope Collegiate Academy graduated 14 students, and Arkansas High Collegiate Academy graduated 18. In addition to those collegiate academy graduates, seven more high school students received associate’s degrees: six from Blevins and one from Genoa. Another impressive number to add to the mix is 91. That is the number of high school students who received either Certificates of Proficiency or Technical Certificates in a trade. Altogether, 130 high school students earned a degree or certificate while simultaneously completing their high school classes and participating in sports, clubs, and other extracurricular activities. That’s incredible success rate for the young people in our community. See the lists below to find the names of those high school students from Hempstead and Nevada Counties.

After the last degree was conferred and the students participated in the time-honored tradition of moving their tassels, the students were now official UAHT graduates and were welcomed as new alumni by Freddie Smith, Chairman of UAHT Board of Visitors. He told the new graduates, “Celebrate your time, celebrate your effort, and celebrate what you have been able to accomplish. Through it all, you have made it; you are successful.” His parting words, signifying the end of the ceremony, were, “I challenge you to give back to the community, It may not be money, but your time and effort…. Share with others, because someone shared with you.”

(Schools listed in alphabetical order)
Blevins High School Students who earned an Associate of Arts Degree
Remington Buck
Faith Cruz
Elathy Hargraves
Audrey Lovette
Hector Moreno
April Torres

Hope High School Students who earned an Associate of Arts Degree
Fabian Aguilar
Carter Berry
Jaylon Bradley
Maci Clark
Tyrenda Hale
Dylan Johnson
Angelite Martinez
Ollie Pickering
Kayolee Robinson
Brayden Russell
Wynter Smith
Angelica Soto Angelina Soto
Arrington Turner

Nevada High School Students who earned Certificates of Proficiency
Ward, David | Construction Welding

Prescott High School Students who earned Certificates of Proficiency
Davis, Clifton | Industrial Technology-Mechanical
Hayes, Mason | Basic Welding
Laughard, Zackary | Construction Welding
Pittman, Joseph | Basic Welding

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Wed May 14, 2025

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