East Texas A&M University's annual celebration of its graduates is fast approaching, as commencement ceremonies are set for May 8 and 9 at the university's Field House.

Ceremony details

Five ceremonies will be held throughout the weekend.

Graduate Ceremony 1

Friday, May 8 at 1 p.m.

• College of Business
• College of Science and Engineering

Graduate Ceremony 2

Friday, May 8 at 4 p.m.

• All doctoral candidates
• College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
• College of Education and Human Services
• College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts
• College of Innovation and Design

Undergraduate Ceremony 1

Saturday, May 9 at 8:30 a.m.

• College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
• College of Business
• College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts

Undergraduate Ceremony 2

Saturday, May 9 at 11:30 a.m.

• College of Education and Human Services
• College of Science and Engineering

Undergraduate Ceremony 3

Saturday, May 9 at 2:30 p.m.

• College of Innovation and Design

All ceremonies will be livestreamed on YouTube. Check the university's graduation webpage for the live stream links. They will be available closer to the ceremony dates.

Spring 2026 Graduates By the Numbers

In total, 1,586 students will receive degrees across the five ceremonies. Here are a few statistics about this semester's graduating class:

• Age of youngest graduate: 18
• Age of oldest graduate: 73
• Total countries represented: 15
• U.S. states represented: 36
• First-generation graduates: 630
• International student graduates: 151
• Students graduating with academic distinction: 669

Leading by Example

Three Spring 2026 ET graduates and a successful entrepreneur are slated as commencement speakers for the ceremonies:

• Anand Kumar: Anand is a North Texas entrepreneur whose story reflects relentless hard work, humility and the belief that life offers an opportunity every single day if you're willing to take it. Today, he is the owner/operator of 19 McDonald's restaurants, a growing real estate portfolio and a team of 1,300+ employees. In 2025, he and his wife established the Anand and Susana Kumar Scholarship with the College of Business to help aspiring business leaders at East Texas A&M gain the education and support they need to pursue their own American Dream.

• Diego Flores, Bachelor of Arts in English: During his time at East Texas A&M, Diego supported countless students on their path towards becoming better writers, serving as the lead undergraduate writing consultant for the East Texas A&M University Writing Center. An aspiring artist and established writer, Diego plans to establish a joint career as a technical writer and photographer.

• Jason Otah, Bachelor of Science in Psychology: A student-athlete with Lion Football and an Honors College student, Jason completed multiple internships with Dr. Curt Carlson in his Crime Lab and at the Commerce Community Clinic. He also earned a scholarship for his work studying abroad in Belize. He plans to earn his master's in clinical psychology from Northwestern State University and become a psychiatrist.

• Tiffany Norman, Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Public Administration, City Planning: Tiffany brings over a decade of experience in operations and project management in corporate dining within the tech industry, and over 20 years of work experience. She intentionally decided to return to school and complete her degree to pursue a career more closely aligned with her interests in public service and community development. She now hopes to help shape thoughtful development in the communities where she lives and serves.

For more information about commencement ceremonies at East Texas A&M, visit the graduation webpage.