A&M-Commerce alumna Dena Hamilton was named Blue Ridge High School's 2019 teacher of the year. Hamilton serves as the school's librarian. She graduated from A&M-Commerce in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in business administration.…

A&M-Commerce Distinguished Alumnus Dr. Larry Walker retired in July 2017 after more than 44 years of selfless service as a surgeon. He practiced medicine in Nacogdoches from 1973 until his retirement in 2017, and Nacogdoches Memorial Health named the new…

A&M-Commerce Distinguished Alumnus Robert Edison was recognized during a 50-year anniversary remembrance on March 6 for his role in a civil rights event that occurred at Oklahoma Christian College on March 6, 1969. Edison, along with 18 other students, was…

Dr. James Turman, former speaker of the Texas Legislature and A&M-Commerce Distinguished Alumnus, passed away on February 13. Turman earned two degrees from East Texas State Teachers College, now A&M-Commerce, including a Bachelor of Science in 1948 and a Master…

The University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) recently renamed its indoor athletic practice facility in honor of Dr. Jack Lassiter and his wife, Judy Lassiter. Lassiter received his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from East Texas State University. The couple…

East Texas State University alum “King” Arthur James passed away February 17. James was elected into the Lion Athletic Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Lone Star Conference Hall of Honor in 2008. He holds numerous Lone Star Conference…

Dr. Sangeeta Singg, alumna of East Texas State University, now A&M-Commerce, was recently honored with the Jimmy Alvarez Friend of Counseling Award from Three Rivers Counseling Association. The award honors Singg for her “Outstanding Contribution to the Counseling Profession.” Singg…

A&M-Commerce alum Heath Dollar was named a 2018 short story contest winner by Texas Observer magazine. According to the Texas Observer, Dollar's story, “Ink Upon the Furrows,” is about “…the death of a newspaper, a language and an entire culture…

James Bright, a 2010 graduate of A&M-Commerce, was recently named general manager and marketing director for the Texarkana Gazette, a daily newspaper in Texarkana, Arkansas. As an A&M-Commerce student, Bright served as editor of The East Texan, the student newspaper.…

Tiffany Kral, A&M-Commerce alumna and 2017 winner of the “Clinical Teacher of the Year Award” from the Texas Directors of Field Experience (TDFE), attributes her success as a teacher to the undergraduate teacher preparation program at A&M-Commerce. Kral is currently…

Charles Wade “Sticks” Wilson, an East Texas State University student and football legend, passed away February 1. He set many school records and achieved a long and successful career with the NFL. Wilson, who was born and raised in East…

Sue Scott Barker and Jeanne Davis Lawrence, who both received their master's in education from East Texas State University, have collaborated to publish a children's book called “The Boar Named Bob.” The book honors Cole Barker, son of Sue and…

A collection of historic postcards depicting buildings on what is now the A&M-Commerce campus and in the town of Commerce, Texas, has been digitized and is available online through the University Archives.  Ted Crim, who received his bachelor's and master's…

Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently appointed East Texas State University alum Keith Stretcher to the Eleventh Court of Appeals for a term that will expire on December 31, 2020. Stretcher served as city attorney in Midland, Texas, for 23 years…

Dr. Kenneth Martin, East Texas State University alum, retired from Navarro College in August 2018 after serving as president of the Ellis County campus for 43 years. Throughout his career, Martin helped establish several impactful programs including Open Doors to…

Texas Governor Greg Abbott appointed A&M-Commerce alum Chris Hill to the governing board of the Texas Indigent Defense Commission. The commission provides financial and technical support to Texas counties for the development and maintenance of indigent defense systems. Hill is…

The newest Crowley ISD elementary school will be named after CISD School Board President June W. Davis who received her bachelor's and master's degrees from East Texas State University, now A&M-Commerce. The 96,000-square-foot campus is expected to open in the…

A&M-Commerce alum Kia Jane Richmond, Ph.D., is the author of a recently-published book, “Mental Illness in Young Adult Literature: Exploring Real Struggles through Fictional Characters.” ABC-CLIO (Libraries Unlimited Press) published the book which examines characters in young adult literature who…

Alumna Mary Spencer has recently bequeathed $1 million to A&M-Commerce. Spencer hopes that her gift will give students the extra push needed to graduate, pursue their dreams and make the world a better place. “I love those students who have…

The Key Women Educators of Hunt County recently established the Key Women Educators of Hunt County, Texas, Beta Lambda Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma endowed scholarship at A&M-Commerce. The scholarship will benefit selected applicants who have graduated from a public…

The Austin Chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) presented David Kampa with the Fellows Award on October 4. The Fellows Award program recognizes designers who have helped raise the standards of excellence in practice and conduct within…

ETSU alumnus Earl Nottingham received a 2018 Lone Star Emmy Award for his work on Texas Parks & Wildlife's PBS show. The award is given by The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in recognition of excellence in television.…

Robert Edison, a 1971 graduate of East Texas State University, was honored with the Visionary Award by the Steering Committee of the Juanita J. Craft Civil Rights House and Museum in Dallas on October 11. The Visionary Award recognizes an…

R. Scott Wheeler, President of Daseke, Inc. and his wife Kathryn Wheeler, recently pledged $100,000 to the Texas A&M University-Commerce Foundation for the purpose of supporting the College of Business Excellence Fund and the College of Business Finance Excellence Fund.…

In the midst of another graduation season, it is easy to get caught up in the distractions of the caps, gowns, regalia and celebrations.  The pomp and circumstance mask the gritty journeys students often face before taking that much-anticipated walk…

Texas A&M University-Commerce will host its 2018 Alumni Awards Gala on May 4, 2018. During the ceremony, two Gold Blazers and nine Distinguished Alumni will be awarded for their invaluable contributions in business and the community. “The Awards Gala is…

On March 8th, the 56th Annual ADDY Awards were held at the Bomb Factory in Dallas, TX. Three VisCom students were awarded with gold medals: Karina Pérez-Fajardo (BFA ‘18) for her XXV International Congress of Entomology poster, Cooper Weinstein (BFA…

A&M-Commerce alumnus and seventh chancellor of the Dallas County Community College District Dr. Joe May will be the commencement speaker for the Fall 2017 commencement ceremonies to be held on Friday, December 15 and Saturday, December 16. A first-generation college…

Dr. Bill Aslan, former faculty member and Professor Emeritus, recently established two mathematics awards and increased the Aslan Family Graduate Endowment by $10,000. These combined gifts amount to $30,000. Aslan's recent contributions follow 23 consecutive years of support, benefitting Texas…

Texas A&M University-Commerce alumna and Executive Director of the Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) Zenetta Drew has been selected to be a part of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business's (AACSB) 2016 class of Influential Leaders. “It was…

Michael C. Smith, an East Texas trial lawyer from the Marshall office of Siebman, Burg, Phillips & Smith, LLP, was recently honored with the 2016 Sam B. Hall Civic Service Award by East Texas Baptist University. Smith, who graduated from…

The 2016 Hunt County Public Art project will install three major pieces of artwork this year by artists with connections to Texas A&M University-Commerce. Hunt County Public Art is part of the Keep Greenville Beautiful Project and Hunt County Public…

Texas A&M University-Commerce Alumni Relations and The Division of Academic Affairs will host the 33rd Annual Alumni Ambassador Forum on February 25. Departments across campus have invited back a successful alumnus to serve as an Ambassador. These former students are…

Raul Varela (MFA '10) is a founding partner of PICKUP and serves as the chief brand officer. PICKUP, an Addison-based on-demand delivery service, has attracted several million dollars from an investment fund co-created by Ross Perot Jr. as well as…

Texas A&M University-Commerce Distinguished Alumnus Carl Richie, Jr. was recently sworn in as the Senior Vice President of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO). Richie graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree from then-East Texas State University…

A Texas A&M University-Commerce Giving Society wall was unveiled in the Rayburn Student Center during the inaugural Lucky's Thank You Celebration, a biennial appreciation event for donors. “In fiscal year 2015, University Advancement collaborated with faculty, staff, students and friends…

By Mary Grace Rodriguez and Sara Wray Texas A&M University-Commerce secured the right to fly the university's flag over the Hopkins County Courthouse in Sulphur Springs after alumni raised $5,500 during the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation's “Fly Your Flag”…

Distinguished alumnus, Mike Moses, will be honored at the 11th Annual Friend of the Year Gala at McLane Stadium in Waco on Dec. 2, 2015, hosted by Friends of Texas Public Schools. The Friend of the Year Award is given…

The 24th annual Veteran's Vigil will take place on November 5 and 6 at Texas A&M University-Commerce. The opening ceremony will begin on Thursday, November 5, at 9:30 a.m. in the Rayburn Student Center (RSC) Conference Rooms with a reception,…

Texas A&M University-Commerce has recently named alumna LeWanna Hobbs the director of Direct Student Access. Hobbs began her journey at A&M-Commerce as a student in the Honors College. After she graduated, she continued with her master's degree in 2011. Her…

Alumnus Mark Seliger has taken numerous photos of U.S. presidents including Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, but he had never taken the photograph of two presidents in the same room, at the same time, for one TIME cover.…

A&M-Commerce alumnus and associate professor of Writing and Language Studies at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and English at The University of Pan-American, Colin Charlton, joins an elite group of 79 UT System professors to receive the 2015…

Alumnus Jim Chester is featured as the Attorney of the Month in Attorney at Law magazine. Chester describes himself as an “attorney for entrepreneurs and an entrepreneur for attorneys.” His notable work includes VENUE, which is a program Chester and…

Alumnus Dr. Larry Acker has been appointed to the newly created position of Director of University Marketing at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. After Acker graduated from Texas A&M University-Commerce with a bachelor's degree in public relations/journalism, he attended Langston for…

Recent Texas A&M University-Commerce graduate, Meagan Alexander, will represent A&M-Commerce in the Kentucky Equine Management Internship. Alexander graduated from A&M-Commerce's School of Agriculture in the spring semester of 2015 and will now represent the university in the prestigious Kentucky Equine…

The Alumni Association at Texas A&M University-Commerce honored seven new Distinguished Alumni and two new Gold Blazers at the annual Alumni Awards Gala on April 25, 2015. Over 175 guests were treated to a reception, formal dinner and awards ceremony…

The Board of Trustees for Adams State University announced it has named Dr. Beverlee J. McClure that next university president. As Adams State's tenth president, she will be the first woman to lead the university, with her appointment beginning July…

Art alumnus Gary Panter has been awarded a fellowship from the New York Foundation for the Arts in Printmaking/Drawing/Artist Books. Founded in 1971, the fellowship program, now in its 29th year, awards grants to artists working in 15 disciplines. Only…

Recent graduate Kerry Hendricks was honored by the Xenex Corporation, where he currently works. He flew to Dallas after the first Ebola case and disinfected the hospital using the Xenon UV Disinfection System invented by his company. The company recently…

A&M-Commerce alumnus, Judge George Ashford, walks into his one-of-a-kind Dallas County specialty court for minority boys in trouble each Monday night to teach, preach and live by example. The appointed judge of the Diversion Male Court, Ashford wears a suit…