A gymnasium full of college graduates and spectators during a ceremony.
More than 1,300 students received their ETAMU degree over the weekend. | Photo credit: Jason Connel, East Texas A&M University

ETAMU Welcomes New Alumni at Fall 2025 Commencement

Graduates were honored for their completion of years of study across five ceremonies

More than 1,300 graduates joined the ranks of East Texas A&M University alumni following commencement ceremonies on Dec. 12 and 13.

In total, 1,344 Lion students graduated following the fall 2025 semester, with 486 of them receiving academic distinction, meaning they graduated with an overall grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

Across all five ceremonies, graduates received a congratulatory message from Nikki Cobb, vice chancellor of Government Relations for The Texas A&M University System. An alumnus and several graduating students gave commencement addresses during the ceremonies. The speakers included:

  • Dr. Joseph Showell: Showell is a 1992 graduate of East Texas State University (now East Texas A&M) with a B.S. in Mathematics. While a student in Commerce, he played on the Lion Football team. He currently serves as the executive director of Student Services for Birdville ISD in Haltom City, Texas. Showell has accrued more than 30 years of service in public education.
  • Carolyn Savage: Savage graduated during the ceremony with a B.S. in Agribusiness. She was a member of the Honors College at East Texas A&M, where she conducted research in agricultural economics. Savage presented this research at the 2025 Southern Agricultural Economics Association's annual meeting. She plans to remain at East Texas A&M to pursue a master's degree in Agricultural Sciences and serve as a graduate assistant in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
  • Faye Lambert: Lambert graduated during the ceremony with a B.S. in Criminal Justice with a minor in sociology. She plans to pursue a career as a crime scene investigator and hopes to continue building her skills in forensic science and criminal investigation.
  • Scott Askew: Askew graduated with a B.S. in Criminal Justice as part of the Competency-Based Criminal Justice program. He currently serves as assistant chief of the Austin Police Department in Austin, Texas. Boasting nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience, he has also served with the U.S. Secret Service and completed assignments with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Additionally, he is a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard.

See a full gallery of photos from Fall 2025 graduation ceremonies in our online photo gallery:

Graduation Photo Gallery