UH Graduates Ready to Make Their Mark
Spring ’25 Commencement Set for May 7-10
All hail to thee,
Our Houston University.
Our hearts fill with gladness
When we think of thee.
We’ll always adore thee
Dear old varsity.
And to thy memory cherished,
True we’ll ever be.
As the University of Houston prepares to celebrate commencement for the Class of 2025, there is, perhaps, nothing more appropriate for the occasion than the words of the University’s alma mater.
Remember this time in your life with joy and gratitude as you begin the next chapter in your journey.
“Commencement is a time of celebration, pride, and reflection,” said UH Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Diane Z. Chase. “It marks the culmination of years of hard work and the beginning of new opportunities. We are incredibly proud of our graduates and all they have accomplished, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make in their communities and around the world.”
More than 7,000 graduates will cross the stage over the next several days, including more than 5,000 receiving their bachelor’s degree, nearly 1,400 receiving their master’s degree, nearly 200 receiving their doctorate.
Nearly one-third of the class will graduate with honors, including 850 cum laude, 908 magna cum laude and 550 summa cum laude.
At 18 years old, John Thomas is the youngest member of the Class of 2025 – he will receive his B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship from the C.T. Bauer College of Business. The oldest member of the class is 74-year-old James Martin who will receive his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology.
Graduation ceremonies will take place on campus and a complete schedule is available on the University Commencement website. For those who cannot attend in person, they will be livestreamed.
As the University of Houston prepares to celebrate commencement for the Class of 2025, there is, perhaps, nothing more appropriate for the occasion than the words of the University’s alma mater.
Remember this time in your life with joy and gratitude as you begin the next chapter in your journey.
“Commencement is a time of celebration, pride, and reflection,” said UH Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Diane Z. Chase. “It marks the culmination of years of hard work and the beginning of new opportunities. We are incredibly proud of our graduates and all they have accomplished, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make in their communities and around the world.”
More than 7,000 graduates will cross the stage over the next several days, including more than 5,000 receiving their bachelor’s degree, nearly 1,400 receiving their master’s degree, nearly 200 receiving their doctorate.
Nearly one-third of the class will graduate with honors, including 850 cum laude, 908 magna cum laude and 550 summa cum laude.
At 18 years old, John Thomas is the youngest member of the Class of 2025 – he will receive his B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship from the C.T. Bauer College of Business. The oldest member of the class is 74-year-old James Martin who will receive his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology.
Graduation ceremonies will take place on campus and a complete schedule is available on the University Commencement website. For those who cannot attend in person, they will be livestreamed.
SANA ALJANDALI
Sana Aljandali sees opportunity everywhere.
And as one of the first students ever to earn a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering from UH’s Cullen College of Engineering, she can’t think of a more perfect place to be than Houston.
“After doing quite a lot of research, I knew that systems engineering was the perfect major for me – it’s very versatile, and it’s a degree that applies to everything, especially being in Houston,” Aljandali said. “We have the largest medical center in the world, we’re the energy capital, and there’s a very strong presence in aerospace as well as oil and gas. I’ve seen how essential systems engineering thinking is across all of these very different industries.”
“It feels very rewarding that all of my hard work has paid off. I really look forward to applying what I’ve learned in my classes to an industry where efficiency and innovation are important.”
Aljandali, who will graduate with honors on May 10, has spent the past two years as a systems engineering intern at MD Anderson Cancer Center – an experience she says has provided the technical, analytical and problem-solving skills she’ll need after graduation as she grows both professionally and personally.
“I believe my internship has been a defining experience because it has given me the confidence to know that I belong in this field,” she said.
And as she prepares to take on new challenges, Aljandali is reflecting on bigger challenges she’s already faced and overcome.
Fearing for their safety during the Syrian Revolution, Aljandali’s family fled to the U.S. in the early 2010s when she was nine years old. She spoke no English when she arrived, so she visited the library every week and read as much as she could. She was determined to make the most of her new opportunity and worked hard to thrive and succeed while adjusting to a completely new culture, language and environment.
“My parents sacrificed everything for us to be here and to give me this opportunity for a better life. I owe everything to them and their sacrifices – their unconditional support. I want to thank them for everything. I appreciate it more than they’ll ever know. I think I’ve made myself proud, but I hope I’ve also made them proud.”
Story contributed by Alex Keimig, Cullen College of Engineering
FIAMA VILLAGRANA-OCASIO & LOURDES OCASIO
Fiama Villagrana-Ocasio and her mother, Lourdes Ocasio, are passionate about helping others.
The two women began their journey at the Graduate College of Social Work in 2023, building on a lifelong bond rooted in shared values and a commitment to service. Now, as they receive their Master of Social Work degrees together, they are reflecting on how their time as classmates deepened their connection in new and meaningful ways.
They are no longer just mother and daughter. They are peers and collaborators, as well.
“I felt literally that this [immigrant] community was invisible, and for me, it was not acceptable. We need to do something about it. I try to advocate as much as I can.”
“Before, I acted as a mom, listening and giving advice to Fiama. Now, we are on the same level,” Lourdes said. “We share this new information that we have been learning and understanding. We have deep conversations together and at the same time feel comfortable being vulnerable or making mistakes and being open to new ideas.
Lourdes came to the U.S. from Puerto Rico in 1999, raising three children as a stay-at-home mother. Later, she worked with immigrant communities as an educator, an experience that ignited a desire to return to school for her master’s degree.
It was that devotion to family and serving the community that sent Fiama down the same path.
“All of that has pushed me to want to find other ways to make an impact,” said Fiama. “My mom is Puerto Rican, and my dad is Mexican. In the culture I come from, I see the impacts of colonization on my family. I’m always remembering where I can make an impact.”
After graduation, Fiama and Lourdes will pursue social work opportunities in primary education. And they’ll have fond memories of their time together at UH.
“There were times that we were behind and one of us would say, ‘You drive this time because I need to finish my paper’,” recalled Lourdes. “It’s cute that we can support each other like that.”
Story contributed by Renia Butler, Graduate College of Social Work
ERIKA PARKINSON
Very few, if any, UH students can say they run a YouTube channel that has amassed more than 31 million views.
But C.T. Bauer College of Business senior Erica Parkinson can.
Parkinson, who is part of the Melvyn and Cyvia Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship, will walk the commencement stage with 1,344 other Bauer graduates on May 9 at the Fertitta Center. Then she’ll take her show on the road to North Carolina where she hopes to earn a commercial real estate license.
Erika Parkinson, BBA '25, participates in a class discussion at Bauer College's Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship.
Erika Parkinson, BBA '25, participates in a class discussion at Bauer College's Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship.
“I want to get into property development – I really want to make tiny homes that are Japanese modern and space efficient,” Parkinson said. “It’ll be a fun challenge to re-establish myself and start from the ground up.”
Parkinson hopes to keep the content rolling on her YouTube channel, “Brasians”, a family vlog that launched in 2015 and boasts more than 150,000 subscribers, most of them in Japan. The channel’s primary focus is about life in the United States, and each video is stylized to imitate Japanese television, featuring cartoony captions using Japanese characters.
“Talking to a lot of people in the program, it was really cool to see how everyone was so motivated and passionate. It made me feel like I could start a business. It made me think, ‘I have to be here’”
But she also has big plans for a spin-off series about her move to North Carolina.
“It’ll be about life away from home, homesick recipes and starting a business from scratch,” she said. “I’ll still be involved and will continue to help direct creatively from afar.”
Story contributed by J.J. Adams
HONORARY DEGREES AND AWARDS
This year’s graduates may draw further inspiration from two honorary degree recipients.
Julian Schnabel, BFA ’73, is widely regarded as one of the most influential American artists of the last 40 years, whose paintings are housed in some of the world’s most prestigious museums, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Tate Modern in London. A true visionary, Schnabel transformed the language of painting and paved the way for new generations of artists.
Julian Schnabel, BFA '73, to receive an honorary degree
Julian Schnabel, BFA '73, to receive an honorary degree
Nathan Fowler, BA '96, to receive an honorary degree
Nathan Fowler, BA '96, to receive an honorary degree
Nathan Fowler, BA ’96, is considered one of the world’s foremost experts in drug development for blood cancers. As chief medical officer for BostonGene, Fowler provides strategic direction that empowers the award-winning biomedical software company to advance precision medicine therapies for cancer patients.
And two organizations will receive the President’s Medallion for distinguishing themselves in their passion, leadership and service to advance the University of Houston and the community.
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to receive the President's Medallion.
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to receive the President's Medallion.
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, established in 1944 by hotel magnate and philanthropist Conrad N. Hilton, has long championed initiatives that alleviate human suffering and foster global goodwill. In 1969, Hilton’s profound belief in the transformative power of hospitality led to a $1.5 million donation to establish the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership at UH, which through the unwavering support of his foundation, has grown into one of the world’s leading institutions for hospitality education.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise to receive the President's Medallion.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise to receive the President's Medallion.
Hewlitt Packard Enterprise
Hewlitt Packard Enterprise is a Fortune 100 company headquartered in Greater Houston that is dedicated to advancing the way people live and work. In 2018, HPE made a transformative $10 million gift to UH’s Data Science Institute as part of a game-changing collaboration to increase innovation. The gift also funded a scholarship endowment, high-performing computer equipment and education programs for K-12 students, as well as UH students, faculty and staff.
PHOTO FINISH
There is an exciting photo opportunity planned for the Class of 2025. The Office of Protocol and Special Events is setting up four photo locations that will be decorated with balloons, UH banners and other commencement décor for you to take pictures in your graduation regalia.
These photo locations will be available through May 11:
University Seal - Cullen Circle Entrance
Cullen Family Plaza
Student Center South - First Floor Entryway
Athletics Alumni Center - 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. only
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