TAMIU Spring 2022 Commencement Program

DISTINGUISHEDSTUDENT SCHOLARS Maritza Y. García College of Arts & Sciences Chelsea Itzel Villarreal A. R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business Andrea Laurel College of Education Maritza Y. García is the daughter of María Del Carmen and Sergio García and a 2019 Roma High School graduate. Today, she completes her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree with a minor in Philosophy in three years, graduating summa cum laude with a 3.97 GPA. While a student at TAMIU, Maritza was a part of the Honor Council, Pre-Law Chapter of the LaredoWebb County Bar Association, Philosophy Society, Sigma Delta Lambda Sorority Inc., and the Student Philanthropy Council. She traveled to Brazil as a Reading the Globe Ambassador. As a part-time research assistant, she conducted a systematic review of the literature on police use of body-worn cameras, and also worked on a second U.S. National Institute of Justice-funded project investigating longitudinal gang violence in New Jersey. Upon graduation, Maritza plans to attend a prestigious law school in Fall 2023, acquire a J. D., and become a criminal defense attorney. Chelsea Itzel Villarreal is the daughter of Juan Daniel, Jr. and Adreana Villarreal. She grad- uated from Laredo’s Dr. Leonides G. Cigarroa High School as valedictorian in 2018. Today, she earns a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, graduating magna cum laude with a 3.88 GPA. While a student atTAMIU, Chelsea was a member of the A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business’ Dean’s Student Advisory Council, the Texas Community Bank Honorary Junior Board of Directors, the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, and was named to both the Honor Roll and Dean’s List. She has traveled to France as part of a study abroad program and to Cambodia and Thailand as a Reading the Globe Ambassador. She was a recipient of the Oscar M. Laurel Endowment Scholarship and the Texas Community Bank Endowment. Chelsea will soon begin her professional career as an analyst in the Risk & Financial Advisory Group in the Houston office of Deloitte, a multinational professional services network with offices in over 150 countries and territories around the world. A Laredo native, Andrea is the daughter of Servando Laurel, III and Melisa P. Laurel. She attended the United High School Engineering and Technology Magnet School. Today, she graduates summa cum laude with a 3.95 GPA, earning a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education with EC-6 Certification and Science ofTeaching Reading Certification. While a student at TAMIU, Andrea was part of the TAMIU-Lamar Bruni Vergara Literacy Partnership and participated in the STEMAlliance, clinical teaching at Santa María Elementary and Lamar Bruni Vergara Middle schools, and worked full-time as a Special Education unit teacher assistant at United Independent School District’s J.B.J. Muller Elementary School. Upon graduation, Andrea plans to begin her professional career as a middle school Mathematics teacher and pursue a graduate degree in School Counseling. Her longtime goal is to continue to promote STEAM in the Laredo community and become a school counselor.