COMMERCE, Texas -- Twenty-nine graduates were honored at the 25th annual Alumni Ambassadors Forum held at Texas A&M University-Commerce.
The Alumni Ambassadors are chosen each spring by all academic departments and return to campus to make presentations and be recognized at the annual luncheon.
"This is the highest honor an academic department can bestow on a graduate," said Derryle Peace, director of alumni relations, to the ambassadors at the luncheon honoring their accomplishments. "Your investment in time and energy here will pay dividends with the students. You all also serve as ambassadors of the university to the world."
A&M-Commerce President Keith McFarland said the Alumni Ambassadors "reaffirm that we've done a good job as a university."
Roy E. Renfro, vice president for Resource and Community Development and the executive director of the Grayson County College Foundation, Inc., was chosen by the department of agricultural sciences.
Lawrence Lee, who is making a name for himself in painting across the United States by participating in solo and group exhibitions, was recognized by the department of art.
Brandon J. Love, an environmental investigator for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, was honored by the department of biological, earth and environmental sciences.
Bradley Press, the director of Community Services for the Greenville Independent School District; Dr. Colleen Smith, president and CEO of Cisco Junior College; William Smith, director of Performing Arts at Cisco Junior College and the artistic director for the Big Country Dinner Theatre in Cisco; and Coretta Williams, a producer with KLTV Channel 7 in Tyler, were all chosen by the department of mass media, communications, and theatre.
William Howard, a systems engineer and senior manager at Northrop Grumman Information Technology, was recognized by the department of computer science.
David Baumann is the manager of Facilities Planning, Engineering and Resource Administration at L-3 Communications Integrated Systems and was honored by the department of industrial engineering.
Dr. J. Doug Richey has 37 years teaching experience in mathematics at the junior high, senior high, community college and university levels. He was chosen by the department of mathematics.
Patricia Highfill McKinney, choir director at Kilgore High School, was chosen by the department of music.
Julie Chapman Cullen, law professor at the University of Arkansas Bowen School of Law, was recognized by the department of political science.
Dr. Gurdeep S. Khullar is a faculty member of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and was honored by the department of sociology and criminal justice.
John Harold Rose, Jr., category manager in the Bakery department of Brookshire's corporate office, was chosen by the department of applied science.
Shawntay M. Carrier, a trainer and human resources generalist at A&M-Commerce, was recognized by the department of business administration and management information systems.
Terry Pankratz, senior vice president and chief financial officer for Texas A&M University in College Station, and Lindy Pilgrim, founder and CEO of Integrity Leadership, were both honored by the department of marketing and management.
Shanti P. Carter, chief executive officer of Hickory Trail Hospital in DeSoto, was chosen by the department of counseling.
Angela Dorman, AP Language LEAD Teacher and PSAT/SAT Summer Program Director for Dallas Public Schools, was recognized by the department of curriculum and instruction.
Dr. Charlene Emmert Fleener is the chair of the Educational Curriculum and Instruction Department, Reading Graduate Program Director, and an associate professor for the Darden College of Education at Old Dominion University. Fleener was also recognized by the department of curriculum and instruction.
Dr. Rick Reedy, superintendent of the Frisco Independent School District, was honored by the department of educational leadership for his work in educational administration.
Dr. Brian Smith, technology director and teacher at Caddo Mills Independent School District, was chosen by the department of educational leadership for his work in educational technology.
Dr. Lynn L. Nolte is the vice president of Instruction at Cedar Valley College and was chosen by the department of educational leadership for her work in higher education.
Dr. Lori K. Miller is a professor of sport law in the Department of Sport Management at Wichita State University, and was recognized by the department of health, kinesiology and sports studies.
Enid Y. Fontenot, special education coordinator for the Keller Independent School District, and Dr. Tommie J. Hughes, tenured associate professor of counseling psychology at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, were both honored by the department of psychology and special education.
Patsy A. Boshears, an instructor at A&M-Commerce, was recognized by the department of social work.
"I'm continually encouraged to see these alumni and their accomplishments," said Peace. "We have people who are outstanding and who continue to do outstanding things in this world."
