A Matter of Degrees: University of Houston Spring Commencement Celebrates Student Achievements

The sounds of Taylor Swift and Beyoncé will take a backseat to another song May 8 – 11. “Pomp and Circumstance” will be the most popular tune at the University of Houston campus that week. The ceremonial graduation march perfectly personifies the academic achievements of Cougars. It also inspires pride in the University and its mission to prepare students for the next chapters of their lives. Spring Commencement is indeed a time for celebration, but it’s also a moment for reflection, particularly for the 6,655 Coogs who will complete this leg of their academic journeys. This year’s graduates range in ages from 17 to 72 and include students who have engaged in extracurricular activities to better prepare them for the workforce and to serve their respective communities. Ceremonies will be conducted on campus, and a complete schedule is available on the Spring Commencement website. The events also will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person.

"Among those Cougars who crossed the finish line this spring (literally) is Zosia Bulhak. She will earn her bachelor's degrees in economics and English literature. Originally from Warsaw, Poland but raised in Amsterdam, Bulhak learned about UH while attending high school on the other side of the globe."

“Like Bulhak, Andrea Martinez has taken on twice the workload since arriving at UH. She too is a double major and will earn her bachelor's degrees in marketing and management. And like Bulhak, she was very involved in extracurricular activities that bolstered her self-confidence and her resolve to succeed. She served as a UH Ambassador for the Office of Admissions, promoting the University to future students.”

"Another engaged Coog (and yet another double major) who is set to graduate is Zunayra Hemani. She will earn bachelor’s degrees in political science and health. That in itself is impressive, but her on-campus involvement and volunteer experience is equally remarkable."

"He attended elementary school in the small town of Devers, Texas (population 447), but Isaac DeBerry eventually found higher education opportunities in the nation’s fourth largest city. Now, he’s set to graduate from UH with a bachelor’s degree in English."