UT School of Social Work Spring 2026 Commencement
Student Recognition
BSW Honors and Scholarship Recipients
- Ashley York — Elizabeth Ann Adkins Endowed Scholarship in Social Work; Leon and Julie Stone Payne Family Endowed Scholarship in Social Work
- Takrima Ahmad — Pamela A. Ackert Endowed Scholarship; Adele Lorusso Memorial Scholarship; Ami Lunsford Memorial Scholarship in Victim Services; Dianne and Leslie White Endowed Scholarship
- Alexandra Atkins — Utley Education Foundation Endowed Scholarship in Mental Health; Betty Louise Vesowate Endowed Scholarship
- Jordyn Behr
- Kelsey Behrens
- Jazlynna Bergeron
- Jasmine Blanco — Rosalie and Robert Ambrosino Endowed Scholarship in Social Work; Ruth J. Rubio and L.V. Sclerandi, Jr. Endowment Scholarship
- Riley Caldwell — Betty Louise Vesowate Endowed Scholarship
- Grace Carlson
- Leilani Cheverez Senquis
- Pascaline Chuma
- Maria Cort Koumanis
- Phoebe Cosgrove
- Isaias De La Rosa — Dianne and Leslie White Endowed Scholarship; Martha S. Williams Endowed Presidential Scholarship
- Lillian Dealbert — Kim Heilbrun Endowed Scholarship in Social Work; Victor and Myra Ravel Social Work Scholarship in Children’s Rights
- Trent Delomel
- Brytazia Dial
- Brandi Dodd — Kerr Family Pay It Forward Endowed Scholarship in Social Work; Leslie and John David Moritz Endowed Scholarship in Social Work
- Carson Dyer
- Claire Eastman — John and Jennifer Gates Endowed Scholarship in Social Work
- Zuleyka Esquivel Santand — Adele Lorusso Memorial Scholarship; King S. Stephens Memorial Scholarship in Social Work; Louis A. Zurcher Memorial Scholarship
- Romey Fennell
- Vanesa Figueroa — Ruth J. Rubio and L.V. Sclerandi, Jr. Scholarship
- Isabella Flood
- Enjie Fu
- Olivia Garcia — Betty Louise Vesowate Endowed Scholarship
- Chloe Hancock
- Morgan Hildreth
- Isabel Hugetz
- Evelyn Jinright
- Megan Jordan — Moritz Family Scholarship for Social Work; Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation Endowed Scholarship in Social Work
- Sydnie Karel
- Mya Lacey — Betty Louise Vesowate Endowed Scholarship
- Andre Lacy — Utley Education Foundation Endowed Scholarship in Mental Health
- Britney Le — Rosalie and Robert Ambrosino Endowed Scholarship in Social Work; Dianne and Leslie White Endowed Scholarship
- Esther Lee — Louis E. DeMoll Endowed Presidential Scholarship; Mindy Hildebrand Endowed Scholarship
- Dolores Licon
- Jaqueline Luevano
- Maria Martinez Marin
- Aliyah McKoy — Louis E. DeMoll Endowed Presidential Scholarship; Moritz Family Scholarship for Social Work
- Chloe Mohlenbrink
- Ash Moore
- Lily Myers
- Macy Nguyen
- Isabella Niles — Social Work Endowed Presidential Scholarship
- Emilia Oh — Camille D. Miller Endowed Scholarship in Social Work
- Emily Ontiveros — Rosalie and Robert Ambrosino Endowed Scholarship in Social Work; Ruth G. McRoy Scholarship in Services for Children and Families; Moritz Family Scholarship for Social Work
- Kiana Padilla — Sylvia M. Arabian and Andrew K. Schwartz Excellence Fund
- Nayeli Pena — Adele Lorusso Memorial Scholarship; Schwab Family Scholarship in Social Work; Melanie Walter‑Mahoney Endowed Scholarship in Social Work
- Marissa Pineda
- Marlene Ponce Olvera
- Cambrie Priesmeyer — Patricia Puig and Joseph P. Mueller Dean’s Excellence Scholarship; Leon and Julie Stone Payne Family Endowed Scholarship in Social Work
- Emily Putnam — Erin Koechel and Jeff Duchin Endowed Scholarship in Social Work; Mary and Brian Mulvaney Endowed Scholarship in Social Work; Social Work Endowed Presidential Scholarship; Betty Louise Vesowate Endowed Scholarship
- Chloe Ramos
- Victoria Rangel
- Gavriela Reschman
- Shana Richards — John and Katherine Ehrle Endowed Scholarship in Social Work; Ruth G. McRoy Scholarship in Services for Children and Families; Daniel B. and Vicki Ross Endowed Scholarship in Social Work
- Louis Rivera — Cathy and Morris Bart Endowed Scholarship in Social Work; Theresa and Martin Cole Endowed Scholarship in Social Work; Daniel B. and Vicki Ross Endowed Scholarship in Social Work; Sponsor A Student Scholarship
- Isabel Rodriguez
- Marissa Rodriguez — Dianne and Leslie White Endowed Scholarship
- Melanie Sandoval
- Sam Schumann — Ruth J. Rubio and L.V. Sclerandi, Jr. Scholarship
- Lindsey Spector
- Alanie Tavira Rodriguez
- Annie Tran
- Ivonne Vazquez Huerta — Theresa and Martin Cole Endowed Scholarship in Social Work; John and Jennifer Gates Endowed Scholarship in Social Work; Betty Louise Vesowate Endowed Scholarship
- Lauren Vetter
- Alyssa Vos — John and Jennifer Gates Endowed Scholarship in Social Work; Kim Heilbrun Endowed Scholarship in Social Work; Sylvia Shapiro Scholarship
- Brooke Williams — Mindy Hildebrand Endowed Scholarship; Emily and Don Jackson Endowment for Excellence in Juvenile Justice; Adele Lorusso Memorial Scholarship Fund
- Zoe Wolverton
- Joan Wuenschel
- Andres Yengle
MSSW Honors and Scholarship Recipients
- Sevdanur Acarlioglu
- Stephanie Mireya Aguilera — CapCityKids Scholars Program Scholarship
- Nawal Ahmed — CapCityKids Scholars Program Scholarship; Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship; Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Isabella Grace Alexander — Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Julia Charlotte Alexander — Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Marielle Alonzo‑Zamora — St. David’s Foundation Bilingual Social Work Scholarship
- Fabiola Daphne Amaya — Gerontology Resources and the Aging Community in Education (GRACE) Scholarship
- Ashlan Paige Armstrong — Jeanne and Terry Startzel Endowed Presidential Fellowship in Social Work; Fernandez International Practicum Award
- Scarlett M. Bainbridge — Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Jessenia Balderas
- Juliana Carolina Barrera — CapCityKids Scholars Program Scholarship; Charles W. Laughton Endowed Presidential Scholarship Fund; Louis E. DeMoll Endowed Presidential Scholarship
- Alyssa Nicole Barrientos — Pamela A. Ackert Endowed Scholarship (General); Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship
- Kennedi Amari Bernard — John and Jennifer Gates Endowed Scholarship in Social Work; Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship
- Vanessa Bissereth — Gerontology Resources and the Aging Community in Education (GRACE) Scholarship; Moritz Family Scholarship for Social Work
- Eden Terise Blesener — Rad and Ashley Weaver Endowed Scholarship; Fernandez International Practicum Award
- Elle Marie Brannam — Dean’s Endowed Scholarship
- Kristine Lynnette Bryan — Mary John and Ralph Spence Graduate Fellowship in Social Work
- Christina Louise Burke — Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship
- Clayton John Burkhard
- Devin Daniel Byrne
- Jennifer Ressmann Canzano — Graduate Fellowship in Honor of Adoptive Parents
- Robin Elizabeth Carsner — Leben Play Therapy Scholars Program Scholarship; Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Julia Elaine Cavazos
- Monica Charles — Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship; Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Briana Chava Cohen — St. David’s Foundation Earl Maxwell Scholars Program Scholarship
- Delaney Hope Coleman — Luis A. and Mercedes Zayas Family Endowed Fellowship in Social Work
- Courtney M. Colston — Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship
- Kathleen Elizabeth Coneys
- Angela Grace Cox — Graduate Fellowship in Honor of Adoptive Parents
- Emma Reid Craddock — Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship; Mary John and Ralph Spence Graduate Fellowship in Social Work
- Ryan Gabriel Cunningham
- Andrea Garcia Davila
- Mayda Celeste Diaz Lehr — CapCityKids Scholars Program Scholarship
- Addison Virginia Dodge — John and Katherine Ehrle Endowed Scholarship in Social Work
- Morgan J. Donnelly — Barbara B. Munford Endowed Graduate Fellowship in Social Work; Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Duryn Marie Dunbar — John and Jennifer Gates Endowed Scholarship in Social Work; Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Rebecca Sage Duron — David M. and Zuria F. Austin Endowed Graduate Fellowship; Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship
- Meredith Sarah Eaton — Gerontology Resources and the Aging Community in Education (GRACE) Scholarship; Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship
- Amity Arae Ebarb — Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship; Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Matthew Allen Evans — Steve Hicks Scholarship
- Isabella G. Fanucci‑Dishon
- Alonso Avard Fernandez — St. David’s Foundation Bilingual Social Work Scholarship
- Rosemary Joy Ferreira — Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship; Mary John and Ralph Spence Graduate Fellowship in Social Work; Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Madison Louise Cyr Flueckiger — CapCityKids Scholars Program Scholarship; Helen Farabee Memorial Endowed Presidential Scholarship; Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Kailey Alisee Foster — Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Grace Catherine Fothergill — Stella Churchill Mullins Endowed Presidential Scholarship; Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Lina Maria Franco — Andrew Pickett Mobley Memorial Endowed Presidential Fellowship in Social Work; St. David’s Foundation Bilingual Social Work Scholarship
- Gianely Marie Garcia
- Victoria Elizabeth Gil
- Katie Bedrick Good — George C. Torres Endowed Graduate Fellowship; Margaret Love Gaither Endowed Excellence Fund
- Eleanor Joan Graves
- Abby Rose Green — Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship
- Megan Elizabeth Guiffre — Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship; Barbara B. Munford Endowed Graduate Fellowship
- Meam Kathleen Hartshorn
- Michaela Andrea Hassler — CapCityKids Scholars Program Scholarship; Helen Farabee Memorial Endowed Presidential Scholarship
- Yichun He
- Ezra Saul Weiker Hecht — Leben Play Therapy Scholars Program Scholarship
- Claudia Andrea Held
- Ariana Rae Hickman — Gerontology Resources and the Aging Community in Education (GRACE) Scholarship; Mary John and Ralph Spence Graduate Fellowship in Social Work
- Caroline Patricia Hirko — Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship; Dean’s Endowed Scholarship; Sheral Trousdale Skinner Endowed Graduate Fellowship in Social Work
- Myrta Diedra Hodge
- Alix Horton
- Courtney Lynne Janecka — Gerontology Resources and the Aging Community in Education (GRACE) Scholarship
- Bryn Cozzens Johnson — Anne Wilkens Memorial Revolving Scholarship; St. David’s Foundation Earl Maxwell Scholars Program Scholarship
- Carolina Jones — St. David’s Foundation Bilingual Social Work Scholarship
- Kenadee Morrell Junca — Barbara B. Munford Endowed Graduate Fellowship; CapCityKids Scholars Program Scholarship
- Madiha Hurmat Kark
- Nicole Dinh Kas — Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship; Gerontology Resources and the Aging Community in Education (GRACE) Scholarship
- Willow Kerr — Dorinda Noble Graduate Fellowship
- Kristin Ann Kight — Andrew and Stacey Cernicky Endowed Scholarship in Social Work
- Kadzumi Komiyama — Ann Champion Milnor Endowed Fellowship
- Delaney La Cerva — Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Avery Tieran Leeper
- Sam Brenton Litchfield — Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Kate Louise Lloyd — Gerontology Resources and the Aging Community in Education (GRACE) Scholarship; Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation Endowed Scholarship in Social Work
- Victoria Caroline Martinez — Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship; St. David’s Foundation Earl Maxwell Scholars Program Scholarship
- Anna Mastryukova — Luis A. and Mercedes Zayas Family Endowed Fellowship in Social Work
- A’Kaylah J. McCoy — Gerontology Resources and the Aging Community in Education (GRACE) Scholarship; Steve Hicks Scholarship
- Gabryele Marie McCroskey — Steve Hicks Scholarship
- Emma Heidi McGee — Adele Lorusso Memorial Scholarship
- Lori Terrazas Medeiros — Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Samuel Alexander Menjivar Perez — Mary John and Ralph Spence Graduate Fellowship in Social Work; Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Benjamin Clay Mercer — Louis E. DeMoll Endowed Presidential Scholarship
- Kristin Elizabeth Metz
- Kai Thain Morley — Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Jay Paul Mortenson Jr. — Kara and Jay Hartzell Endowed Fellowship in Social Work; Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Stella Vesta Newman
- Tisha Renee Nunez
- Marissa Lynne Ornelas — St. David’s Foundation Bilingual Social Work Scholarship
- Parham Pakatchi — Patrick Hefferan Memorial Endowed Presidential Scholarship; Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Parsa Pakatchi — Patrick Hefferan Memorial Endowed Fellowship in Social Work
- Christian Alexander Pena — Susan McCartney Finnegan Endowed Presidential Fellowship in Social Work; Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Claire Rose Phelps — Gerontology Resources and the Aging Community in Education (GRACE) Scholarship; Moritz Family Scholarship for Social Work
- Aiyana B. Price — Cynthia and Christina Franklin Endowed Fellowship in Solution Focused Brief Therapy
- Yuxuan Qian
- Zach William Rahmes
- Raisa Reyes — Andrew Pickett Mobley Memorial Endowed Presidential Fellowship in Social Work; St. David’s Foundation Earl Maxwell Scholars Program Scholarship
- Maggie Rose Rittmeyer — Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship; Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Christina Sophia Rivela — Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Emilie Alice Robinson — Sally and Tom Dunning Graduate Fellowship in Social Work
- Ana C. Rodriguez
- Ella Carolyn Rosi
- Aubrey Ingalls Rowan — Dean’s Endowed Scholarship; St. David’s Foundation Earl Maxwell Scholars Program Scholarship
- Josefina Leann Rozelle
- Paige Anastasia Rymer
- Apryl Michele Salomaa — George Herbert Endowed Scholarship; Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Valentina Sarmineto
- Bella Grace Schultze — Mindy Hildebrand Endowed Scholarship
- Evan Andrew Schwartz
- Janet Julieta Shuey — Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Lucy Elaine Snyder — Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship
- Alana Mallory Spaeth — Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Katie Elizabeth Stagner — Gerontology Resources and the Aging Community in Education (GRACE) Scholarship
- Delecia Lee Strait — Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Neftaly Torres — St. David’s Foundation Bilingual Social Work Scholarship; Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship; Gerontology Resources and the Aging Community in Education (GRACE) Scholarship
- Caroline Amanda Traylor — Kara and Jay Hartzell Endowed Fellowship in Social Work; Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship; St. David’s Foundation Earl Maxwell Scholars Program Scholarship
- Madison Leigh Turner — Gerontology Resources and the Aging Community in Education (GRACE) Scholarship
- Miranda Elizabeth Uribe
- Isabella Tess Vaccarino — St. David’s Foundation Earl Maxwell Scholars Program Scholarship
- Kathryn Elizabeth Van Bodegom Smith — Jeanne and Terry Startzel Endowed Presidential Fellowship in Social Work; Stephens Family Endowed Presidential Fellowship in Social Work
- Sophia Grace Van Swol — Robert Carl Nesbitt Memorial Endowed Presidential Scholarship
- Hannah Jeanne Vaughan — Margaret Love Gaither Endowed Excellence Scholarship; Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Stephanie Isabel Velasco — St. David’s Foundation Bilingual Social Work Scholarship
- Kelly Annette Vences — Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship; Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Melissa Valentine Vick
- Sarahi Villalobos Ruvio — St. David’s Foundation Bilingual Social Work Scholarship; Cordell Reynolds Endowed Excellence Scholarship
- Sofia Villaluenga — Adele Lorusso Memorial Scholarship; Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Yun‑Han Irene Wang — Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Nicholas John Washuta II
- Kimberley Markley Watts — Gerontology Resources and the Aging Community in Education (GRACE) Scholarship
- Giana Aalyah Marie Williams — Moritz Family Support Scholarship
- Sarah Christina Yao — Andrew and Stacey Cernicky Endowed Scholarship in Social Work
- Alexandra Elise Zagzoug — CapCityKids Scholars Program Scholarship; Steve Hicks Scholarship
- Heaven Leigh Zamorano — Moritz Family Support Scholarship; Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation Endowed Scholarship in Social Work
- Sophia Lisbeth Zappler — Dorinda Noble Graduate Fellowship
- Brenda Zuniga Alvarado — Patricia Puig and Joseph P. Mueller Dean’s Excellence Scholarship; St. David’s Foundation Earl Maxwell Scholars Program Scholarship
Important Dates
| February 23 | Social Work Ceremony RSVP Opens | |
| March 6 | Doctoral Regalia Purchase Deadline | |
| March 12 | Grad Fest (1 – 5 pm) | |
| March 13 | Doctoral Regalia Rental Deadline | |
| April 9 | Graduate Name Update Deadline | |
| April 10 | Social Work Ceremony RSVP Deadline | |
| April 17 | Master’s Regalia Purchase Deadline Bachelor’s Regalia Purchase Deadline | |
| May 1 | Guest Ticket Request Deadline (SSW Ceremony) | |
| May 8 | Guest Ticket Distribution Deadline (SSW Ceremony) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do graduates and/or guests require ticketing for attendance?
The School of Social Work will be requiring tickets for the ceremony this year.
Do graduates and/or guests have to RSVP in advance for the ceremony?
Only graduates will need to RSVP.
Is there a guest limit?
No, there is no guest limit. However, graduates will have to request any additional tickets over the 8 allotted per student.
How will guests receive their tickets?
Students will need to distribute tickets prior to commencement on May 9th.
Who needs a ticket?
All guests over the age of 1 year old require tickets.
Will the ceremony be live-streamed?
Yes, the ceremony will be live-streamed. The location of the live stream will be made available closer to commencement.
Do I have to wear regalia in order to participate?
Students who choose to participate in graduation are required to wear university-approved regalia. Failure to wear proper regalia may result in a student not being able to participate in commencement ceremonies.
Ph.D. regalia must be purchased by March 6. Bachelor’s and master’s regalia must be purchased by April 17.
Where can I purchase regalia?
Regalia can be purchased through the University Co-op. The Co-op also offers announcements and other graduation items.
Ph.D. regalia must be purchased by March 6. Bachelor’s and master’s regalia must be purchased by April 17.
Are tickets required for the University-Wide Commencement Ceremony*?
Tickets are required for graduates and guests attending the University-wide commencement ceremony. For further information, please see the university-wide commencement website.
*The University-wide commencement ceremony is hosted by the UT Austin President and brings together graduates from all 18 degree-granting colleges and schools. It is a separate event from the Texas Social Work commencement ceremony, and as each graduating class includes approximately 14,000 graduates, it is not possible to recognize students individually at this ceremony.
What time do I need to arrive for graduation?
Graduates should arrive at Bass Concert Hall no later than 2:30 pm. Additional details will be made available on the School’s commencement page.
What time can my guests arrive?
Doors will open for guests 45 minutes before the scheduled start time.
Will there be a sign language interpreting for the ceremony?
Yes, the University provides an interpreter for all ceremonies.
Will there be a Spanish-language interpreter for the ceremony?
Yes, there will be a Spanish-language interpreter at the ceremony.
Does Bass Concert Hall provide accessible seating options?
Yes, there is accessible seating in Row S.
Will there be accessible parking for all ceremonies?
The University is working on accessible parking for ceremonies, and information can be located on its website.
Where is the best place to park for commencement?
Please refer to the University’s guidelines and recommendations for commencement parking.