Texas A&M University at Galveston celebrated its 2011 Spring Commencements on May 14    

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  • A new president — Rear Admiral Robert Smith III — presiding over his first graduation ceremony

  • A record breaking number of graduates — 168

  • The first two students in the Texas A&M University System —Michael Thomas Bell and Samuel Dorado — to receive Master ’s degrees in TAMU’s new Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Marine Biology. *

  • Kelli Dawn Forde received the highest honor bestowed by Texas A&M University at Galveston -- the Edwin Eikel Outstanding Student Award.  This award has been presented every year since 1978.  In addition to a receiving a plaque, the 2010-2011 student body president  received a $2,500 check from the Edwin Eikel endowment.  The award was presented by Mr. Robert Eikel, son of Edwin Eikel.

The diplomas our graduates will receive certify that they have met the very high standards of Texas A&M University,” said President Smith. “As an Aggie of ’61, I encourage the class of 2011 to carry the Aggie spirit of strong work ethic, scholarly excellence and service commitment into the marketplace, the research laboratory and their community.”

Spring 2011 Commencement Speaker Dr. Stephen Curley said, “The Texas A&M University at Galveston, an unusual educational institution that began operation in 1962 as a maritime academy with only twenty-three students now enrolls more than 1,800 undergraduates and more than 60 graduates,” he said.

Curley, who is TAMUG’s Regents Professor in English, also said, “ Our by-the-sea campus environment complements unique curricular offerings. Here, students can set a course of excellence for education, public service and research ocean-oriented, four-year courses and graduate programs with excellence in business, oceanographic and physical sciences, biological sciences, engineering and transportation, administration and/or liberal arts.”

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