Several local students have recently graduated from universities across the country. Jakob Sheek of Hooks, Texas, received a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security from the University of Maryland Global Campus in Adelphi, Maryland.

University of Texas at Tyler Graduates

The University of Texas at Tyler also held commencement exercises for summer 2026, with several local students receiving degrees. Madison Ryan of Bivins, Texas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, while Victoria LeMonds of Daingerfield, Texas, received a Master of Business Administration. Other local graduates from the University of Texas at Tyler include Toshiana Roney of Daingerfield, Texas, with a Bachelor of Applied Arts & Science; Jacquelin Mendez of DeKalb, Texas, with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Laken Castle of Hooks, Texas, with a Bachelor of Applied Arts & Sciences; Gaudalupe Cabrera of Mount Pleasant, Texas, with a Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner; Perla Pina of Mount Pleasant, Texas, with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology; Futemia Rundles of Mount Pleasant, Texas, with a Certificate in Nursing Informatics, Quality and Safety; Jazz Moses of Texarkana, with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing; and Elizabeth Wadkins of Texarkana, with a Master of Science in Industrial Management.

Daniel Spears of Texarkana received the 2026 Dr. George A. Haas Scholarship presented by Arkansas Eye Associates through the Arkansas Optometric Association. The $1500 scholarship is awarded annually to a Southern College of Optometry student.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.