Earlier this month, the University Registrar announced that Brownsville students will attend the Commencement Ceremony on Friday December 13 at the Harlingen convention center. While the Edinburg ceremony will be on Saturday December 14 at the Bert Ogden Arena.
Last semester, the ceremonies were held at the Mcallen Convention Center and the Brownsville Jacob Brown Auditorium.
University Registrar Official, Sofia Montes explains why the location had to be changed.
“We are not at the Jacob Brown Auditorium this December because it was not available in our commencement dates, but the Harlingen commencement center is another alternative that has a comparable size and capacity for their graduates and their guests, and as for the upper Valley ceremony location. We have, for many years been at the McAllen convention center but that facility also wasn’t available this time around.”
Bilingual Senior Gloria Betancourt will attend the Harlingen Convention Center and explains why she prefers to graduate on the Brownsville campus instead.
“I wish it would be held on the campus; you know especially because this is the campus that I’ve been at the entire time of my educational career. So, it would be nice, that I’d get to bring my family, you know to come see the campus where I spent many long hours.”
Mechanical Engineer Senior, Maximiliano Aguilar will graduate at the Bert Ogden Arena, and thinks that the change of location is for the better.
“I think we’ve gotten a lot to gain about the location changes. For example, I chose to graduate in the Bert Ogden arena because I think the ceremony would be bigger, probably more exciting. “
Montes says that because of location capacity, graduating students attending the Bert Ogden arena will receive 9 tickets, while those attending harlingen will receive 6. For more information or special accommodations, email the University Registrar at Grad College at utrgv.edu.
Reporter: Samantha Garza
