Nearly 1,100 UHCL grads walk at spring commencement

UH System Regents Paula M. Mendoza and Neelesh C. Mutyala delivered greetings and congratulations in behalf of the Board of Regents and the noon and 5 p.m. ceremonies, respectively. Mendoza and Mutyala flank UHCL President Ira K. Blake (center) in the photo above.

President Blake greeted students (from left) Makayla Ellis, Julie Ann Brenengen and Nicolas Rutledge before the noon ceremony. Ellis, who received a bachelor's in management, delivered the ceremony's invocation and student address. Rutledge, president of the campus Legal Studies Association, inducted students into the UHCL Alumni Association. Brenengen, a peer mentor in the Hawk Leadership Institute, delivered the benediction at the ceremony's close.

Alumna Mary Anne Brelinsky, shown with President Blake, delivered the commencement address at the noon ceremony. Brelinsky is President of EDF Energy Services. EDF is an international firm that manages large-scale electricity and natural gas assets. Brelinksy, who earned her MBA from UHCL in 2000, told graduates, "No one will have a better idea of how to achieve your dreams than you. And no one but you truly understands what will spark the drive that leads you to achieve greatness." Brelinksy currently serves on the boards of directors of Atlas Scholars, DK Energy, the Gulf Coast Power Association, the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce, the Advisory Council for Women’s Energy Network and University of Houston’s Energy Advisory Board.

President Blake and Associate Vice President for Student Services Darlene. F. Biggers greet Madison Stults before the afternoon ceremony. Stults, recipient of the Student Services Distinguished Leadership Award, is a member of the inaugural 2014 freshmen class and among its first graduates, having earned a bachelor's degree in environmental science.

President Blake meets with students (from left) Vahiraj (Raj) Satya Maligi, Hannah Rose Fuller-Gibbs and Stults. Stults gave the invocation and student address at the 5 p.m. ceremony. Fuller-Gibbs, a member of the Hawk Leadership Institute, delivered the benediction. Maligi, president of the Indian Student Association, inducted graduates into the UHCL Alumni Association.

Alumnus Michael Larrañaga, shown with President Blake, delivered the commencement address at the 5 p.m. ceremony. Larrañaga is principal consultant at Ramboll, a global sustainability solutions provider. "You are what I call the everyday heroes," he told graduates. "You're a hero to your children, to your partner, to your friends, and to your parents. When you show someone that kindness and compassion, you may very well be a hero in their eyes." Larrañaga, who is the 2018 honoree for UHCL’s Early Achievement Award, advises governments and corporations on strategies for business continuity, supply chain resilience and more. He received his master’s in environmental science from UHCL in 1998 and a doctorate in industrial and human factors engineering from Texas Tech University. He is a member of a Department of Homeland Security think tank that develops technology solutions for first responders.