Gessner College Graduates Will Change and Be Changed by Nursing
Friends and families gathered at the Cullen Performance Hall at the University of Houston to celebrate commencement ceremonies of the Andy and Barbara Gessner College of Nursing.
Kathryn Tart, professor and founding dean of the Gessner College, thanked graduates for their trust as they pursued their studies.
“You are graduating from a university that has been transformed during your stay. A university that is Tier One. A university that is a powerhouse,” she said. “But most importantly a university that is your home, your alma mater, your pride and your bragging right.”
Jack B. Moore of the UH System Board of Regents welcomed graduates telling them he understood their pride—his daughter is an emergency room nurse.
“You answered the call to a world still healing from a pandemic, from underserved communities desperate for care and in environments where your presence made all the difference,” he said. “You didn’t just study nursing. You lived it.”
The Class of 2025 included five students graduating cum laude and nine graduating magna cum laude.
Dr. Kristin Benton, executive director of the Texas Board of Nursing, served as commencement speaker. Drawing on her long career in nursing, she urged graduates to be humble and own their mistakes; to uphold their values and trust their instincts; to find focus and lead by example.
“Nursing will keep changing through technologies, policies and innovations, and you will be part of changing the profession,” she said. “You will witness life at its most profound moments—beginnings, healings and passings. It will change you, and that is a gift.”
Following her remarks, Tart announced the Kristin Benton Scholarship that will be awarded to a student in the coming academic year.
Several students, selected by faculty, also were recognized with a special honor.
- Maia English: Undergraduate Student Leader
- Tolisa Uchendu: Outstanding Undergraduate for Academic Excellence
- Kayla Rose: Outstanding Undergraduate for Clinical Excellence
- Rachel Pham: Most Improved Undergraduate Leader
- Jacquelyn Pham: Best Advocate for Students/Undergraduate
- Barzilai Escalante: Outstanding Graduate Student
Each was awarded $1,000 from the college’s namesakes, Andy and Barbra Gessner.
Students received the traditional nursing pin that is unique to UH, symbolizing their journey and partnership with the University of Houston. They also received a “Lamp of Learning” and recited the Florence Nightingale Pledge.
The Class of 2025 received support from a number of donors during their studies. Tart estimated the support to total nearly $242,000 for this class alone. Including spring and summer graduates, the number of Gessner College alumni now rises to more than 1,700.