UT Tyler Announces University Academy 2025 Graduating Class

June 3, 2025 | Hannah Buchanan

The University of Texas at Tyler University Academy recognized 49 graduates during its 2025 graduation ceremony Friday, May 30, at the UT Tyler Herrington Patriot Center.

Dr. Wesley Hickey, UT Tyler professor of educational leadership, gave the keynote speech. Dr. Jo Ann Simmons, UA superintendent, and Dr. Amir Mirmiran, UT Tyler provost and chief academic officer, gave opening and closing remarks, respectively.

The 2025 graduates by campus are:

LONGVIEW – Kate Olivia Wallace (valedictorian), Emily Kate Roberts (salutatorian), Mykayla Ann Alvis, Meredith Janelle Beebe, Colin Eric Brown, Rafael Cardenas Valezquez, Avalynn Marie Pearl Collins, Eloisa Blanca Cowart, Taliyah Annette Feliciano, Joseph Luke Gochnauer, Hailey Marie Johnson, Jessica Elizabeth Mashburn, Baylee Ann Mauer, Rosaleen Celeste McGinnis, Frank Thomas Mitchell, Abigail Ortega, Kaylee Yuridia Perez, James Allen Schimmels III, Janna Kate Stenhouse, Brooklyn Blaike Watson and Allison Faith Youngberg.

PALESTINE – Addison Klaire Bowman (valedictorian), Crimson Elaine Frye (salutatorian), Natalie Breann Adams, Bailee Grace Birdwell, Kelly Elizabeth McDonald, Aden Alexander Parker, Alexis Renee Shoulders, Ciro Stephan Tomlian and Lance Alexander Toscano.

TYLER – Melissa Grace Hilbig (valedictorian), Mathew Reese Deptula (salutatorian), Ella Carmen-Anh Acosta, Kathryn Elizabeth Carter, Miguel Angel Castaneda Rochin Jr., Hassan Danish, Sophia Grace Fleming-Voyles, Robert Charles Frith Jr., Sofia Ximena Garcia, Micah Ferguson Glanton, Gavin Matthew Green, Olivia Faith Guiterrez, Asher Gary Horlander, Kayla Marie Maya, Vinch Huan De Villa Mendoza, Ethan Alexander Miller, Ethan Caleb Ortega, Sara Elizabeth Pierson and Levi Dale Sharp.

The UT Tyler University Academy provides K-12 education using Project-Based Learning designed to prepare students for university study and the STEM workforce. Operated by the UT Tyler College of Education and Psychology, UA currently serves more than 1,200 students in Tyler, Longview and Palestine. To learn more, visit: uttua.org/.

With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 10,000 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellentpatient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.