Angelo State University

Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, conferred 844 undergraduate and graduate degrees on 824 graduates during the 2024 spring commencement exercises May 10-11 at the ASU Junell Center/Stephens Arena. A full list of the graduates is available on the ASU website at angelo.edu/commencement.

Twenty-one members of the Angelo State University Rams and Rambelles track and field teams have earned 30 All-South Central Region accolades from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) for their performances during the 2024 outdoor season. For the Rams, 10 student-athletes garnered 10 all-region honors. For the No. 7 Rambelles, 11 student-athletes notched 20 all-region honors, including three each for junior Maricia Spence of Christiana, Jamaica (heptathlon, long jump, 4x100 relay), and sophomore Fatoumata Kabo of Carpenedolo, Italy (400-meter hurdles, 4x400 relay, 4x100 relay). The top five individuals in each event are named all-region, as well as the members of the top three teams in each relay event. Next up for many of the Rams and Belles is the NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championships May 23-25 in Emporia, Kansas. See more details and the complete list of ASU all-region performers at angelosports.com.

Maricia Spence of Christiana, Jamaica, a multi-event athlete on the Angelo State University Rambelles track and field team, has been named the Lone Star Conference's 2024 Women's Outdoor Track and Field Academic Athlete of the Year. A graduate student in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, Spence carries a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. She has earned multiple LSC Commissioner's Honor Roll citations and received ASU's 2023-24 Kathleen Brasfield Female Athlete of the Year Award. She has also posted NCAA Division II Top 10 marks in several events during the 2024 outdoor season, including the heptathlon, 100-meter hurdles and long jump, and she holds the LSC Championships record in the heptathlon. Spence was also a member of the Belles' 4x100 relay team that set a new program record, and she currently ranks third in NCAA D-II in the heptathlon, sixth in the 100-meter hurdles and seventh in the long jump. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Twenty-three members of the Angelo State University track and field teams have been named to the All-Lone Star Conference Teams for their performances at the LSC Outdoor Championships held May 9-11 at ASU. The No. 7 Rambelles placed second at the LSC Championships, winning five LSC titles and earning nine All-LSC first-team selections, three on the All-LSC second team and one on the All-LSC third team. The Rams placed fourth on the men's side, notching two LSC titles and earning five All-LSC first-team honorees, four on the All-LSC second team and one on the All-LSC third team. Next up for qualifying Rams and Belles is the NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championships May 23-25 in Emporia, Kansas. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Four players on the Angelo State University Rams baseball team have been named to the 2024 NCAA Division II All-South Central Region first team by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). Junior outfielder Jacob Guerrero of Colleyville makes the NCBWA all-region first team of the second straight season. He is currently batting .362 with 20 doubles and 59 RBI, and he leads the Lone Star Conference with 26 stolen bases. He was named the NCBWA National Player of the Week on March 20. Senior catcher Richard "Tripp" Clark of Waco also earns his second NCBWA all-region honor after making the second team last year. He leads the LSC in batting average (.444), slugging percentage (.794), OPS (1.314) and RBI (79). He also ranks in the top 10 for hits, home runs and on-base percentage. Junior starting pitcher Dax Dathe of Round Rock makes the all-region team in his first season for the Rams. He currently has an 8-3 record and 4.35 ERA, and his 99 strikeouts in 72.1 innings leads the LSC while his ERA ranks fourth. Senior relief pitcher Caleb Heuertz of San Angelo earns his first all-region honor. In 20 appearances this season, he holds a 2.61 ERA and six saves. He is the only relief pitcher from the LSC on the all-region first team. All four players were also named to the All-LSC first team. They will lead the Rams into the South Central Regional starting on Thursday in Grand Junction, Colo. See more details at angelosports.com.

Cheyenne Floyd of Liberty Hill, a junior pitcher on the Angelo State University Rambelles softball team, has been named the 2024 NCAA Division II South Central Region Pitcher of the Year by the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA). She went 20-10 in the circle this season with a 1.89 ERA and recorded 167 strikeouts in 163 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .207 batting average. The interdisciplinary studies major was also named the Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Year and to the All-LSC first team, LSC All-Academic Team and All-LSC Tournament Team. She was also named to the All-South Central Region first team by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). Floyd, along with the rest of the D2CCA all-region first teamers, will move onto the All-American ballot. See more details at angelosports.com.

Seven players on the Angelo State University Rams baseball team have earned eight Lone Star Conference postseason awards for their performances during the 2024 regular season. Senior catcher Richard "Tripp" Clark of Waco and junior outfielder Jacob Guerrero of Colleyville were both named to the All-LSC first team for the second straight year. Clark leads the LSC in batting average (.430), slugging percentage (.794), OPS (1.312) and RBI (79). Guerrero leads the LSC in stolen bases (26) and is hitting .374 with 20 doubles and 59 RBI. The accounting major was also named to the LSC All-Academic Team. Four pitchers from the Rams' staff that led the LSC in team ERA have also been honored. Junior starter Dax Dathe of Round Rock (8-2, 4.24 ERA) and junior reliever Caleb Heuertz of San Angelo (2.70 ERA, 6 saves) were both named to the All-LSC first team. Junior starters Alezeah Gutierrez of El Paso (7-4, 4.59 ERA) and Braxton Pearson of Georgetown (5-1, 3.12 ERA) were named to the All-LSC second team. Dathe leads the LSC with 95 strikeouts and is second in ERA; Heuertz is the only reliever on the first team; Gutierrez is fifth in ERA; and Pearson makes the second team despite being limited to just nine starts due to injury. Additionally, senior Conagher Sands of Bakersfield, Calif., was named to the All-LSC third team at designated hitter. He is batting .347 with 18 doubles and 37 RBI in 42 starts. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Angelo State University Rambelles softball players Cheyenne Floyd of Liberty Hill and Tatiana Trotter of Lubbock have been named to 2024 NCAA Division II All-South Central Region Teams by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). Floyd, a junior pitcher, was named to the all-region first team. She went 20-8 in the circle during the regular season with a 1.72 ERA and recorded 162 strikeouts in 151 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .200 batting average. The interdisciplinary studies major was also named the Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Year. Trotter, a sophomore outfielder, was named to the all-region second team. During the regular season, she led the Belles in batting average (.371), slugging percentage (.706), RBI (43) and triples (9). The intelligence and analysis major started all 53 games and set a new ASU single-season record for triples. She was also named to the All-LSC second team. See more details at angelosports.com.

Angelo State University honored the 2024 Outstanding Graduate Students from each if its five academic colleges during the recent Graduate Research Symposium and Awards Ceremony in the Houston Harte University Center. The 19 honorees were nominated by faculty in their respective academic departments, and each received a certificate of recognition. Three additional superlative awards were also conferred. The complete list of honorees is available at angelo.edu/news.

Angelo State University economics majors Maggie Brockman of Midland and Emma Krehbiel of Kerrville were selected to present their undergraduate research projects at the recent 48th annual meeting of the Association of Private Enterprise Education (APEE) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fewer than 30 students nationwide were chosen through a competitive application process to make research presentations in the APEE conference's Undergraduate Research Competition. Brockman and Krehbiel are the first-ever ASU students to earn selection. Brockman's presentation was titled "Recessions and Creativity: How Economic Shocks Affect Musical Innovation," and Krehbiel's presentation was titled "Long-Term Effects of Public Debt." Their faculty research mentors are Dr. Bryan Cutsinger and Dr. Edwar Escalante, assistant professors of economics. See more details at angelo.edu/news.

Six Angelo State University students earned cash prizes for their new business start-up pitches in the 2024 BizPitch student entrepreneurship contest sponsored by ASU's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Norris-Vincent College of Business. The BizPitch competition began in January when individual ASU students or teams of up to four students were invited to submit video pitches of their ideas for new business startups. A panel of ASU business faculty and SBDC specialists selected five finalists to make live pitch presentations to a panel of judges made up of local business professionals. More details are available at angelo.edu/news.

Five players on the Angelo State University Rambelles softball team have earned Lone Star Conference postseason honors for their performances during the 2024 regular season. Topping the list is junior pitcher Cheyenne Floyd of Liberty Hill, who was named LSC Pitcher of the Year and to the All-LSC first team and LSC All-Academic Team. Her battery mate, senior catcher Keilei Garcia of Hemet, Calif., was named to the All-LSC second team. Also making the All-LSC second team is sophomore outfielder Tatiana Trotter of Lubbock, who set a new ASU single-season record for triples (9). Junior infielder/pitcher Averie Gunther of Wylie and freshman outfielder Laylonna Applin of Stamford were named to the All-LSC third team, and Applin was also named to the LSC All-Freshman Team. The Belles posted a 37-15 overall record and went 28-14 in the LSC to finish third in the regular-season standings. They begin play in the LSC Tournament Friday, May 3, against Lubbock Christian in Canyon. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Maricia Spence of Christiana, Jamaica, a multi-event athlete on the Angelo State University Rambelles track and field team, has been named ASU's Kathleen Brasfield Female Athlete of the Year for 2023-24. Her award was announced at ASU's annual Holland's Sports Banquet on April 30. A senior business administration major, Spence won two gold medals at the 2024 Lone Star Conference Indoor Championships and set two new LSC records in winning the pentathlon and 60-meter hurdles. She then went on to earn first-team All-America honors at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships. She is also a member of the 4x100-meter relay team that set a new ASU record (45.20) during the ongoing outdoor season. Spence also earned the 2023-24 ASU Holland's Award for women's track and field. Holland's Awards are given to one student-athlete in each sport as voted on by their teammates for best exemplifying what it means to be an ASU athlete in competition, in the classroom and in the community. See more details at angelosports.com.

Jacob Guerrero of Colleyville, an outfielder on the Angelo State University Rams baseball team, has been named ASU's Phil George Male Athlete of the Year for 2023-24. His award was announced at ASU's annual Holland's Sports Banquet on April 30. A junior accounting major, Guerrero earned first-team All-Lone Star Conference, NCBWA and D2CCA All-South Central Region, and NCBWA All-America honors while leading the Rams to the 2023 NCAA Division II national championship. This season, he batted .380 with 20 doubles, nine home runs and 59 RBI during the regular season. He also led the LSC with 25 stolen bases and helped the Rams clinch the third seed in the LSC Tournament that begins on Friday, May 3. See more details at angelosports.com.

Fourteen Angelo State University student-athletes received Holland's Awards for their athletic and academic performances during the 2023-24 season at ASU's annual Holland's Sports Banquet on April 30. Holland's Awards are given to one student-athlete in each sport as voted on by their teammates. The winners exemplify what it means to be an ASU student-athlete in competition, in the classroom and in the community. Additionally, 118 ASU student-athletes were recognized for being named to the 2024 ASU Athletic Academic Honor Roll, and Rance Rosas of San Angelo (baseball) and Laura Klimova of Prague, Czech Republic (golf) earned Athletic Academic Excellence Awards. The Rambelles softball team earned the Golden Horn Award for outstanding work in the community, as well as athletic success. More details and a list of all the Holland's Awards recipients are available at angelosports.com.

Fatoumata Kabo of Carpenedolo, Italy, a sprinter on the Angelo State University Rambelles track and field team, has been named the Lone Star Conference Women's Track Athlete of the Week for Week 7 of the outdoor season. Competing at the Texas Tech Corky/Crofoot Shootout, Kabo won gold in three events, including the 400-meter hurdles with the top time in NCAA Division II this season at 58.59. She was also part of the 4x100-meter relay team that took gold and set a new ASU record at 45.20 - and the first-place 4x400-meter relay team (3:39.73). A sophomore studio art major, Kabo and her teammates will be back in action starting May 9 as Angelo State hosts the Lone Star Conference Outdoor Championships. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Angelo State has announced the recipients of the Presidential Award and Distinguished Student Awards for the Class of 2024 that will graduate during spring commencement ceremonies May 10-11. Christian Bell, a biology major from Midland, has been selected to receive the 2024 Presidential Award as the top graduate in his class, while five other ASU graduating seniors have been selected for 2024 Distinguished Student Awards from their respective academic colleges. The Distinguished Student Award recipients are: Damian Macias of Vancourt - Archer College of Health and Human Services Katherine Spitzer of El Paso - College of Arts and Humanities Delaney Grimes of San Angelo - College of Education Tressa Reading of Uvalde - College of Science and Engineering Clayton Edmiston of Christoval - Norris-Vincent College of Business. ASU's Academic Excellence Committee hosted an awards ceremony April 29 in the Houston Harte University Center to honor all the award recipients and nominees. Each was presented a recognition plaque by ASU President Ronnie Hawkins Jr. See more details at angelo.edu/news.

Trey Hughes of Christoval, a team roper on the Angelo State University Rodeo Team, has qualified to compete in the 2024 College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) June 9-15 in Casper, Wyoming, after posting a strong finish to the ASU team's inaugural season on the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) circuit. In team roping, only the top three "header" ropers and "heeler" ropers from each NIRA region qualify for the CNFR. Hughes, an interdisciplinary studies major, finished third overall in the Team Roping Header standings for the NIRA Southwest Region to book his spot in the finals. For the first half of the season, Hughes' top finish was ninth at the Sul Ross State University rodeo event in September 2023. But he flourished during the final three rodeo events in April, taking first place at the Howard County Junior College event and finishing second at the Western Texas College and Tarleton State University events. See more details at angelo.edu/news.

The Angelo State University Handball Club won the inaugural Doug Randolph Cup at the recent Spring 2024 Aggieland Classic at Texas A&M University in College Station. The Doug Randolph Cup competition featured a round-robin format with the ASU team facing off in head-to-head matchups against teams from the University of Texas, Texas A&M and Missouri State University. In its three matches, the ASU Handball Club outscored UT, 150-43, outscored Texas A&M, 111-97, and outscored MSU, 139-78, for a total of 400 points to finish at the top of the standings. Individually for ASU: Aoife Holden went 3-0 in women's singles (90 points) Taigan Rivers & Kinzi Jo Leon went 2-1 in women's doubles (83 points) Austin Colwell & Israel Lopez Jr. went 2-1 in men's doubles (76 points) Jonathan White & Dylan Whitley went 1-2 in men's doubles (62 points) Diarmuid Mulkerrins went 3-0 in men's singles (89 points) The new tournament is named in honor Doug Randolph, an avid handball player and founder of the Lubbock-based Randolph Foundation for Higher Education Inc. See more details at angelo.edu/news.

Selah Rose Kjar of San Angelo, a senior music major at Angelo State University, has earned a 2023-24 Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award from the Presser Foundation in Philadelphia that includes a $3,000 scholarship and the title of Presser Scholar. The Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award annually celebrates students, selected by their music faculty during their final year of study, "who have achieved a high level of music and academic excellence, demonstrated leadership and contributed to an inclusive community." It is the most prestigious undergraduate honor in music at Angelo State. Kjar will graduate from ASU in May with her Bachelor of Music degree with all-level teacher certification. Her primary instrument is clarinet, and she has performed as a member of the ASU Ram Band, ASU Wind Ensemble, ASU Symphony Orchestra, ASU Symphonic Band and ASU Woodwind Ensembles. She has also performed on her secondary instruments, trombone and tuba, with the ASU Symphonic Band. Upon graduating from ASU, Kjar will take up the post of head band director for the Eden Consolidated Independent School District. See more details at angelo.edu/news.

Six student-athetes on the Angelo State University Rambelles tennis team have earned All-Lone Star Conference honors for their performances during the 2024 regular season. Highlighting the Belles' awards is sophomore Letizia Corsini of Porto Sant'Elpidio, Italy, being named the LSC Women's Tennis Player of the Year. She posted a 19-0 record for singles and went 18-2 in doubles with her partner, senior Ada Guler of Sydney, Australia. Corsini was also named to the All-LSC first team, and she and Guler earned All-LSC honorable mention for doubles. ASU's top doubles pairing, junior Avery Durham of Madison, Wisc., and senior Eva Schwartz of L'isle-Sur-La-Sorgue, France, were named to the All-LSC first team for doubles. Schwartz was also named to the All-LSC second team for singles. Belles freshman Jessica Li of Auckland, New Zealand, was named to the All-LSC second team for singles and was also named to the LSC All-Sportsmanship Team. Sophomore Christine Jevicky of Littleton, Colo., earned All-LSC honorable mention for singles. The Belles finished 18-2 overall and 9-1 in LSC play, claiming the No. 2 seed for the LSC Tournament April 25-27 in Arlington. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Tiamara Hill-Johnson of Duncanville, a throws athlete on the Angelo State University Rambelles track and field team, has been named the Lone Star Conference Female Field Athlete of the Week for Week 5 of the outdoor season ending April 14. Competing at the War Hawk Classic in Abilene, Texas, Hill-Johnson was the highest collegiate finisher in the discus with a throw of 16'-4 (49.47 meters). The third-longest throw in NCAA Division II this season, it also earned a D-II provisional mark. Hill-Johnson also finished third in the hammer throw with a mark of 145-11 (44.47 meters). A sophomore interdisciplinary studies major, Hill-Johnson also leads the LSC in the discus this season. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Daysha Johnson of San Angelo, a graduate student in Angelo State University's Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, has been named the 2024 South Central Province Collegian of the Year by the Delta Sigma Pi (DSP) national professional business fraternity. The Collegian of the Year Award for each of the five DSP provinces is one of the highest honors for its collegiate members. Johnson was recognized for exemplifying the spirit and leadership of DSP through her time in ASU's Eta Theta chapter. She was selected for the award over nominees representing the 34 other collegiate chapters in the South Central Province, which includes chapters at institutions in Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Oklahoma. Additionally, Johnson was named the 2024 DSP Southwestern Region Collegian of the Year. The Southwestern Region includes student chapters at ASU, Baylor University, Southern Methodist University, Texas Christian University, University of North Texas, University of Texas-Arlington and University of Texas-Dallas, as well as several alumni chapters. Already an ASU alumna after earning her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 2022, Johnson served as president of ASU's Eta Theta chapter from 2021-23. She has also served as chancellor, vice president of operations and webmaster/historian, as well as on committees dedicated to fundraising, community service, pledge education, ritual, Homecoming and merchandising. She is scheduled to graduate with her MBA degree in May. See more details at angelo.edu/news.

Richard "Tripp" Clark of Waco, a catcher for the Angelo State University Rams baseball team, has been named the Lone Star Conference Hitter of the Week for Week 11 of the season ending April 14. It is his second LSC Hitter of the Week honor this season. As the Rams swept a 4-game home series over Texas A&M-Kingsville, Clark went 8-for-14 at the plate with three home runs, two doubles, nine RBI and six runs scored. He also posted a 1.357 slugging percentage and .611 on-base percentage. He is the first player to win two LSC Hitter of the Week honors this season. A senior accounting major, Clark leads the LSC in batting average (.459) and RBI (66), is second in OPS (1.284) and steals (20), is third in hits (68), and is fourth in slugging (.764), on-base percentage (.520) and triples (4). His 66 RBI also leads all of NCAA Division II. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Amelia Hatthorn of Danbury, a pitcher on the Angelo State University Rambelles softball team, has been named the Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week for Week 11 of the season ending April 14. As the Belles posted series wins over Texas A&M-International and Lubbock Christian, Hatthorn played a key role in both series. Against the Dustdevils, she threw three shutout innings across two appearances, combining with Cheyenne Floyd for a shutout in the 8-0 series finale victory. Against the Lady Chaps, Hatthorn picked up a save in the series-opening 9-7 win, and then threw six innings while allowing only two runs in the series finale as the Belles won, 7-4. It's the Belles' first series win over LCU since the Lady Chaps joined the conference in 2019. A junior health science professions major, Hatthorn is now 4-0 with a 2.93 ERA this season. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Angelo State University has released the results of the Student Government Association (SGA) election, with 14 students selected by the student body to serve as SGA officers for the 2024-25 academic year. The new officers include 12 undergraduate students and two graduate students. History major Kameron Wiese of Cranfills Gap has been elected president, and business major Christopher "Clay" Loper of Temple has been elected vice president. The other 12 electees will serve as senators. More details on the SGA are available at angelo.edu/sga.

Eva Schwartz of L'isle-Sur-La-Sorgue, France, a senior on the Angelo State University Rambelles tennis team, has been named the Lone Star Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Week for Week 10 of the season ending April 7. In ASU's home match against St. Mary's on April 6, Schwartz posted a three-set victory over the No. 10 singles player in the nation. She then teamed with her doubles partner, Avery Durham, to take down the No. 13 doubles team in the nation and help the Belles secure a 4-3 match win. Schwartz is ranked No. 59 in singles and No. 19 in doubles with Durham in NCAA Division II. This is the first LSC Player of the Week honor of her career. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Maricia Spence of Christiana, Jamaica, a multi-event athlete on the Angelo State University Rambelles track and field team, has been named the National Female Athlete of the Week by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) for the week ending April 7. Competing at home at the ASU David Noble Relays, Spence won the heptathlon with 5,791 points, which ranks first in all of NCAA Division II this season. She was also on ASU's 4x100-meter relay team that took first place and set a new team record with a time of 45.37. It's the fourth-fastest time in NCAA D-II this season. A senior economics major, Spence played a major role in the No. 7 Rambelles winning their home meet. She is just the third ASU athlete to be named the National Female Athlete of the Week. See more details at angelosports.com.

Alezeah Gutierrez of El Paso, a lefty pitcher on the Angelo State University Rams baseball team, has been named the Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week for Week 10 of the season ending April 7. On the road at Texas A&M International, Gutierrez tossed a two-hit shutout to lead the Rams to a 5-0 victory in Game 3 of the four-game series. He also recorded three strikeouts and only two walks as he did not allow Dustdevils runner past first base and notched his second shutout of the season. A junior criminal justice major, Gutierrez is now 6-3 this season with a 4.41 ERA. He is tied for seventh in the LSC in innings pitched (49), tied for second in wins, second in opposing batting average (.224), third in strikeouts (54) and fifth in fewest runs allowed (25). This marks his second LSC Pitcher of the Week honor this season. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Torrey Hogan of Lubbock, a senior pitcher on the Angelo State University Rambelles softball team, has been named the Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week for Week 10 of the season ending April 7. Starting for the Belles against Cameron University on Senior Day, Hogan tossed a 5-hit shutout for the 1-0 victory that clinched a sweep of the 3-game series over the Aggies. She also recorded four strikeouts to just one walk and held the Aggies' hitters to a .200 batting average, notching her fourth career shutout. A health science professions major, Hogan is now 4-4 this season with a 2.29 ERA and two saves. She ranks fifth in the LSC in fewest earned runs allowed and seventh in walks allowed. This is the first LSC weekly award of her collegiate career. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.