BY Cheryl Taylor
Thirteen cadets from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Reserve Officers’ Training Corps were commissioned as officers in the United States Army on Thursday, May 11, at a ceremony in the student union theater on the Edinburg Campus.
The students hail from the following home towns: Brownsville (3); Edinburg (3); Havana, Cuba; La Feria; Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico; Mercedes; Palmview (2); and Progreso.
Dr. Havidán Rodríguez, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs, shared some encouraging words with the young men and women and their families who had come for the occasion.
Lt. Col. Walter Llamas swore in the newly commissioned officers, all of whom were graduating from UTRGV on Saturday, May 13.
Moms, dads, spouses and friends had the honor of pinning the shiny gold bars of a second lieutenant on their loved ones.
The new officers each received a bronze eagle and their U.S. Army graduation stole to wear with their cap and gown at the commencement ceremony. Following tradition, the new lieutenants used a sword to cut the cake for the reception after the ceremony.
