TOP TAMUK STUDENTS — Shown, from left, are Francis Ehisuoria Musa, Alix Linley Ball, Melissa St.Clair, Dr. Terisa Remelius, vice president of student affairs; Miriam Elizabeth Villanueva and Dyana Lee Bullinger. Five graduates at Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s spring commencement ceremony received the Distinguished Undergraduate Student Award sponsored by the Student Government Association. Only one bachelor’s degree student from each college receives the award.

To be nominated, a student must be a graduating senior with no less than 60 credit hours earned at Texas A&MKingsville. The student must have at least a 3.5 grade point average and must be involved in extracurricular activities. The student also must have the endorsement of the dean of the college from which he/she receives a degree.

This spring’s recipients are Miriam Elizabeth Villanueva, College of Arts and Sciences; Alix Linley Ball, Dick and Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences; Melissa St.Clair, College of Business Administration; Dyana Lee Bullinger, College of Education; and Francis Ehisuoria Musa, Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering.

Villanueva is a Ronald E. McNair Scholar who earned a degree in political science and history. The Weslaco resident was included to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and has been on the President’s List and Dean’s List. She received the College Assistance Migrant Program Scholarship, the South Texas Academic Rising Star Scholarship, the Political Science Department Merit Scholarship and the Walter Russell History Merit Scholarship. She is a member of Phi Alpha Theta National Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society, president of the Pre-Law Society and treasurer of the Robert J. Kleberg History Club. Villanueva will start graduate school in the fall at Texas Christian University for a master’s degree in history. She earned a 3.88 grade point average.

Ball, of Kingsville, earned her degree in human development and family studies. She is a member of Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society and has been on the President’s List. Ball earned the South Texas Academic Rising Stars Scholarship, the Faye Dehn Bible Scholarship, the Opal Owens Younts Scholarship, the Ralph Lanier Scholarship and the Human Sciences Alumni Scholarship. She also will be starting graduate school in the fall studying for a master’s degree in occupational therapy at University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. She completed her undergraduate work with a 3.71 grade point average.

St.Clair, a resident of Kansas, received a bachelor’s degree in business management. She is a member of Delta Mu Delta and has been on the President’s List and Dean’s List. She was included in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. She will continue at Texas A&M-Kingsville in the fall to pursue a master’s degree in kinesiology in sports adtestament ministration. Her final grade point average was 3.92.

Bullinger earned her degree in kinesiology. The Spring resident was included in the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and has been on the Dean’s List and the Academic Commissioner’s Honor Roll. She is a member of Phi Epsilon Kappa Honor Fraternity and Kappa Delta Pi Honor Fraternity. She received the Be All You Can Be Award from the Women’s Enrichment and Advisory Committee and was Major of the Year for the department of health and kinesiology. Bullinger also received the Regional and Undergraduate Scholar of the Year Award and the Exercise Science Undergraduate Award from the Texas Regional Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine. She plans to attend either Texas Christian University or Texas Women’s University in the fall to study for a master’s degree in exercise physiology. She earned a 3.55 grade point average during her time at A&M-Kingsville.

A native of Nigeria, Musa earned a degree in chemical engineering. He is president of the National Society of Black Engineers and a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Engineering Student Council, Omega Chi Epsilon Chemical Engineering Honor Society and Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. He was included in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and has been on the Dean’s List and Honor Roll. He will be starting graduate school in the fall at Cornell University studying for his master’s degree in chemical engineering. He earned a 3.67 grade point average.