
East Texas A&M Graduate Student Receives Awards for History Research
On April 5, Hannah Shepherd, an East Texas A&M graduate student and member of Phi Alpha Theta, received the Runner-Up Graduate Student Paper Award at the East Texas Regional Phi Alpha Theta Conference, hosted at East Texas Baptist University. Her paper is titled, “‘I had no children, so I adopted the world.' Juanita Craft and the Dallas NAACP Youth Council: Preparing Youth for Civil Rights Activism 1940-1960s.” A recent article from ETBU Now shared details of the event. Phi Alpha Theta, an honor society for students and professors of history, awarded the honor to Shepherd for her outstanding research.
The conference enabled students to engage in academic conversations and build connections with other scholars. The conference covered various historical topics, including civil rights activism, political movements, wartime history, and cultural analysis. Scholars from several Texas universities were in attendance.
Shepherd was also recently the recipient of the Mary M. Hughes Research Fellowship in Texas History by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), which is awarded to one person each year to support research on 20th-century Texas history. Shepherd received this honor on January 31 for her publication “Crossing Borders, Facing Barriers: Immigration Policy and Societal Perceptions of British Indian Immigrants in Early 20th-Century El Paso, Texas.” Read more about her award on the ETAMU news page.
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Finance Student Secures Internship with Toyota
Mariah Dempsey, a Finance major at East Texas A&M University set to graduate in May 2026, recently secured a coveted internship with Toyota—an opportunity that will allow her to deepen her understanding of the auto and mobility industry while working with one of the world’s most respected companies.

Mars Crater Naming Honors Renowned Planetary Scientist, Former ETAMU Professor Dr. Kit Blount
The honor recognizes Dr. Kit Blount’s legacy as a planetary scientist who helped map the Red Planet, and her lifelong commitment to STEM education.

ETAMU to Celebrate Largest Graduating Class of All Time on May 9 & 10
More than 1,600 East Texas A&M University students are poised to break a record as the largest graduating class in the 135+ year history of the university at commencement ceremonies scheduled for Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10.