Along with their new graduates, Texas Tech University schools in Amarillo and beyond will have many reasons to celebrate this week.
Texas Tech Hodge School of Pharmacy
The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy with an event on Friday, May 15, at the Amarillo Civic Center Heritage Room, located at 401 S. Buchanan St. in Amarillo.
The evening will bring together alumni, students, faculty, staff, donors and community partners to honor the school’s legacy and look ahead to its future.
“This milestone represents 30 years of answering the call to serve communities through education, innovation and compassionate care,” said Lori Rice-Spearman, Ph.D., president of TTUHSC, in a news release. “The Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy was founded with a clear purpose: to improve access to healthcare in underserved regions. That purpose remains just as vital today, and our graduates continue to make a profound difference in the lives of Texans every day.”
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy.
The celebration will begin with a social hour at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and a formal program at 7 p.m., which will feature remarks from university and school leadership, reflections on the school’s history, interactive alumni engagement and a community impact presentation. The evening will conclude with live music and dancing.
With nearly 180 attendees expected, the anniversary celebration will reflect on the school’s history while inspiring continued investment in its mission to transform healthcare for future generations.
The anniversary program will also highlight the school’s longstanding commitment to preparing pharmacists for a rapidly evolving profession. On average, 93% of graduates remain licensed in the state of Texas, helping address critical workforce needs and expanding access to care.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy.
Established by the Texas Legislature in 1993, the School of Pharmacy welcomed its first class in 1996 in Amarillo. Over the past three decades, the school has expanded to campuses in Amarillo, Abilene, Dallas and Lubbock and has graduated an estimated 2,855 alumni, many of whom serve patients and communities across Texas and beyond.
Named in 2019 in honor of pharmacy industry leader and philanthropist Jerry H. Hodge, the school continues to build on its strong foundation through academic excellence, research advancement and service-driven education.
“For 30 years, this school has been defined by people who believe deeply in the power of pharmacy to improve lives,” said Grace Kuo, Ph.D., Pharm.D., dean of the Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy. “Our faculty, staff, students, alumni, preceptors and partners have built something extraordinary together. This celebration is an opportunity to honor that shared legacy while recommitting ourselves to preparing the next generation of pharmacists to lead with excellence, compassion and purpose.”
Then, on Saturday, the TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy will host a spring 2026 commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Amarillo Civic Center Auditorium. The School of Pharmacy will recognize an estimated 86 graduates from its campuses in Amarillo, Lubbock, Dallas and Abilene.
The student with the highest GPA in the class will receive the Banner Bearer Award. The ceremony will be live-streamed on the TTUHSC YouTube page. Pharmacy Dean Grace Kuo will preside over the ceremony, and TTUHSC President Lori Rice-Spearman will deliver remarks.
Anthony Busti, a distinguished alumnus from the second graduating class, an attending physician, founder and CEO of MedEducation and founder and faculty of “This Is Why with Dr. Busti,” will deliver the commencement address.
Students, faculty, and community members gather Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, inside the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine atrium in Amarillo to celebrate the school’s announcement of full accreditation.
Texas Tech veterinary school
Texas Tech’s School of Veterinary Medicine will graduate its second class of veterinary students this weekend.
The veterinary school, along with family, friends, faculty and staff, will celebrate the Class of 2026 at a commencement ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, May 17 at the Amarillo Civic Center Auditorium.
Building on the foundation laid by the inaugural class last year, these graduates represent the continued growth and success of the program. The students began their journey together in August 2022 and have played a key role in strengthening the school’s purpose of preparing practice-ready veterinarians dedicated to serving rural and regional communities across Texas, New Mexico and beyond.
Speakers for the ceremony will include School of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2026 President Emalee Hoffmann; Dean Guy Loneragan; Texas Tech Provost and Senior Vice President Ronald Hendrick; Chairman of the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners Dr. Steven Golla; and additional university leadership.
Other TTU commencements
The TTU School of Medicine is holding a commencement ceremony at 2 p.m. Monday, May 18 in Buddy Holly Hall, 1301 Mac Davis Lane, in Lubbock. For the livestream, go to https://www.ttuhsc.edu/live/ .
The graduation ceremony for the Julia Jones Matthews School of Population and Public Health was held May 2 in Abilene.
The TTU School of Nursing celebrated its graduates May 8 in Lubbock, as did the TTU Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Additionally, the TTU School of Health Professions held a ceremony May 9 in Lubbock.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Texas Tech University hosting commencements, pharmacy celebration