Fall Commencement Scheduled at American Bank Center on Dec. 16 with DMC Awarding Combined 625 Degrees and Certificates
Graduates to hear keynote speaker, DMC alumna C. Michelle Unda with NuStar before walking the stage
Article by Melinda Eddleman
They’ve worked hard for their certificate, associate’s degree or both; and now it’s time to take that traditional walk marking their next steps toward further study, entering the job market or moving up the ladder where they already work after Del Mar College’s (DMC) Fall 2022 Commencement on Friday, Dec. 16, at the American Bank Center.
Overall, the College will award a combined 625 degrees and certificates to 494 graduates who make up the Class of Fall 2022. During Friday night’s ceremony, 341 students will walk the stage with all the “Pomp & Circumstance” beginning at 7 p.m.
But, before this newest class of DMC graduates officially take the spotlight and then move collectively their tassels from right to left, they’ll hear words of wisdom from keynote speaker C. Michelle Unda, Manager Regional HR & Public Affairs for NuStar’s Central West South Region.
Unda is responsible for employee relations, charitable contributions, sponsorships and partnerships and coordinates milestone celebrations and volunteer efforts across Central and South Texas and Nuevo Laredo. She also works as a liaison between the media and NuStar Corporate Communications.
She is proud to serve as campaign leader for her region’s United Way Pledge Campaign and continuing the tradition of 100% employee participation. Prior to joining the NuStar team, Unda worked as the Director of Communications for the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce.
A South Texas native, Unda graduated from Del Mar College (2003) with Associate in Arts degrees both in journalism and liberal arts, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from Texas A&M University-Kingsville (2005) and her Master’s degree in organizational leadership (2016) from the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Additionally, she is a graduate of Leadership Corpus Christi Class XXXVI (2008).
Unda’s current volunteer activities include serving as President of the Del Mar College Foundation Board, Board Member and PR Chair for Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend and Board Member and Grants Committee Chair for the Coastal Bend Community Foundation. She also serves on the Coastal Bend Industry Association Public Relations Committee and is a facilitator and team member for the St. Patrick Catholic Church RCIA ministry.
Past volunteer involvement includes the Leadership Corpus Christi Alumni Association, The Spirit Center, Corpus Christi Mayor’s PRIDE and Downtown Redevelopment initiatives, YWCA Corpus Christi and St. Patrick’s Church ACTS ministry. She was also a part of the reinvented Corpus Christi Under 40 Awards during her time at the Chamber and honored by the organization as a recipient both in 2010 and 2014 and served as an Event Co-Chair (2011). Unda was named the Del Mar College Foundation’s 2015 Distinguished Alumni, 2019 Texas A&M University-Kingsville Rising Star, 2019 Leadership Corpus Christi Alumnus of the Year and 2019 United Corpus Christi Chamber Foundation Mi Casa Su Casa Honoree.
Unda and her husband, Raúl, recently celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary, have three beloved dogs––Dino, Mya and Cocosette––and are a certified foster family through the State of Texas.
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.