Article by: Richard Guerrero, Jr.

Usually held in May, Del Mar College held its venerable honors ceremony – Recognition Day – for the 2025-2026 academic year on Thursday, Sept. 3. Although a new school year has already begun, it’s never too late to celebrate the accomplishments of students committed to making the most of their time at DMC as well as recognize three outstanding faculty members selected by the student body to represent the campus where they teach.

Presented by the college’s Student Leadership & Campus Life, Office the 74th Annual Recognition Ceremony took place in Richardson Performance Hall on Heritage Campus.

Overall , the college honored 132 students across all four academic divisions––Division of Business, Entrepreneurship and Health Sciences, Division of Communication, Fine Arts and Social Sciences, Division of Industry and Public Service and Division of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), Kinesiology and Education––with Outstanding Achievement Awards.

Prior to announcing the newest inductees to the DMC Hall of Fame, the Student Government Association recognized the three 2025-2026 Teachers of the Year, who are determined by students nominating and voting for their favorite faculty member on each DMC campus––Heritage, Windward and Oso Creek. With the votes counted, DMC’s 2026 Teachers of the Year are Professor of Biology Billy Bob Long with the Department of Natural Sciences on the Heritage Campus, Director of Dental Programs and Associate Professor of Dental Hygiene Eva Sepulveda with the Department of Dental & Imaging Technology on the Windward Campus and Associate Professor of Geology Sean Hurt with the Department of Natural Sciences, who teaches on the Oso Creek Campus.

The ceremony culminated with the induction of the college’s newest members into the Hall of Fame, a prestigious honor recognizing inductees’ leadership and participation in student organizations.

Founded in 1949, the three inductees joined the ranks of 428 Hall of Fame other members and include Elyda Vasquez, who earned an Associate in Arts in Art and Drama in spring 2026, Nurse Education major Isaiah Herrero and Education major Fabian Gonzales. Both Herrero and Gonzales are expected to graduate this December.

A familiar face around campus, Vasquez was an award-winning member of the Vocal Vikings speech team, earning multiple awards during performance events at speech tournaments. She was also named to the Texas Intercollegiate Forensics Association All-State Forensics Squad. Vasquez was also heavily involved with Del Mar Drama, building costumes and sets for multiple productions during her time on campus.

Herrero has also left a lasting mark on the college. He founded the Emergency Medical Services Club and currently serves as president as well as vice president for the Student Government Association. He is also the SGA Officer for the DMC Campus Advisory Board and is a Viking Vanguard Student Body Ambassador. Herrero was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society-Gamma Sigma Chapter in 2025 and made the President’s List that same year.

Gonzales also participated as a member of the Viking Vanguard and served as president of the Education Society. Last fall, he took part in the Turkey Bowl flag football game, which features two teams consisting of volunteer faculty, students and staff, and he also served as a keynote speaker during a DMC Graduates Dinner. Gonzales has been named to the Dean’s List and is involved with community organizations that include Educating Children’s Future, Junior Achievement and Reading Across America.

For the students and faculty who were honored Sept. 3, 2025-2026 was a banner year. And the college’s Recognition Day ceremony acknowledged their achievements.

For nearly three-quarters of a century, the Reception Ceremony is what a small but resourceful group of Del Mar College (DMC) students and instructors eagerly await when that special––Recognition Day––comes around, and the campus community acknowledges their accomplishments and willingness to go above and beyond to make an impact.  

The College held its 73rd annual Recognition Day Ceremony today, May 8, in Richardson Performance Hall on the Heritage Campus.

The College honored 134 students who were selected to receive “Outstanding Achievement” Awards in programs of study in the institution’s academic divisions––Communications, Fine Arts and Social Sciences; Sciences, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Kinesiology and Education; Business, Entrepreneurship and Health Sciences; and Industry and Public Service––along with this year’s newest members of the prestigious “Hall of Fame,” which was first launched in 1949.

(Click on photos to enlarge in pop-up box, read identifications and download.)
 

During the ceremony, the college also recognized its Instructors of the Year with one faculty member representing each of DMC’s three campuses. Selected by the student body, this year’s honorees include Forrest Jerome Dorsey, Adjunct Instructor in Paralegal Studies, who represents the Heritage Campus; Windward Campus representative and Instructor of Dental Hygiene Josie Marie Wilson; and Dr. Robert Louis Parrillo, Assistant Instructor of Political Science, who represents the Oso Creek Campus. Student Government Association officers presented the honors to this year’s recipients. 

Joining the ranks of the 424 members in the Hall of Fame, this year’s inductees included four students representing four different corners of the college. The 2025 Hall of Fame inductees are Sarah Chloe Castillo, a Paralegal Studies major; Christopher Tichacek, a Hospitality Management major; Brandice Sayen, an Education major specializing in Early Childhood to sixth grade; and Sergio Trejo, a Welding Applied Technology major.

These individuals join a steadily growing list of DMC graduates who met the benchmark for more than seven decades. The prestigious honor is reserved for the select few who have demonstrated scholarly dedication, leadership and participation in student organizations and community service.

(Click on photos to enlarge in pop-up box, read identifications and download.)

Castillo was a long-serving member of the Vocal Vikings forensics team, first joining the speech and debate club in Fall 2023 and serving as Captain this past semester. She served as a presenter during the Vocal Vikings Showcase in Spring 2024 and participated in all competitions held each semester, including the Phi Rho Pi Regional and National competition and annual gatherings, such as Battle at the Alamo, Texas Shuffle and the DMC’s own Speech on the Beach competition. As a member of the Legal Professions Association, Castillo volunteered during the Fall Carnival in both 2023 and 2024. Additionally, she was a member of the Texas Rising Del Mar College Club and Geoscience Club, participated in various Girl Scouts activities in 2023 and was named to the Dean’s List in Fall 2023 and Spring 20204.   

Sayen currently serves as Secretary for the Education Society and is a member of the Viking Vanguard, a relatively new leadership program that is overseen by the College Relations Office. During this academic year, she has participated during several activities for senior citizens, performed science experiments for students during Creekside Elementary Science Night and read to students during Reading Across America at Club Estates Elementary School. Additionally, she was a recipient of the Sally Graf Rascoe Memorial Endowed Scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year.     

Tichacek is also among the first DMC students to participate with the Viking Vanguard program and volunteered during the DMC Foundation’s 2024 Scholarship Dinner and during the college’s Fall Commencement Ceremony. Additionally, he served as Treasurer for the Hospitality and Chefs Student Association this spring. Last fall, Tichacek volunteered during the annual Greek Fest and KEDT Classic Brew fundraiser events and during the college’s Viking Fest. As a Viking Vanguard member, he also volunteered his assistance during the William F. White, Jr. Library grand reopening this April as well as during SkillsUSA competitions held at the Oso Creek Campus. His awards include Outstanding Academic Student Award (Spring 2024) as well as the Small Business Internship Program Intern of the Month Award (September 2024) and Intern of the Year Award (Spring 2025). Treasurer plans to pursue DMC’s Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Organizational Management and Leadership.

Trejo was a member of the Welding Club in Fall 2024. Among his awards, he won second place during the DMC Welding Applied technology Program’s Día De Los Muertos 2023 competition and first place last fall. He has earned first place honors during district level SkillsUSA competition, including Fall 2024 and Spring 2025, second place during the State 2024 competition and first place during State competition earlier this semester. He has also won first place during the 2024 Craft Training Center and South Texas Vocational Tech competitions.

The College also recognized the hard work of fellow graduates who have earned the “Outstanding Student” Award from one of the College’s four divisions:

Division of Communications, Fine Arts and Social Sciences

Art: Ariana Capo, Erika Liera Huchim, Samantha Nieves, Clara Rebke, Nemo Reveron, Mia Vasquez

Drama: Samuel Howarth, Grant Sykora

Journalism: David Carroll
Speech: Hannah Gatchel, Teresa Gonzalez

Foreign Language:  Gabriella Salinas

History: Joel Byerley, Diego Cano, Leilani Crown, Carleigh Curran, Abrm Dabbs, Elijah De Luna, Elizabeth Olson, Marissa Pena, Kayla Prater, Peyton Yaws

Division Of Sciences, Technology, Engineering, Math, Kinesiology and Education

Chemistry: Parris Russel

EC-6, 4-8, EC-12 Special Education:  Ashleigh Alanis, Isabella Bustamante, Michelle Cruz, Rachel Flores, Angelita Flores Sauceda, Gabrielle Garza, Shailynn Johnson, Brooke Jones, Melanie Martinez, Aliyah Medina, Yvonne Perez, Leeza Rodriguez, Brandice Sayen, Samantha Simpson, Ashlyn Sosa, McKenna Sullivan, Allie Tabler

Grades 8-12 History/Social Studies: Mia Beltran, Fabian Gonzales, Garrison Weber

Grades 8-12 with Emphasis in English: Analisa Chavez

Grades 8-12; EC-12 Other than SE - Life Sciences: Emelie Chapa

Physics: Thomas Brewer, Mahdi Shafiei

NTS-Network Admin and Info Security Systems: Angela Meyer

Division Of Industry and Public Service

Occupational Safety & Health: Adrian Arriola, Janette Szepessy

Process Tech-Industrial Instrumentation: Levy Herrera
Welding Applied Technology: Marley Bryant, Melanie Gonzalez, Sergio Mellado, David Plata

Basic Firefighting II: Logan Young

Division Of Business, Entrepreneurship and Health Sciences

Cosmetology: Rylee Ray, Julissa Rodriguez

Dental Assisting: Caitlyn Alaniz, Kaylie Barrera, Richard Cabrialez, Kaitlyn Carlucci, Ellianna Chapa, Jenica Charles, Daisy Flores, Jacelyn Hohensee, Heather Mendoza, Alina Sanchez

Dental Hygiene: Simran Amit Patel, Ashlyn Butcher, Rayna Byler, Efren Mesa Carmona, Alysa Countryman, Ana Cynthia Chavez, Autumn Diaz, Emma Durbin, Natalie Garcia, Celeste Gonzalez, Claudia Gould, Madison Hernandez, Jeremiah Keever, Claudette Lara, Timothy Laughbaum, Nailah Leal, Lyza Leal, Alejandra Morales, Jacklyn Mrayyan, Kimberly Nguyen, Kalee Nuanes, Brianna Polk, Natalie Price, Amanda Ramirez, Jasmine Ramsey, Anissa Rodriguez, DeAnna Ross, Jade Saenz, Gladys Sanchez, Karla Soto, Vanessa Squyres, Helen Escobar Villar, Kaylie Westmoreland, Jaelyn Zambrano

Diagnostic Medical Sonography: Katelynn Flores, Daniel Linares

Echocardiography: Tristan George

Hospitality Management: Kayla Foster, Tina McPherson

Medical Assisting: Liliana Andablo, Alexandria Bush, Naomi Ludan

Medical Laboratory Technology: Jennifer Argo, Alyssa Carrasco, Taylor Clark, Kaitlyn Coleman, Danielle Garcia, Kaylee Griffin, Jensen Higy, Lucinda Jaramillo, Carlo Pacimeo, Tracie Pyle

Paralegal Studies: Alejandro Benavides

Radiologic Technology: Devan Leal

Respiratory Therapy: Kayla Lopez, John Medado, Daniela Sandoval-Estudiante

Surgical Technology: Carmen Almeida, Jenny Echavarrie, Leah Elliott, Monique Gutierrez, Stephanie Lopez, Danielle Smith, Natalie Solis, Fernando Zavala

Bachelor of Applied Science in Organization Management and Leadership: Michael Castillo

 

Download the PDF file below of the Recognition Day program, which incudes all recognitions awarded on May 8 in Richardson Performance Hall.