Marine Veteran Finds Community and Purpose as Texas Southern’s Valedictorian

Texas Southern University’s valedictorian for the fall 2025 graduating class is U.S. Marine Corps veteran Angelina Herrera.

“It means everything to me. It makes me feel very accomplished. It makes me feel like I actually did something with my time here,” Herrera said.

Herrera spent four years serving in the Marine Corps. She came to Texas Southern in 2023, majoring in health administration.

“It was scary for me and a big adjustment. I was doing something for so long, and then I had to transition to going back to the basics of being a civilian and now a veteran as well. Texas Southern was very helpful with the process and the transition of everything,” Herrera said.

In addition to the support Texas Southern provided during her transition, Herrera appreciated the family-like atmosphere on campus.

“The sense of community. It feels like there’s always something going on. Whether it’s on campus or in the VA office, they always celebrate everything. It makes me feel appreciated,” she said.

After graduation, Herrera hopes to give back to veterans and help with their transition out of the military, just as others supported hers. 

“I aspire to come back to Texas Southern University and give back what they’ve poured into me, and help the students who are coming in the same way the school helped me,” she said.

Watch her full testimony on this milestone:

Congratulations, Angelina!