TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Gabriel Cardenas
512-462-5372
FOR RELEASE MAY 29, 2025
Celebrity Guest to Keynote
Texas School for the Deaf’s 2025 Commencement
Austin, Texas – May 29, 2025 - Today at 2:00 p.m., 31 seniors from the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) will turn their tassels in celebration of their graduation at the R.L. Davis Auditorium, located at 1102 South Congress Avenue.
Known especially among the Deaf community, actor, model, and Deaf rights advocate, Nyle DiMarco, serves as the keynote speaker, addressing the TSD class of 2025.
A former TSD student and Gallaudet University graduate, DiMarco recently co-directed the acclaimed documentary Deaf President Now!, which revisits the historic 1988 student-led movement for Deaf leadership at Gallaudet – the world’s only liberal arts university for students who are deaf and hard of hearing. DiMarco is also widely known for winning America’s Next Top Model in 2015 and Dancing with the Stars (Season 22), breaking barriers for Deaf representation in entertainment.
As commencement speaker, DiMarco will also receive the Claire Bugen Legacy Award of Merit, joining fellow actor Lauren Ridloff (2024) in receiving TSD’s highest honor for contributions to the Deaf community.
“This class represents everything TSD stands for,” said Superintendent Peter Bailey.
“Together, this class of outstanding and dedicated students has learned, they’ve grown, and they’ve shown us all what it means to belong.
“The drive of this class proves that TSD is strong, TSD can achieve, and TSD will lead the way forward.
“I could not be prouder.”
The Class of 2025 boasts numerous accolades:
- Students competed nationally in the NRSC-AIDB Aerial Drone Competition, Deaf Culinary Bowl, and Academic Bowl.
- TSD’s basketball and cheer teams secured championships.
- Ten graduates earned 32 scholarships totaling $35,250.
- Sixteen students have been accepted into colleges and continued training programs.
TSD Class of 2025 Valedictorian, Jasmine Hottle of Kyle, excelled in academic and extracurricular activities. Her most significant accomplishment was traveling to Washington, D.C. to advocate for improving education services and outcomes for students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or deafblind. Hottle plans to attend Texas A&M to seek a degree in business administration.
TSD Class of 2025 Salutatorian, Evangeline Diaz of Cedar Park, was named Athlete of the Year in 2024 and participated in Jr. NAD (Junior National Association of the Deaf), a leadership program for students who are deaf and hard of hearing in grades 7-12. She was also selected to travel in Washington, D.C as a representative for TSD. Diaz plans to attend college and aspires to become a social worker.
WHAT: TSD Class of 2025 Graduation Commencement
Keynote by Nyle DiMarco
Attendance by invitation only.
WHEN: Thursday, May 29, 2025
2:00 p.m.
WHERE: R.L. Davis Auditorium
Texas School for the Deaf
1102 South Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
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ABOUT THE TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF (TSD)
The Texas School for the Deaf is the oldest continuously operating public school in Texas. Educating Texas students who are deaf and hard of hearing since 1856, the campus also provides outreach and educational resources for students, their families and professionals in the field throughout the state of Texas. With educational excellence and a strong belief in a culture and community at TSD, students form a unique identity based on their individual strengths and talents. TSD is an environment where students learn, grow, and belong. For more information about Texas School for the Deaf, visit: www.tsd.texas.gov.