Posted on Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Cat Hernandez named valedictorian for fall 2023 graduating class
Catherine “Cat” Hernandez has been named valedictorian for Fall 2023.
The Port Lavaca native was a pitcher on TSU’s softball team. Balancing softball, academics, and life in the big city was tough, but she made it happen.
“It was a struggle at first, especially my freshman year. It was COVID. I had a big workload my freshman year and everything was online. I wasn’t used to online. But once I found my footing here, it was easier to say I’m going to do all my homework this week, I have practice, and then I’m going to come and do this with my family.”
She joins a growing list of student-athletes who have graduated at the top of the class. In fact, spring valedictorian Nora Rodriguez is her roommate.
The health studies major graduates a semester early with a bright future she’s still figuring out, but she knows it involves physical therapy (PT).
“Plans always change, but as of right now I do want to go to PT school,” she said. “I also just got an offer from my physics professor that I can go have an internship somewhere in MD Anderson, so I’m also weighing that.”
Her ultimate career goal is to have her own physical therapy practice in Houston.
Category: Faculty & Staff, Alumni, Students, News Media