Commencement Story: Showing up for community

Kaison Ward has been involved with campus life since the moment he arrived in San Marcos as a freshman.

The digital media innovation major and Galveston native joined the Black Student Alliance, Black Men United, Black President’s Council, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, and the National Pan-Hellenic Council early on, many of which he has been involved with since he was a freshman.

Through those organizations and various student worker positions, he built a community that he called home.

“I’ve seen people come in and leave, but the thing that stayed the same was the bond,” Ward said. “Everybody wants to be here. They show up for each other. That’s all you can ask for within a community.”

Over the course of his time at TXST, he overcame his fear of the unknown, adapting to the fast-paced lifestyle of the college experience by going with the flow and being OK with whatever came next.

He met his mentor, Jesse Silva, Ph.D., associate director of operations and assessments in Student Success, when he was hired as a student assistant for his first student job.

“He’s always been in my corner,” Ward said. “You know, he’s had to get on me a few times, but it’s tough love at the end of the day. His mentorship and leadership not only in the department, but just as a man growing up, has been very inspirational to me.”

Ward later joined the Division of Marketing and Communications where he became a voice for other Bobcats by creating student-led content and being part of the Bobcat Creators program.

As a member of the Black Student Alliance, he was awarded the Upcoming Student Leader of the Year in 2024 and later the Student Leader of the Year in 2025, which he called a testament to how much he loves TXST.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned here is staying true to something can help get you where you need to be,” Ward said. “My time has certainly been a journey, but I embraced the ups and downs. Though the downs seemed like really low moments, the highest of highs has yet to come.”