April 27, 2026
Lifelong university educator and philanthropist joins winery owner in serving as Commencement speakers
St. Mary’s University will celebrate its 658 new graduates with two Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 16, honoring their achievements.
The School of Law Commencement will be held at 9:30 a.m. on May 16, followed by the University Commencement at 2 p.m. Both ceremonies will be in the Alumni Athletics & Convocation Center’s Bill Greehey Arena.
Tickets are required for all guests entering the arena. The ceremony livestream may be viewed online at www.stmarytx.edu/live.
Saturday, May 16, 2 p.m.: University Commencement
On Saturday, May 16, at 2 p.m., the University ceremony will honor the accomplishments of 373 new graduates, including 299 receiving bachelor’s degrees and 74 receiving master’s degrees.
Sallie V. Sheppard, Ph.D. (Hon. D.Sc. ’25), will offer the University Commencement address. A year ago, St. Mary’s bestowed the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, on Sheppard, who is committed to higher education and helping students learn.
Sheppard’s name is prominent, along with her husband, Leland Blank, Ph.D. (B.S. ’67), on the University’s newest building, the Blank Sheppard Innovation Center. She feels the family spirit on campus and believes in the University’s faith-based mission that helps students develop academically and spiritually. Sheppard was among the first women to graduate from Texas A&M University, earning her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Mathematics before completing her doctorate in Computer Science at the University of Pittsburgh.
While teaching at Texas A&M, she accepted the Executive Vice President and Provost position in 1995, making her the first woman to serve as a senior administrator at the institution. She received two distinguished achievement awards — one for teaching and the other for administration — from the Texas A&M Association of Former Students and the 2014 Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Saturday, May 16, 9:30 a.m.: School of Law Commencement
On Saturday, May 16, at 9:30 a.m., St. Mary’s Law will recognize the academic successes of 285 new May 2026 School of Law graduates, including 25 receiving either their Master of Jurisprudence (M.Jur.) or, as the degree has been renamed, the Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.); 223 receiving their Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) and 37 students receiving their Master of Laws (LL.M.).
Ron Yates (J.D. ’05), owner and president of Spicewood Vineyards and Ron Yates Wines, will serve as the School of Law Commencement speaker. Blending his family’s deep Texas heritage with old-world winemaking wisdom, Yates discovered that great vineyards, like great ranches, thrive on tradition, persistence, humor and a touch of maverick spirit. His passion for wine began while studying abroad in Spain as an undergraduate. Yates lived with a host family that grew grapes in Ribera del Duero. The limestone soils and sun-drenched hills reminded him of home, and Yates saw the potential for Tempranillo to flourish in the Texas Hill Country.
After earning his J.D. degree from St. Mary’s Law, Yates followed his true calling. In 2007, he partnered with the original owners of Spicewood Vineyards, Edward and Madeleine Manigold, convincing them that he had the dedication and Texas gumption to carry their legacy forward. Yates now oversees both Spicewood Vineyards in Spicewood and Ron Yates Wines in Hye, guiding day-to-day operations, vineyard management and collaborating closely with his winemaking team. Under his leadership, the wineries have become pillars of Texas fine wine, known for bold Tempranillo-driven reds and a spirit that embodies the heart of Texas and the soul of Spain.