The first commencement exercises for the Texas Technological College took place on Monday morning May 30, 1927 at 10:30 a.m. in the College Gymnasium. The Gymnasium, erected in 1926, was a temporary field house of tile and stucco, with a seating capacity is approximately 1,400. Mary Dale Buckner from Lubbock became the first student to receive a diploma after winning the drawing for which student would get the honor to walk first. She earned a B. A. in English and thus also became the first alumna of Texas Tech. Following the graduation exercises, the Alumni Association of Texas Technological College was founded and all 26 graduates joined the organization, marking the first and last time that all graduates of the school belonged to the organization.

The Lubbock County Historical Commission will dedicate a Recorded Texas Historic Subject Marker plaque on Thursday, Oct. 7, recognizing the Texas Tech Alumni Association. Thursday’s dedication and unveiling of the marker will be at 1 p.m , at the southeast corner of the McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center, 17th & University, on the Texas Tech University campus.