TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Gabriel Cardenas
Phone: 512-462-5372
FOR RELEASE June 2, 2022
GRADUATES INVITE SUPER BOWL HALF-TIME PERFORMER FOR TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
Thursday, June 2, 2022
Austin, Texas – June 2, 2022 – At 7:00 p.m. today, acclaimed hip-hop recording artist, Wawa, delivers the commencement speech to Texas School for the Deaf’s (TSD) 62 extraordinary graduates.
Warren “Wawa” Snipe has been a viral sensation since his half-time performances at the last two NFL Super Bowls. In 2021, Wawa performed The Star-Spangled Banner alongside Eric Church and Jazmine Sullivan, and in 2022, he was on the global stage alongside fellow rappers, Sean Forbes, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, 50 cent, and Kendrick Lamar.
A multitalented artist, Wawa, is best known for “hip hop through Deaf eyes,” which he coined “Dip-hop.” Dip-hop blends unique sounds of audio, rhythmic beats and imagery. Through his music, Wawa hopes to shed light and broaden awareness of other Deaf recording artists to the greater community. Also an actor, Wawa has appeared in AMC’s Fear The Walking Dead.
“An exciting day for TSD grads!
Superintendent, Claire Bugen, says, “we are thrilled to have Wawa accept the students’ invitation and address our graduates and the community here today.
“He is an extraordinary and incredible musical artist who is loved not only for bringing his musical abilities through Deaf eyes, but also for his energy and charisma.
“While a wonderful treat to have a celebrity deliver the commencement tonight, it is the accomplishments of this graduating class we are honored to celebrate.”
TSD’s graduating class of 2022 has had many academic and athletic achievements, including: two graduates who just competed in the summer Deaflympics in Brazil; seniors who participated and excelled in Special Olympics; 12 graduates who earned dual college credits thanks to TSD’s partnership with Austin Community College; and through the Rochester Institute of Technology’s (RIT) dual credit program, approximately 25 seniors earned college credits in biology and forensic science.
Class Valedictorian, Trey Scott Johnson, of Austin, who served as senior class president, also excelled in numerous academic and extracurricular achievements, including on the football field, and as part of TSD’s national Academic Bowl team.
Salutatorian, Julian Mateo Zea, of Austin, was also a member of TSD’s Academic Bowl team and Jr. NAD (National Association of the Deaf).
Both plan to continue their education. Johnson will attend Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., the nation’s only liberal arts university for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, and Zea will pursue a degree in mechanical engineering at RIT.
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