South Texas College of Law Houston will celebrate 76 graduates earning their Juris Doctor (JD) degrees Dec. 13. The valedictorian is Tevin Long ’25, and the keynote speaker is Juan Garcia ’04, founding partner of Johnson Garcia LLP.
Guests may attend the 10 a.m. commencement ceremony in person in Joe Green Auditorium at 1303 San Jacinto St. or watch online at stcl.edu/commencement.
Long, a Houston native and University of Houston graduate, was in construction management prior to attending law school.
“In my first career, I worked on a project building a courthouse and now I will begin a career in courthouses,” Long said. He has gained tremendous legal experience in the past three years.
He was a 2025 summer associate for Norton Rose Fulbright and previously worked as an intern for the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, and for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Long also served as a law clerk for The Akers Firm, PLLC, and he was a pre-litigation case manager and law clerk for Daspit Law Firm.
He is focused on fighting for justice for vulnerable people. Long is a member of the Garland Walker Inn of Court.
Garcia, recipient of South Texas College of Law Houston’s 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award, will share inspiring words with the December class of 2025.
“I am still in awe of what South Texas Law was able to do for me,” Garcia said. “It was not just a law degree; it was something to believe in. It was hope. It was opportunity.”
Johnson Garcia LLP is a plaintiff personal injury firm in Houston. Garcia is the first Hispanic member to serve on the executive committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and he was unanimously chosen to chair the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority board of directors last fall.
He and Daniel Johnson ’04 — his study partner in law school and now law partner — made a generous gift to establish the Johnson Garcia LLP Endowed Judicial Lecture Series at their law school alma mater.
