LUBBOCK, Texas -- When Mateo Casas moved from San Antonio to Lubbock to attend Texas Tech, he admitted he was nervous.

“I had three options for college and Tech was, like, come on. I was like, okay, I guess I’m going to Lubbock,” Casas said.

Those nerves quickly faded once he felt embraced by the community.

“The people were so nice, they kind of like embraced me as I embraced, you know, Lubbock itself,” he said.

By the time he walked the stage at this summer’s graduation, Casas knew exactly how he wanted to celebrate.

“Right when I got there, I’m like, screw it, I want to go hug him,” he said.

Instead of a handshake, Casas gave Texas Tech President Dr. Lawrence Schovanec a hug, his way of saying thank you.

“I was literally just trying to hug the guy and, you know, say, 'what’s up?'

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