UNM-G graduates mark ends and beginnings

UNM nursing instructors, from right, Kathy Head, Maggie Morris, Marji Campbell and Carmen Adams watch with pride as their former students recieve their degrees during commencement ceremonies at Gallup High School Thursday night. [Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent]

By Bill Donovan
Staff Writer

GALLUP — For many of the 363 men and women who received certificates and diplomas Thursday at graduation ceremonies for the University of New Mexico-Gallup, it was a beginning, not the end of their education career.

Take William Powell of Gallup, for instance.

He received a certificate in welding but he's still 18 credits short of getting his associate of arts degree, so he'll be back with plans to graduate in December.

Then it's onto a career in welding and where ever that takes him.

With more welders in this area than the market can bear, he said he realizes that means going eventually to someplace like Albuquerque or Phoenix.

For Veronica Farber, who attended the school's nursing program from her home in Sanders, Thursday marked one step in the long process.

It's taken her 10 years, she said, to get her AA degree.

"I'm very happy," she said, but she plans to go ahead and get her bachelor's degree in nursing eventually, which means more years at some other college or university.

And then there's Caesar Datu, who grew up in the Philippines and now lives in the Window Rock area.

He already has a bachelor of science degree in zoology under his belt but has been spending the last year as a full-time student to get an associate of science degree in health information technology.

"I enjoy studying," he said, adding that he may be taking further courses at UNM-G in the future.

For some who were at Thursday's ceremonies, it was an end to one way of life and the beginning of another.

Tom Ray, who has been with the college since 1976 and now serves as director of student services, attended the last of his 29 graduations Thursday. On June 30, he will be retiring.

He said he remembers the early years when the ceremonies were held on a stage at JFK Middle School and degrees were issued in only two programs.

This year degrees and certificates were issued in more than 30 programs. The school even had a large number of graduates in its bachelor and master's program. Thirteen students even graduated from the Middle College High School.

Eventually, he said, the ceremonies outgrew JFK and it was held for years at the junior high gym until the fire marshal threatened to close it down for overcrowding.

It's now in its sixth or seventh year at the high school gym and even at a 3,000 seat capacity, it was obvious Thursday night that the time will be here in the next couple of years that a new venue will have to be found.

UNM-G director Beth Miller said that apparently means eventually having the ceremonies at Red Rock Park.

"It will be enjoyable having the ceremonies outdoors," she said.

Ending her second year as director, Miller said it was been a sad and challenging one.

Sad because of the death of two students this past year, one through cancer and another because of a car accident on a field trip.

The challenging came as the college fought and received voter approval for a major bond issue this past fall.

Speaking of that, the college gave Distinguished Citizen Awards to two area tribal leaders Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. and Zuni Pueblo Gov. Arlen Quetawki in part for their support of the college's efforts to get voter approval for the bond issue.