Commencement 2011 Celebrations!
First Annual Business Administration Department Recognition Ceremony
This year’s Commencement activities at Northern began with the Business Administration Graduation Ceremony on Friday, May 13 at 3 p.m. in the CFA Theatre.
After President Barceló’s opening remarks congratulating the graduates-to-be, Provost Anthony Sena gave pertinent advice to the group of future businessmen and women. “This gives you the opportunity to enhance not only your own lives but also the lives of those who are not as fortunate as you.”
Students in the top 20% were presented with awards both for Associate Degree Candidates and Bachelor Degree candidates, with the BBA candidates receiving blue ribbons. The ceremony speaker, Lillian Montoya-Rael, spoke to the students about being good role models and encouraged lifelong learning. Student Ambassador Michelle Olivas, pictured right, right, spoke of being a role model and about the strong support she received from the Navajo Nation.
A Joyous GED Graduation
Later that evening, The GED graduation ceremony took place in the Eagles Gym. Families and friends filled the room in a show of support, and President Barceló spoke to the students about her own experience being the first in her family to attend college, encouraging them to pursue a higher education—and to do so here at Northern. Barceló noted that her father received his GED while serving in the military.
Ambrosha Baca spoke of her start as a GED graduate, emphasizing that without having obtained her GED, she would not have considered college, making it perhaps the most important achievement in her life. Baca also introduced Maria Padilla, pictured left, who gave the closing student address.
New Grads fill the Eagle Gym with supporters
The big event took place Saturday morning, May 14. Commencement 2011, saw the Eagle gym decorated beautifully by the facilities department. The entire event was filmed and broadcast by Northern’s television station, Canal Seis. Music was provided by the John Rangel trio, who performed an upbeat version of Edward Elgar’s classic processional, “Pomp and Circumstance.”
The keynote address was given by Dr. Jose Martinez, New Mexico Higher Education Department Secretary. He invoked Thurgood Marshall and urged the graduates to exhibit “moral courage” in the choices that they make and in the lives that they lead.
Student speakers highlighted the morning’s events. Porter Swentzell, pictured left, one of the first two Northerners graduating with the College’s new bachelor’s degree in Integrated Studies in the Humanities, noted that Northern was “the only College in the known universe” offering a degree in Pueblo Indian Studies. Swentzell, who majored in Pubelo Indian Studies, earned the degree with the highest possible honors, summa cum laude, will continue his work in the Santa Clara Pueblo.
Tanya VandenBusch, right, who also spoke at the Business Administration event, congratulated her fellow students and gave thanks to her teachers and family for their support. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Project Management.
Some were there to cheer their children, but many others were present in support of parents who came to Northern to finish an interrupted education or begin a new career. One young lady proudly displayed a banner that read “CONGRATS MOM!” as her mother graduated with a degree in Nursing.
Nurse Pinning Ceremony
Commencement events ended with the Nurse Pinning Ceremony, held in the CFA Theatre. A diverse array of graduates wore NNMC Nursing pins and held white candles as they recited the Florence Nightingale Pledge. Dr. Barceló spoke at this event too, remarking that she had a special relationship with the new Nursing grads, not only because her mother was a LPN, but also because she had gotten superior care from health care workers at Española hospital. “This winter when I had surgery for my broken wrist,” said Barceló, “nearly every nurse, radiologist, and assistant nurse told me that he or she graduated from NNMC. They spoke with great pride about this College and always added that their success was possible because Northern was here for them.”
Brittany Sandoval, pictured left, President of SNA (Student Nurses Association), was one of the two student speakers at the ceremony.
There are now 30 more nurses, five of whom earned baccalaureates from the new RN to BSN program, in the Española Valley. Add to that 28 new teachers, 4 fine artists, 8 Radiology Technicians, 2 Radiation Protection Specialists, plus numerous others: Counselors, Cosmetologists, Environmental Scientists, Auto Technicians, Machinists, Welders, Cosmetologists, Electricians, Engineers, and Adoberos—all of whom will be able to get some stress-relief by visiting one of the 10 new massage therapists who graduated with them on May 14.
Photographs by John T. Denne
