May 16, 2016
Dr. Barbara Damron, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED), delivered the commencement speech at Mesalands Community College last Friday. Dr. Damron encouraged the graduates to pay it forward, and help others accomplish their dreams.
Mesalands Community College held their commencement ceremony last Friday, May 13, 2016, at the Tucumcari Convention Center, with over 600 attendees. This year’s graduating class represented 85 certificates and degrees, and five High School Equivalency Diplomas.
“It is indeed an evening of honor and celebration. We honor the graduates for the accomplishments that they have achieved. Our graduates have committed long hours and have sacrificed time away from their family and friends to reach this level of achievement,” said Dr. Thomas W. Newsom, President of Mesalands Community College. “It is also a time for celebration for our faculty and staff, as they have the opportunity to reflect on the lives of the students they have enriched.”
Dr. Barbara Damron, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED), delivered the commencement speech. She encouraged the graduates to have purpose and realize they now have a responsibility to help others.
“The purpose we choose for ourselves and the way we impact the lives of others is what ultimately becomes our life’s legacy,” Dr. Damron said. “When you choose your purpose, whether it is helping the sick, educating children, or innovating tomorrow, you are making a commitment to your community, your friends and family, and most importantly, to yourself.”
Ashlee Bradley, Mesalands graduate and Tucumcari High School Dual Enrollment Student, was the student speaker at commencement. She discussed how being successful is a process and it takes power and ambition to achieve.
Mesalands graduate and student speaker Ashlee Bradley, congratulated the graduates and told them to celebrate this accomplishment with their friends and family. Bradley is one of three Dual Enrollment Students at Tucumcari High School that graduated with associate’s degrees, prior to graduating from high school.
“Almost every successful person begins their journey with two beliefs: the future can be better than the present, and that they have the power to make it so. In doing this, ambition is the first step to success, and the second step is action,” Bradley said. “The education you have obtained during your time here at Mesalands, has created countless opportunities for your future endeavors. You had the ambition to make this possible by purposely choosing to put in the time and determination it takes to further your education.”
Bradley graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts and obtained Certified Nursing Assistant and Phlebotomy occupational certificates. Bradley was one of three dual students from Tucumcari High School that graduated this year from Mesalands with an associate’s degree, prior to graduating from high school. Tucumcari High School dual students Andreas Anaya and Celisha Martinez, also graduated with Associate’s Degrees in Liberal Arts.
Bradley and fellow graduate Sydney Abernathy were recognized for being named to the 2016 Phi Theta Kappa-USA Today All American Team. Both students received a full-tuition scholarship to complete their bachelor’s degree at a New Mexico public university, or college. Bradley will be attending New Mexico Highlands University in the fall and plans to become a sports medicine and orthopedic physician and surgeon.
“Today is a gift that was made possible through your hard work, your dedication, and the support of those around you,” Dr. Damron said. “Now you must decide how you will move forward to define your meaning in life. It is my hope that you will create a life for yourself that is emotionally
fulfilling and that also honors the promise, celebration, and gift that is today.”
Dr. Thomas W. Newsom, President of Mesalands Community College, addresses the over 600 people that attended commencement last week.
Mesalands Community College Graduating Class of 2016
Associate of Arts Degree
| Abernathy, Sydney***+§ | Gonzales, Angelica | Nelson, Chelsie |
| Anaya, Andreas**+ | Herrera, Isabel* | Osborn, Sunni***+ |
| Bradley, Ashlee***+§ | Martinez, Cellisha**+ | Threet, Linda* |
| Bradley, Desiree | Martinez, Keren | Ysco, Ashlee |
| Cordova, Rebecca**+ | McClure, Harrison |
Associate of Applied Science Degree
| Anaya, Adam** | Garcia, Daniel+ | Najera, Denise |
| Bauler, Maria | Garcia, Maylene | Sisneros, Devyn |
| Clark, Clayton | Jelinek, Trae**+ | Spears, Koly Ray |
| Collins, Nona**+ | Kedzierski, Nelson | Thomas, Parker**+ |
| Enriquez, Sara | Martinez, Elijah*** | Vega, Dalton |
Certificates
| Abernathy, Sydney | Garcia, Kristen | Sandoval, Gilbert |
| Alexander, Nathaniel | Garcia, Maria | Schmitt, Anastasia |
| Anaya, Cynthia | Gomez, Marka | Sebben, Tyler |
| Apodaca, April | Gordon, Casey | Shinholser, Charles |
| Apodaca, Jeanine | Hall, Jennie | Simpson, Desiree |
| Aragon, Amber | Hedgepeth, Curtis | Smaistrla, Darla |
| Arellano, Milissa | Henderson, Kathryn | Smith, Monique |
| Armijo, Lisa | Ingram, K’Sundra | Tenorio, Bernice |
| Baker, Kasy | Jenkins, Brady | Thompson, Megan |
| Banderas, Nahum | Lucero, Adrian | Trillo-Barraza, Monica |
| Benally, Maria | Martinez, Holland | Valdez, Christian |
| Bishop, Bethany | Montgomery, Charlene | Villa, Maribel |
| Bond, Ashley | Moralez, Anastacia | Villanueva, Javier |
| Borden, Elizabeth | Najera, Denise | West, Casey |
| Bradley, Ashlee | Nalley, Karlie | Willebrand, Rosanne |
| Brooks, Michael | Osborn, Ashley | Woodrum-Lopez, Tara |
| Cogan, Leslie | Rascon-Gutierrez, Jesus | Young, Katelyn |
| Debban, Kendall | Remillard-Kunz, Virginia | |
| Enriquez, Sara | Rivera, Jasmine |
High School Equivalency Diploma
| DeGeest, Duston | Pilley, Lissa | Witterman, Steven |
| Griego, Mercedes | Trujillo, Alissa |
***Summa Cum Laude (GPA 3.80 or higher)
**Magna Cum Laude (GPA 3.50 – 3.79)
*Cum Laude (GPA 3.25 – 3.49)
+Member Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
‡Veteran or Active Military
§New Mexico All-Academic Team
