WNMU Fall 2019 Commencement Convocation 121319

Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 04 January 2020 04 January 2020

Photos by Sandra Michaud

WNMU-commencement-121319 WNMU-commencement-121319 WNMU-commencement-121319 WNMU-commencement-121319 WNMU-commencement-121319 WNMU-commencement-121319 WNMU-commencement-121319 WNMU-commencement-121319 WNMU-commencement-121319 WNMU-commencement-121319 WNMU-commencement-121319 WNMU-commencement-121319 WNMU-commencement-121319 WNMU-commencement-121319 WNMU-commencement-121319 WNMU-commencement-121319 WNMU-commencement-121319 WNMU-commencement-121319 WNMU-commencement-121319 WNMU-commencement-121319 WNMU-commencement-121319

WNMU-commencement-121319

Friday, December 13 was actually a day of celebration when over 1,000 friends and family members attended the 2019 Fall graduation ceremonies for the 173 graduates who participated in the convocation at Western New Mexico University. A total of 267 students graduated this fall. WNMU’s Jennifer Olson said that the Fine Arts Theater was filled and overflow seating in the Global Resource Center and Light Hall Theater was also near capacity.

A news release stated that diplomas granted at the fall 2019 commencement ceremony included those for 23 associate degrees, 125 bachelor’s degrees, 117 master’s degrees, 22 certificates and 46 graduate certificates.

WNMU President Dr. Joseph Shepard gave a graphic demonstration of the variety of students being granted degrees when he asked all of those who had families, who were the first in their families to graduate or who were over 24 to stand. A large number of the graduates were on their feet.

James R. Smith, who attended the school when it was still New Mexico State Teachers’ College, and when it became Western New Mexico University, and who graduated in 1953 and 1956 was given an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters during the ceremony. Smith gave the commencement address, telling some stories of early days on campus when he was the Dean of Students and Mustang basketball coach.

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.