Date:
5/6/2013
Contact: Registrar at 575.562.2175
Reporter: Wendel Sloan at 575.562.2253
PORTALES – Eastern New Mexico University will hold its 124th Commencement Convocation at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, in Greyhound Arena in Portales. There are approximately 494 candidates for spring graduation, and an additional 103 that will finish coursework this summer and are eligible to walk this spring.
The commencement speaker will be State Representative Bob Wooley from Roswell. A Viet Nam veteran, he retired from State Farm Insurance in 2005.
Wooley graduated from Eunice High School in 1965, and attended ENMU in 1966-67. He graduated with a bachelor of science in agricultural business in 1972 from New Mexico State University.
He owned a welding and construction business for 10 years, and has also worked as an independent insurance adjuster, and pipeline inspector and safety specialist.
Wooley was appointed as State Representative for District 66 in southeastern New Mexico by Gov. Susana Martinez in 2010, and was re-elected in 2011.
Involved in agriculture all his life, he has been married to Janna Wooley, a retired teacher, for 38 years. They have a son and daughter, and two granddaughters.
Steven Gamble, ENMU president, said, “Eastern is happy to have Representative Wooley as its commencement speaker. Eastern is in his district and he supports us very well. Rep Wooley has gained leadership positions in the House and is one of its most respected members.”
Immediately following commencement, a reception, sponsored by the ENMU Alumni Association, will be held in the south gym. Refreshments will be served.
The day kicks off with a 7:45 a.m. Honors Breakfast for 115 students graduating with honors (minimum 3.5 grade point average) and their families in the Campus Union Ballroom.
The College of Fine Arts and the Department of Art will dedicate the Dale Hamlett Painting Studio on Friday, May 10, at 1:30 p.m. in the Art and Anthropology Building.
Hamlett, emeritus professor of art, earned his bachelor’s degree at Truman University in Kirksville, Mo., where he also married his college sweetheart and best friend, Mozelle Lowe. He studied at the Art Institute in Chicago and, later, completed his master’s degree at the University of New Mexico.
Hamlett joined the faculty of ENMU in 1969, following professional work in Albuquerque as art director/designer for Ward Hicks Advertising Agency and one year as Artist-in-Residence at New Mexico Tech in Socorro.
While at ENMU, he received the President's Award for his contribution in Scholarship and guided countless students in their fine arts studies. Upon his retirement in 1987, he was awarded emeritus status and, shortly thereafter, honored as a Distinguished Professor.
Hamlett was a charter member of the New Mexico Watercolor Society, as well as the New Mexico Art League, Llano Estacado Art Association, the Pintores Art League, LaEscalera Art Guild, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Delta Kappa, Sigma Tau Gamma, C.O.P.E (ENMU’s Council of Professors Emeritus), the Antique Auto Club and Conestoga Good Sams, as well as being a member the First Presbyterian Church of Portales.
Painting was what he most enjoyed doing, and he was actively painting until a week before his 2011 death. At the time of his death he had been a professional artist for over 50 years, winning painting awards both nationally and internationally. While he painted in acrylic, oil, pastel and gouache, watercolor was his first love, painting mostly landscapes.
The Mozelle and Dale Hamlett Art and Painting Scholarship at ENMU continues the work of his lifetime to help student artists perfect their craft.
Eight graduating nurses will be “pinned” at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 10, in Buchanan Hall of the Music Building.
They and their towns of residence are: Cheryl Hauge, Albuquerque; Angela Tisdale, Rio Rancho; Guadalupe Sims, Alamogordo; Jennifer Searcy, Albuquerque; Cynthia Lusk, Alamogordo; Charmain Tidwell, Alamogordo; Patricia Martinez, Clovis; and Stephanie Calvillo, Hobbs.
Except for the Honors Breakfast, all events are free and open to the public.
For more information, call 575-562-2175.