Date:
5/5/2006
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
PORTALES—Diane Denish, the first woman to be elected lieutenant governor of New Mexico, will be the featured speaker during spring commencement at Eastern New Mexico University on Saturday, May 13.
Approximately 367 students will receive degrees during the commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. at Greyhound Arena. This will include the awarding of 285 bachelor's degrees, 79 master's degrees and three associate's degrees.
Denish is a lifelong New Mexican who was raised in Hobbs. As the former chair of the Democratic party of New Mexico, she has lived throughout the state and owned a small business for 12 years before getting into politics. Denish was named one of the top 100 New Mexicans in honor of her community leadership. In addition, she has served as chair of the New Mexico Community Foundation and New Mexico Tech Board of Regents. In 2004, she was honored by the American Academy of Pediatrics as a Child Health Advocate and has received many other honors as well.
Pre-graduation activities will be held on Friday, May 12, and will include a BSN-Completion Program Nurse Pinning Ceremony, a commencement reception for graduates and an honors convocation.
Four nurses will receive their pins during their nurse pinning ceremony from 1–3 p.m. on May 12 inside Buchanan Hall in the ENMU Music Building. The four individuals have earned bachelor's degrees, or BSNs in nursing.
At 3 p.m. on May 12 inside of the University Theatre Center, ENMU will honor those students who will graduate with honors distinctions during an Honors Convocation.
Also on May 12, a commencement reception will be held from 4–5 p.m. in the Campus Union Ballroom for all graduate, their family and friends. Faculty and staff are also invited to attend. The reception is sponsored by the ENMU Alumni Association.
For more information, call 505.562.2253.