The 85 graduates of Mesalands Community College turn to the crowd and are applauded for their accomplishment.

Rep. Ben Ray Lujan congratulated Dawnique Savala who graduated Friday at Mesalands with an Associate of Arts Degree.

Jess Davis (left) tries to draw a smile from Joshua Case (right) as his mother Lisa Case takes video of his graduation from Mesalands Community College's North American Wind Research and Training Center.

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., spoke of the potential each graduate has to improve the future of this nation during Friday night’s graduation at Meslands Community College.

“This is a huge step in your life,” Lujan told graduates. “The hard work and sacrifices you and your families have made has made this day a reality.”

Lujan’s speech to the 85 graduates of Mesalands focused on the future and the vital role each of them would play.

“I look out and see your faces and see a bright future for New Mexico and our nation,” he said.

“Walk tall, be proud. This is your day.”

Among Friday’s graduates were the first students to graduate from Mesalands’ North American Wind Research and Training Center.

“It is exciting to be on the forefront of today’s energy technology,” said Mesalands President Phillip O. Barry.

More than 30 students earned their one-year wind energy technology applied science certificate or their two-year associate of applied science degree, said John Hail, director of wind technology.

Hail said the one-year certificate will allow a student to enter into the wind energy field and find employment. He said in the one-year program students get a basic introduction to the components and technology.

“We stress the two-year degree to the students,” Hail said.

Hail said a student can find a job with the one-year degree. He said with the two-year degree, the training in the repair, monitoring and computers is far more advanced and their is an increased chance for management positions.

“Three of our associate-degree graduates were hired a week before graduation,” Hail said. “Three students who are returning next year to complete the two-year degree received summer internships with wind companies.”

Rep. Lujan praised the progress Mesalands has made in the development of the North American Wind Research and Training Center.

“Many colleges are trying to duplicate what you all have accomplished here at Mesalands,” Lujan said. “You graduates are leading the way for tomorrow’s energy needs.”

Lujan said looking forward from an energy standpoint the students graduating from Mesalands’ wind program are filling a vital need.

“Major wind companies are constantly looking for workers because there is a shortage of trained technicians,” Lujan said. “This is an immense issue across the nation. That is why what has been built here at Mesalands is so vital to the future.”

Mesalands graduates list:

The following students graduated this semester, according to Mesalands:

Associate of arts

• Dustin Lee Burns

• Shari Evans

• Sonya M. Kelly

• Justin Kurtz

• Jacquelyn Lopez

• Mark W. Mancini

• Chelsie J. Nelson

• Glenn Reno

• Ann-Louise Romero

• Dawnique Savala

• DeMarquis Tcherneshoff

• Jamie Ann Williams

Associate of applied science

• Billy Alford

• Andrew Bagley

• Michael N. Bates, Jr.

• Delaney Bradley

• Dustin Lee Burns

• Emma Ginger Carabajal

• Joshua L. Case

• Taylor L. Coleman

• Chase Cruse

• Jeremy Thomas Dierking

• Tamara Drake

• Joshua Enriquez

• Donnie Frazee

• Amanda N. Freeman

• Vicente Francisco Garcia

• Don A. Gutierrez

• Albert G. Haschke

• Chris Holdread

• Isabel Jones

• Cheston P. Keck

• Cole Porter Kirksey

• Kathryn A. Kitcheyan

• Travis Jon Lee

• Lane M. Lewis

• James M. Lucero

• Forrest Mackey

• Jon W. Manning

• Chad Martin

• Dorothy Ann Martinez

• Jose Roberto Munoz

• Kimberley P. Musgrove

• Kayla Nelson

• Joseph Perea

• Larry Pierce

• Sandra J. Powell

• Si Ragsdale

• Chris Reynolds

• Fidelia O. Severance

• Colby A. Smith

• Cahill W. Sours

• T’Shawna Dyan Span

• Robert E. Spaur

• Angela M. Stash

• Max H. Stoltz

• Miranda Wampler

Carpentry certificate

• Joshua T. Enriquez

Farrier science certificate

• Michael N. Bates, Jr

• Shayne Dempsey

• Joseph L. Elledge

Fine arts metal casting certificate

• Glenn Reno

Metal arts certificate

• Forrest Mackey

Pre-nursing certificate

• Ann-Louise Romero

• Alisha Stephenson

Wind energy technology applied science certificate

• Bernardo Alvarado

• Matt Alirez

• Landon Carter

• Patrick Cobb

• Kevin Connor

• Russell Curry

• Jeremy Thomas Dierking

• Benjamin C. Dixon

• Jeffrey Fisk

• Daniel Foote

• Zachariah Fourman

• Jose Gallegos

• Ryan M. Garrett

• Melinda Hadley

• Aron Hewitt

• Chris Holdread

• Dustin M. Hughes

• Sonny Lasky

• Albert Lucero

• Forrest Mackey

• Darius Martinez

• Jill Murtha

• Brant Nettleton

• Joseph Perea

• Kevin E. Qualls

• Pete J. Romero

• Richard Sandstrom

• Austin Selmon

• Max H. Stoltz

• Miranda Wampler

• Derek Webber

• Travis Woods

Franklin University

• Bachelor of science degree

• Consuelo Esperanza Chavez