Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Natalie Gillard, acting president of Mesalands Community College, is seen during an online screen capture giving opening remarks during the college's virtual commencement ceremony Saturday that was streamed live over the internet.
Because of coronavirus, Mesalands Community College conducted its first-ever virtual commencement ceremony Saturday afternoon for 65 students who received certificates or associate's degrees.
The 45-minute ceremony, stitched together from video clips and slideshows, streamed live over the college's YouTube channel and may be viewed at https://youtu.be/yycm1t6o9SQ .
Mesalands' main campus has been closed since early April because of the pandemic and conducted its courses online.
The event began with the national anthem by local bluegrass band Tucumcari Crossroads, then taped messages from the board of trustees, staff and faculty, including a couple of instructors from high atop the college's wind turbine.
After an introduction by acting President Natalie Gillard, Sandia National Laboratories lead engineer Clay Beevers gave the keynote address.
Beevers, a Tucumcari native, said attending Mesalands prepared him for universities he attended later, including New Mexico Tech. He said one of Mesalands' professors also give him practical advice for the future.
He extolled the values of community colleges, noting they often give a students a good transition point before a four-year school and can provide valuable training for those wanting to learn trades. He said the college's diverse student body helped with his overall educational experience.
Noting COVID-19 and the economic slowdown that accompanied it, Beevers said the generation that survived the Great Depression and other hardships was shaped by them. He said the pandemic and its effects likely would shape Mesalands' graduates, as well.
A Mesalands student given academic all-state honors was Mayela Rodriguez Valdez, who was named to the Phi Theta Kappa honor society.
Those who finished summa cum laude with a grade-point average of 3.8 or higher were Frank Beltran, Raegan Jones, Vinell Mariano, Charlene Montgomery, Sherra Swapp and Ryan Price.
In addition to the students - including several who'd graduated from Tucumcari High School the day before - who received certificates or associate's degrees Saturday, five also received high school equivalency diplomas.
