Staff Report
UNM is expected to confer 2,578 degrees during its spring commencement ceremony, which will include a speech by Rhodes Scholar and bachelor's degree candidate John Probasco, Saturday at 9 a.m. in University Arena.
The degree candidates are broken into the following categories: 1,911 bachelor's degrees; 338 master's degrees; 63 doctorate degrees; 102 law doctorate degrees; 3 post-master's degrees; 69 medical doctorate degrees; 84 pharmacy doctorate degrees; and eight education specialists degrees.
The master of ceremonies for commencement will be Richard Holder, UNM deputy provost and chemistry professor. University Band, led by conductor Eric Rombach-Kendall, will perform the prelude and processional. Following the presentation of colors by the UNM Air Force ROTC, master's degree in music candidate Jennaya Robison will sing the national anthem.
UNM President Bill Gordon and Board of Regents President Larry Willard will then offer their greetings.
John Probasco, who is receiving his bachelor's degree in biochemistry, will deliver the commencement address. Probasco has an extensive record of service to the University and to the Associated Students of UNM, the undergraduate student government.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
He has been inducted into numerous honorary organizations and is the recipient of a variety of honors and awards. Notably, he has earned some of the most prestigious scholarships conferred to undergraduates - the Harry S. Truman Foundation Scholarship and the Rhodes Scholarship.
Faculty Senate President John Geissman will then address the graduating class.
Following Geissman's remarks, UNM Provost Brian Foster will recognize UNM Honors graduates. Gordon will then award the $1,000 Tom L. Popejoy Dissertation Prize to Michael Anne Sullivan of the UNM History Department for her dissertation on "Healing Bodies and Saving the Race: Women, Public Health, Eugenics, and Sexuality, 1890-1950."
Gordon will then award honorary degrees to poet Simon J. Ortiz and Angela "Angie" Vachio, executive director of Peanut Butter and Jelly Family Services, Inc. He also will confer degrees in course to all prospective graduates.
UNM Alumni Association President Connie Beimer will next offer congratulatory remarks. Robison will lead the singing of the alma mater and Los Reyes de Albuquerque will perform the recessional.
This year, 49 members of UNM's 50th anniversary class, the class of 1952, will participate in commencement.
Following the ceremony, all degree candidates and their guests are invited to a reception co-sponsored by Gordon and the Alumni Association from 1-4 p.m. at University House, 1901 Roma Ave. NE.
For more information, call the Office of the UNM Secretary at 277-4664.
