Taking the next step

CMI photo: Tony Bullocks

Clovis Community College student speaker Courtney Rose Kyle addresses the graduating class Friday night at the Clovis Civic Center during the 26th Commencement Convocation.

Nervous, excited, beaming Clovis Community College graduates marched down the aisle of the Civic Center Friday evening, with tassels bobbing to the beat of "Pomp and Circumstance."

More than 500 proud parents, relatives and friends packed the house to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of the 80 graduates who walked across the stage and received associate degrees and certifications.

Nearly 115 more graduates were unable to attend the commencement ceremonies.

Student speaker Courtney Rose Kyle, a radiology technician graduate, called CCC "the beginning of our future." The Fort Sumner native, who worked her way through CCC as an information desk clerk, said "Now I can go out and get a job in the real world." Kyle urged graduates to be true to themselves and exulted "We finally accomplished our goals."

New Mexico State Senator Clint Harden also spoke at the commencement, encouraging graduates to make themselves marketable, practice patience and a good work ethic. "When you get a job, go in early, work hard and stay late," Harden urged. "You never know who is watching you."

Cannon Air Force Base Honor Guard presented the colors and CCC student Cecilia Harris sang an acapella version of the Star Spangled Banner.

Graduate profiles

• Ivan R. Escarcega-Marin, 27, was working as a mechanic when the economy took a nose dive in 2008. He decided he needed a more marketable skill and enrolled at CCC in 2009. He graduated with an associate degree in Liberal Arts and has applied to a Physical Therapy Assistants program in Amarillo. Escarcega-Marin worked his way through school as a CCC security guard and enjoys tinkering with cars and D.J.ing in his spare time.
• Mari Blyler,48 is a retired Air Force bomb loader. Since there's not much call for bomb loading in Clovis, Blyler started her quest for a new career at CCC. She is an honor student with a 3.8 GPA and an associate degree in Business Administration. Blyler is enrolled at Eastern New Mexico University for the fall semester. In her spare time, Blyler polishes her medieval skills with The Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.
• Noehmy Baeza, 33, is the mother of three children. She started at CCC in 2009 and graduated this year with an associate degree in Liberal Arts. Baeza is enrolled at ENMU for the fall semester and wants to become a K-8th bilinqual teacher. In her spare time she enjoys riding horses.
• Georg Heller, 31, started his long journey towards a master's degree in Mathematics, at CCC. Heller graduated with an associate degree in Liberal Arts and hopes to return to CCC as a math teacher, upon completion of his master's degree. Heller has been teaching G.E.D. math at CCC, and spends his spare time grading papers and watching movies.