More than 400 graduate at ENMU

There were a few candid moments for Eastern New Mexico University graduates walking on stage to receive their degree Saturday morning at Greyhound Arena.

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

Eastern New Mexico University spring commencement speaker Jose Garcia, New Mexico Higher Education Department secretary, speaks words of encouragement to graduates at Saturday's commencement ceremonies in the Greyhound Arena.

Some students fixed their caps or posed for pictures for excited parents. Others screamed out for joy or quietly shared a moment with God.

And for many of them, that walk across the stage wasn't just a walk in that moment. That walk officially symbolized walking on to the next stage of their life.

Of the 412 students who were approved for spring graduation, here are some unique stories about a few of them and this milestone in their life:

Joseph Settle

Joseph Settle received a standing ovation and he didn't even attend graduation. The master sergeant from Kansas City, Mo., is currently deployed overseas in Afghanistan.

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

Jennifer Settle accepts a degree on her husband Joseph Settle's behalf. The master sergeant is currently deployed in Afghanistan.

The crowd that filled the Greyhound Arena and his fellow graduated roared with applause as his wife of 17 years, Jennifer Settle, accepted his bachelor of science in criminal justice on his behalf.

"The things you do as a wife," Jennifer Settle joked.

His wife said they made school a priority for each other. Settle graduated with magna cum laude honors finishing off his academic career with a grade point average of about 3.7, all while juggling a military career and being a family man.

"He is determined and driven and he's self-motivated," said Jennifer in awe of her husband's ambition.

Settle wanted to study criminal justice because his goal is to be a police officer with the Clovis Police Department after he finishes his military career.

"They're ready for him to come on," said Jennifer about the Clovis Police Department's eagerness to work with her husband. Settle had interned with them while in school.

Jennifer knows how much this degree means to her husband and is heartbroken that he couldn't be there in person to accept it.

"It makes me want to cry just because I know how hard he worked for it and to miss it because duty calls, I know I have to accept it for him," Jennifer said.

As a surprise, Jennifer arranged it so that he would receive his degree in Afghanistan from his troops.

Another surprise for Settle will be seeing his three children wave to him on the graduation DVD his wife is sending him.

"This degree is a long time coming," Jennifer said. "Growing up he had two dreams, one was to join the military, the other was to be a police officer. Now with this degree, he's able to attain both of his childhood dreams."

Here's what Settle's children had to say:

"I'm excited because we can make him proud," said his 11-year-old son Joseph.

"I'm happy that he's graduating so he can do what he wants to do," said his 13-year-old daughter Ryan.

"It makes me feel happy but sad because he's gone," said his 9-year-old son Stephen.

Viridiana Armendariz and Marketta Davis

Two best friends from completely different backgrounds met their sophomore year when Viridiana Armendariz asked Marketta Davis how she was so organized.

Neither of the two ladies have biological sisters but the pair has bonded so tightly over the past two years, they say, they might as well be sisters.

"Sometimes we literally come to school wearing the same thing without planning it," Davis said about the two being so in synch.

Armendariz is originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, and Davis is from Montgomery, Ala.

They say they embrace each other's different backgrounds, traditions and beliefs but despite their differences, they have the same dreams in the communication field.

With Davis, a military wife, moving with her husband to Hulburt Field, Fla., and an engaged Armendariz planning to attend graduate school, the two are sad they must part ways.

But they said they have built a lifelong friendship, and they couldn't imagine celebrating graduation day with anyone else.

"We're sisters because we support each other through everything," Armendariz said.

Saad Alshahrani

"I only attended one day of school and I graduated," said Saad Alshahrani.

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

Saad Alshahrani spent his first trip ever to Portales graduating from ENMU. The Saudi Arabia native took all his classes from ENMU online but could not miss graduating in person.

Alshahrani traveled 10,000 miles and spent about $5,000 to attend his graduation at ENMU. Alshahrani, from Saudi Arabia, flew in Friday and graduated Saturday.

He has never set foot on ENMU's campus the entire time he has been a student nor has he ever been to Portales a day in his life. He took 100 percent of his classes online. He received his bachelor's in aviation science.

Alshahrani attended graduation alone. His wife is back home in Saudi Arabia and expecting their second child.

But Alshahrani said he could not pass up the opportunity to accept his degree in person.

"To walk the stage, it's a moment I always waited for," Alshahrani said. "It's a dream come true.

Alshahrani is employed by Saudi Aramco, the national oil company of Saudi Arabia. He says with his degree, he can advance in his career in engineering.

"I text my wife from my seat, 'now it paid of to be in the ceremony'," Alshahrani said.

He believes with an education, nobody can stop him from achieving his dreams and he's happy he received his from ENMU.

"This wipes out all the difficulty I've been through," Alshahrani said.

He flies back to Saudi Arabia today but says he'd love to visit Portales again, possibly as a full-time grad student next time.