Happy Mother's Day, grads

Dozens of area women have multiple reasons to celebrate and be celebrated today — it’s Mother’s Day and they graduated from college this weekend.

Here are some snapshots:

Elena Wimberly graduated from Clovis Community College on Friday and plans to attend Eastern New Mexico University during the upcoming school year to pursue her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.

Wimberly said after graduating from high school in 2009 she went to New Mexico Highlands University, but later dropped out. Wimberly said the birth of her son Dominique inspired her to go back to school.

“I think having my son pushed me to get a good career,” Wimberly said.

Wimberly, whose boyfriend Daniel Rojas also graduated this weekend from ENMU, said she had to stop working in order to go to school while still taking care of her child.

“Once you’re going to school and you have a kid you can’t really do too much,” Wimberly said. “And with both of us going to school, it’s a little bit more of a sacrifice.”

Erica Urban earned an associate’s degree in cosmetology from Clovis Community College on Friday. This was her second attempt at attaining the degree.

Urban said a strong support system enabled her.

“The first time, I actually was a single mom with two of my boys, and I didn’t have the support system that I do now. I’ve always wanted to do hair, so my husband worked and he let me fulfill my dream,” she said.

Urban said the most valuable part of her college career was “knowing that I’m gonna be able to provide for my kids once again.”

Nicole Ryan earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from Eastern New Mexico University on Saturday.

She said she was motivated to pursue her degree in order to “give my son someone to look up to and to prove to him that he can do pretty much anything he puts his mind to.”

Ryan said she’s most proud of being the first person in her family to obtain a bachelor’s degree, as well as having the admiration of her four children.

Selene Chavez graduated from Clovis Community College with an associate’s degree in business administration. She said the college’s online classes attracted her to the program.

This wasn’t Chavez’ first attempt at a degree at CCC; she was part of the nursing program right out of high school, and said she couldn’t balance her education with work and her daughter.

“Once I got back, CCC kind of helped me believe that I could do it,” she said.

Chavez said she wants her daughter to see that it is possible to graduate college, even in difficult situations.

Sara Casillas earned associate’s degrees in behavioral science, general studies and liberal arts from CCC.

Having not earned her GED diploma until she was 30, it was difficult for Casillas to “start from the bottom up” with her education, she said.

Conversely, she said that “coming from nothing” and being able to show her two children that anything is possible is an immense reward.

Brenda Franco graduated with an associate’s degree in legal studies from CCC. She said she hopes to work at a law firm or in another legal setting.

Franco’s three daughters were the reason she said she attended college.

“It takes more than one parent nowadays to work, and just with a high school degree (it doesn’t) get you far anymore,” she said.

She added that the attainment of her degree can “show them that a single mother with kids can do it all on her own, and I have daughters, so that’s really important to me that they know they can achieve anything they want.”

At the age of 29, Jolene Sepulbeda earned a general studies degree from CCC and is working toward becoming a physical therapist’s assistant.

“It’s never too late to make a career for yourself,” Sepulbeda said. “I have four kids and I wanted to set a good example for them and provide good for them later.”

Sepulbeda said the thing she struggled with most was just getting her schoolwork done on time and working part-time while still managing the family and getting dinner on the table.

“Also (I’m) pretty blessed to have the family support I do when I need them to help with my children to be able to go to school,” Sepulbeda said. “My kids were very blessed with a great father who helps in many ways to help me finish school and provide for them.”