ELKO - Great Basin College will hold its 45th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Elko Convention Center. There will be 442 baccalaureate degrees, associate degrees and certificates of achievement awarded this year, up from 430 last year.
Dr. Mark A. Curtis, president of Great Basin College, will preside over the proceedings. Nevada System of Higher Education Regent Kevin Melcher will attend, along with members of the Great Basin College Advisory Board and Board of Trustees of Great Basin College Foundation.
The commencement speech will be delivered by Regent Allison Stephens. Regent Stephens was elected to the board in 2012.
She has a long record of community service to Clark County and Las Vegas, serving on the Clark County Desert Conservation Advisory Committee, the Nevada State Board of Occupational Therapy and the Board of Directors for HomeFree Nevada, a non-profit organization committed to improving energy efficiencies in Nevada homes.
Regent Scholar Melissa Mahlberg will be acknowledged for her academic achievement and leadership. Mahlberg has received two associate degrees from GBC and is currently working on her Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Studies in Natural Resources.
The Regents Scholar Award is conferred by the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents. Scholars are nominated by members of the faculty. The nomination process is rigorous, and the recommendation to the Board of Regents is made by the president of the college. The award comes with a $5,000 stipend, as well.
The college will award a total of 40 bachelor degrees. Fourteen students will receive Bachelor of Arts degrees in Education and Integrative Studies. Twenty students will be awarded a Bachelor of Applied Science and six students will be awarded their Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Three students will receive a post baccalaureate certification in education. Eighty-five students will be awarded the Associate of Arts degree, 34 an Associate of Science, 11 an Associate of General Studies and 131 Associate of Applied Science.
An additional 138 Certificates of Achievement will be awarded, 67 of which were earned by students who will also receive their associate of applied science degrees. Certificates of Achievement are awarded in a variety of applied technological areas.
Honorary degrees and special recognitions:
State Sen. Dean Rhoads, of Tuscarora, will be awarded an honorary bachelor's degree. Rhoads served as the Rural Nevada Senatorial District Representative for 26 years.
Prior to that, he served in the Assembly for four years. President Curtis remarked on his advocacy, saying Rhoads "has been a strong and constant supporter of the work of Great Basin College for the entire time."
Serving the state in many capacities, chairing committees on transportation, finance, natural resources and energy and others, his advocacy on behalf of college students was heard in the chamber of the Nevada State Senate and Assembly as well as the Executive Offices of the State.
"His activism on behalf of higher education did not stop in Carson City; he provided support for Great Basin College throughout its vast service area," he said.
Lynn Rubel will receive the college's Community Service Award. According to Dr. Curtis, Rubel is "the driving force behind The Ruby Mountain Symphony."
Founded more than 25 years ago, Rubel has been a volunteer with the symphony for the entire time. For the last several years, she has led a board of directors in their efforts to stage two concerts each year, recruiting professional musicians for the symphony from Elko, Salt Lake City, Reno and the Bay Area.
The Ruby Mountain Symphony is an integral part of the cultural fabric of the community and supports the mission of Great Basin College.
Margot Teague is recognized this year as GBC's Outstanding Alumnus. Graduating with her BA in Social Services in 2003, Teague has maintained an active status in the community providing support for a variety of projects.
After graduating from GBC, she continued her studies and earned a master's degree in anthropology. Among her many contributions to the community was a feasibility study for a voluntary community-wide recycling program.
Her work provided the Elko City Council with the data it needed to move forward with the program a year ago. Teague is also on the organizing committee for the college's new Alumni Organization.
Doors will open at the Convention Center at 8:30 a.m. Because of the large number of graduates and the expectation of crowds that will exceed the capacity of the Laurena Moren Theatre in the Convention Center, a live, large-screen televised feed of the ceremony will be available in the center's banquet rooms.
Each graduate will receive two general seating tickets for guests to attend inside the theatre. Guests viewing the ceremony from the banquet rooms will not need tickets for admission.
DVD's of the ceremony will also be available. Orders can be taken at the Convention Center after the ceremony. Photographer Gene Russell will take individual and group photos of graduates beginning at 8:30 a.m. Photos will be available for purchase.
For detailed information regarding graduation ceremony, check the graduation blog in the "Announcements" section of the GBC webpage, at www.gbcnv.edu.
Great Basin College is a member institution of the Nevada System of Higher Education and is accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.
For nearly 40 years GBC has provided opportunities in higher education for rural Nevadans. GBC awards Certificates of Achievement, Associate and select Baccalaureate degrees using a variety of instructional methods.
Battle Mountain
graduates
Claudia Andrade, Associate of Applied Science, Nursing
Jesse Andre, Associate of Applied Science and Certificate of Achievement, Diesel Technology
- See GRADS, Page 12 -
(Cont. from Page 10)
James L. Bare, Associate of Applied Science and Certificate of Achievement, Electrical Systems Technology
Wilbur Becker, Bachelor of Applied Science, Management in Technology
Shannon R. Berumen, Associate of Arts
Lexy Bunch, Associate of Applied Science, Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement
Maria Berenice Cardenas, Associate of Arts
Carynn Conder, Associate of Applied Science, Radiology Technology
Ivan Consolo, Associate of Applied Science and Certificate of Achievement, Electrical Systems Technology
Joshua Denis, Associate of Applied Science, Computer Technologies, Information Specialist
Nicole Denis, Associate of Applied Science and Certificate of Achievement, Business Administration
Kalee Jo Dorman, Associate of General Studies
Sarah A. M. Drew, Certificate of Achievement, Business Administration
Ashlee Justine Edgar, Bachelor of Applied Science, Management in Technology
Ashley Edgar, Associate of Applied Science, Nursing
Jessica Elaine Farr, Associate of General Studies
Quincee Heinz, Bachelor of Applied Science, Management in Technology
Kyle D. Kester, Certificate of Achievement, Instrumentation Technology
Rebecca J. Linville, Certificate of Achievement, Business Administration
Kagen West Manning, Associate of Applied Science and Certificate of Achievement, Diesel Technology
Bryon Adam Murillo, Associate of Applied Science and Certificate of Achievement, Electrical Systems Technology
Tiffany Elizabeth Ostler, Associate of Arts
Brenton Duane Page, Certificate of Achievement, Diesel Technology
Donavon C. Powell, Associate of Applied Science, Criminal Justice, Corrections
Sergio G. Ramirez, Associate of Applied Science and Certificate of Achievement, Diesel Technology
Jesus Rubalcaba, Certificate of Achievement, Instrumentation Technology
Jaime Ruvalcaba, Associate of Applied Science and Certificate of Achievement, Electrical Systems Technology
Ryan Van Thompson, Associate of Applied Science and Certificate of Achievement, Electrical Systems Technology
Christopher James Whisler, Certificate of Achievement, Industrial Millwright Technology
Jeron Whitehead, Associate of Applied Science and Certificate of Achievement, Electrical Systems Technology
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