IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5-10-05 CONTACT: PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

SILVER CITY—Judith Russom and Katarzyna “Kasia” Bogdan have been selected as the student response speakers for the Western New Mexico University spring commencement ceremony scheduled on Friday, May 13, beginning at 6 p.m at Old James Stadium.

Some 297 degrees will be conferred during the ceremony.

Speaking on behalf of the baccalaureate students is Judith Russom. She is graduating with a bachelor of business administration degree with a major in accounting.

Following graduation, Ms. Russom would like to find a fulltime job or establish a small business in town, take the certified public accountant exam, and begin work on a masters degree.

Russom currently works part-time as a budget analyst for the WNMU Early Childhood Programs, primarily with the La Familia program.

“It has always been a dream of mine to go to college. I’m glad Western was here because this was home. I have had the pleasure of working with a lot of neat people here at Western,” said Russom.

Russom, 61, says she is not a typical non-traditional student who enrolls in university classes in their 20’s or 30’s. Russom worked in the construction field for some 30 years before enrolling at WNMU.

“College is not just for the young. The academic world is so different from the real world,” she added. “I didn’t get to graduate from high school. It was strictly a personal challenge for me to earn my college degree.”

Russom is originally from Colorado and has lived in Silver City since 1962. She has four grown sons, 12 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Ms. Bogdan, the master response speaker, will receive a master of arts degree in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis in history and English. Bogdan originally of Poland, moved to Silver City after meeting a number of residents from the area while vacationing at different locations in the U.S. and Canada.

“I had heard what a beautiful place Silver City was and had to come here. I spent half a year in Silver City enjoying the sky, mountains, rainbows, and Native American ceremonies. I decided to study at Western while living at this beautiful place,” said Bogdan.

“Western showed me a different type of education. It was much different from the system I was used to in Poland. There was more interaction between the students and professors here. The instructors gave us a lot of freedom. Although, I also saw that freedom abused by the students at times, “ said Bogdan. “But to me Western was wonderful because independent thinking was stressed. I loved that.”

After graduating, Bogdan plans to return to Poland for a short time, visit India and Pakistan, and is thinking of earning a doctorate degree in folklore or mythology with an emphasis on women’s initiation rites. Bogdan also plans to marry her fiancé, Michal, a play producer from Poland.

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