IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4-24-06 CONTACT: PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
SILVER CITY--The 16th Annual Western New Mexico University GED ceremony will be held on Friday, April 28, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center Theatre. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Arthur D. Martinez. A reception for the families and friends of the graduates will be held immediately following the ceremony.
Professor Martinez, a recipient of several academic scholarships, as well as the John H. Whitney and Ford Foundation Fellowships, received a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from the University of Denver, Colo.; a master of arts degree in political science from California State University, Los Angeles, Calif.; and a doctorate degree in political science from the University of California, Riverside in 1974. His areas of academic specialization include “American Government and Politics,” “American Constitutional Development,” “Chicano Studies,” and also “Latin American Studies.” He has completed post-doctoral studies at several U.S. institutions of higher education. Dr. Martinez has also participated in the Visiting Scholars Program at Penn State University.
Dr. Martinez’s extensive educational training, classroom teaching experience, and authorship has been enhanced by a very considerable practical experience in politics, including a position in Washington D.C. as a legislative assistant and speechwriter for a U.S. Congressman, and also an official candidacy for statewide political office in the state of New Mexico. He was named by “Hispanic Business,” magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States. Professor Martinez was also designated by the New Mexico Commission for Higher Education as one of the state of New Mexico’s Eminent Scholars, based upon scholarship, accomplishments in research, and having achieved a national and international reputation in his field. He was featured as a “National Role-Model for Hispanics,” in “Noticias del Mundo,” a national Spanish-language daily newspaper; and was also named to the Chicano Hall of Fame in Grant County, N.M. Professor Martinez was “acknowledged for excellence as a distinguished educator” in the Fourth Edition (1996) of the publication “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers” (The Best Teachers in America Selected by the Best Students).
At present, Dr. Martinez is a Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Western New Mexico University. He continues to teach on a part-time basis, and has heightened his involvement in the civic and political affairs of our community.
Twenty-two GED graduates are expected to participate in the ceremony.
Silver City residents receiving a GED are Karen Detrick, Elena Duran, Trudy Flanagan, Cassandra Garcia, Mallory Gonzales, Sid Hasley, Omar Hernandez, Kristin Mitchell, Julianne Munoz, Linsey Novacek, Tony Novacek, and Karl Thompson.
Deming residents receiving a GED are Tim Bennish, Diana Domingues, Maria Lucero, Erica Montano, and Johanna Munoz.
Lordsburg residents receiving a GED are Melissa Alvarado and Monica Terrazas.
Truth or Consequences residents receiving a GED are Debbie Armijo and Cynthia Doan.
The Adult Educational Services Program provides free GED classes to area residents. For more information on the GED classes, contact the WNMU Adult Educational Services Office at (575) 574-5101.
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