Every May and December, it is exciting to see Lobos walk the graduation stage – it is an exciting, but bittersweet time for the entire campus community as it watches graduates rise to great heights. As part of Spring and Fall commencement, the University Communication and Marketing team highlights Lobos who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, courage, dedication and endurance during their time at UNM.
These inspirational graduates come from all walks of life – different colleges, programs and extracurriculars. In finding these students, the UCAM team relies on those working directly with them on a daily basis. Each of these graduates were either put forward by a faculty or staff member or chosen based on the stories they have shared.
Although it is impossible to showcase every student, we hope these stories are a slice of the diversity, innovation, and personality of the Class of 2023.
Congratulations Lobos!
Simon Doneski | BS Biology
Elizabeth Ramsell | Bachelor of Business Administration
Dominik Barela | Bachelor of Business Administration
Inspiring #UNMGrad Dominik Barela - Class of 2023 from The University of New Mexico on Vimeo.
Nic Estrada | Bachelor of Arts in History/Political Science
Inspiring #UNMGrad Nic Estrada - Class of 2023 from The University of New Mexico on Vimeo.
Kaitlyn Kerl | Master of Architecture
Inspiring #UNMGrad Kaitlin Kerl - Class of 2023 from The University of New Mexico on Vimeo.
Kennedy Chavez-Silver | BA in Communication
Kennedy Chavez-Silver’s life was forever changed in 2015 when her older brother was killed in a driveby shooting by a bullet intended for someone else. Jaydon Chavez-Silver, a 17-year-old with hopes of joining the United States Air Force, was standing in the kitchen at a house party when someone fired a gun through a nearby window. He was the only one hit. This Spring, donning her cap, gown and a necklace engraved with her brother’s fingerprint, Kennedy will graduate from The University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a minor in Criminology.
Inspiring #UNMGrad Kennedy Chavez-Silver Class of 2023 from The University of New Mexico on Vimeo.
Lilianna Spurgeon | BS in Psychology & BA in Spanish
In a typical undergraduate class at UNM, you may hear chatter about who did the reading, and if it’s a boxed mac & cheese, or ramen kind of night back at the apartment with your roommate. Sitting right there though, could be a 42-year-old rockstar of a woman, who not only did the reading, and then some, but also just finished working on her own business and meal-prepping for five. That’s Liliana Spurgeon, graduating this spring with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Bachelor of Arts in Spanish.
Inspiring #UNMGrad Liliana Spurgeon - Class of 2023 from The University of New Mexico on Vimeo.
Andrew Schumann | BS in History & Political Science
When asked what he is most proud of accomplishing during his undergraduate experience, Andrew Schumann has a lot of material to draw from, but his extensive work preparing for a career in public service is no surprise when you learn his motivations are modeled after Superman.
Inspiring #UNMGrad Andrew Schumann - Class of 2023 from The University of New Mexico on Vimeo.
Abrianna Morales | BS in Psychology & Criminology
If you ask UNM senior Abrianna Morales for a moment of her time, she’ll give it to you. You may be both shocked and amazed, however, when you see how much each day is booked up–and that she’s still finding time to do more– but it wasn’t always this way.
Inspiring #UNMGrad Abrianna Morales - Class of 2023 from The University of New Mexico on Vimeo.