Graduates Move into Life

Alamogordo Daily News
By Laura London, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/10/2009

Over 100 students graduated from New Mexico State University-Alamogordo Friday night.

Following charges to the graduates given by students Sarah Gonzales and Charles Franks, state District 53 Rep. Nate Coté gave the commencement speech. Coté congratulated the school for a 68 percent increase in enrollment over the past year.

Gonzales emphasized that graduates should "always keep questioning" everything presented to them in their professional and personal lives. Franks told classmates they could "never go home," meaning nothing would ever be the same for them.

Coté told graduates they have now closed one door and opened a new door of opportunity to the future. Although the graduates will face challenges like the sagging economy, unemployment rates and conflicts overseas, "not all is doom and gloom."

"Because of people like you, you graduates tonight, America will recover," Coté said. "And you are part of that."

Coté encouraged students to exercise their First Amendment right of freedom of speech.

"I suggest, as Sarah did, that you always question," Coté said.

Coté said people say things with self-declared authority and present it as the absolute truth, but no one has a complete grasp of the truth because it is always colored by their own point of view.

Coté said New Mexico would like to keep the graduates around and there are opportunities for them in the state. He encouraged them to get in on the ground floor of opportunities in fields that did not exist for their parents and grandparents. He said there is also a great need for health care workers, teachers, law enforcement officers and more in the rural areas of New Mexico.

Coté encouraged students to look for doors of opportunity and open them. "Other doors open to you, often out of the clear blue sky," Coté said.

Coté told graduates they do not have to write a book or do some great thing to make an impact on the world, urging them to leave the world with a legacy their families and loved ones could be proud of. He advised them to be patient, work hard and make choices on their own.

In closing, Coté quoted author and orator Dr. Michael Dyson: "Rise because you are emerging from an institution of higher learning. Rise because of brilliant faculty and students. Rise because someone invested in you."

"I would like to add my own thing rise [sic] because you've worked hard," Coté said. "... Be proud because tonight is your night." *

Coté's degrees include a Master of Science in human relations from the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla.; a
master's in human resource management and public administration from Troy State University, Troy, Ala.; and a
doctorate in educational leadership from Argosy University, Phoenix. He is a senior adjunct professor with Park
University, and is the academic director for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at its campus on Holloman Air Force
Base.
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* The quote from Representative Cote's speech was as follows: I want to close by quoting a noted author, Dr
Michael Dyson, “Rise because you are emerging from an institution of higher learning; rise because of
brilliant faculty and students; rise because someone invested in you.” I would like to add “rise because you’ve
worked hard and have now completed a degree or certification program that brings you to the next door and
the door after that that will define your life and your legacy.” Rise and embrace your day to day experiences
and try to treat those frustrations and challenges of modern day living as new doors to be opened.