Photo: Greg Johnson

Silver and Gold: Tony Hanlon, '05, and Dorothy "Dottie" Lewis Ribble, '55 BSHP, are decked out and ready to celebrate Commencement 2005. Members of the graduating classes of 2005 and 1955 will join together for graduation exercises in the Pit on May 14. (See stories below.)

On behalf of the entire UNM alumni community, we’d like to extend our congratulations and a warm welcome to new graduates who are receiving The Howler for the first time. We also tip our mortarboards to alumni celebrating their 50th anniversary with a look back at campus and the world in 1955 (also 1954).

Feature Articles

UNM Commencement—May 14
UNM Commencement will be held this year at 9 a.m. on May 14 in the Pit. The commencement exercises in the Pit will honor all graduates. In the afternoon, convocations will be held in individual schools, colleges, and departments.

That afternoon, please join us for a reception honoring new graduates, "Golden" graduates, and their families on the lawn at the President's House from 1-3 p.m. The reception is proudly sponsored by the Alumni Association and President and Mrs. Caldera.

This year's "Golden Graduates" (alumni from the classes of 1954 and 1955) will also play an important role in the Commencement ceremonies.

The Golden Graduate program was started to recognize alumni who were not able to walk in their original commencements because of service in WWII and the Korean War. Their participation serves as a powerful reminder for undergraduates to understand the extended family of UNM and their lifetime connection to the University. For more information, class of 1954 and 1955 graduates should contact Frieda Stewart at 505/277-5808.

• Visit the UNM Commencement Web Site for Full Details
• Golden Graduate Events Schedule

President Caldera Congratulates Alumni
President Caldera celebrates the personal accomplishment and spirit of community enterprise that has brought them to this day.

• Caldera's Letter to New Alumni

Welcome New UNM Alumni! A World of Benefits Awaits You
Congratulations, new grads! We want to welcome you to a world of connections and new friendships. We also want to let you know about the terrific benefits, services and opportunities available to you as a member of the UNM alumni community.

Certain benefits—including temporary health insurance and loan consolidation services—are designed to meet the special needs of new alumni.

All alumni can count on a wide range of benefits including alumni and chapter events, your UNM Online Community, permanent email forwarding, career services, credit cards, and insurance offerings. Albuquerque- based alumni can purchase a library card and get a membership card for the Johnson Center, both for a small fee.

• Benefits for NEW Alums
  
• Benefits for ALL Alums
  
• Career Services Ready to Help You
  
• The UNM Young Alumni Organization
  
• Connect with an Alumni Chapter Near You
  
• Explore the UNM Online Community

Remembering 1955
For those of us who aren’t celebrating our Golden Anniversary, here are some reminders of how things looked on graduation day 50 years ago. The Student Union Building (located in the present Anthropology Building) schedule for spring 1955 included a Sock Hop with prizes and jitterbug dance lessons. President Tom Popejoy presided on campus. There were 5 pharmacy seniors, 6 students in the College of Law. Rallycom (not rally.com) was the student organization responsible for building school spirit on campus. Football games took place on Zimmerman field. Bandelier, Marron, Mesa Vista were all dorms, not office buildings, as they are now.

It was the golden era of Route 66. Car radios across town played the Billboard #1 hits "The Ballad Of Davy Crockett" by Bill Hayes, "Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White" by Perez Prado, and "Rock Around The Clock" Bill Haley & his Comets.

In 1955, Edwin L. Mechem lost the governorship of New Mexico to John F. Simms. Mechem would regain the position in 1957, and then again in 1961 and 1962. President Dwight D. Eisenhower was halfway through his first term in office as the Cold War gathered steam.

• More 1955 Memories

Join the Young Alumni organization (for those alumni who graduated in the last ten years or so) and enjoy educational, social, and networking events with your fellow recent grads. Some of the exciting activities planned for the next few months include a golf clinic,

• All About UNM Young Alumni
• View Upcoming Events

Lobos Go to the Dance (...also known as the NCAA Championships!)
The women's basketball team posted a 26-4 season record on its way to winning the MWC tournament and claiming its seventh consecutive post-season NCAA appearance. The men ended their regular season with a 23-6 record and helped sweep the MWC Championships by also beating Utah in the finals. For their stellar performance, the men earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament after a six-year absence. Lobo swimmers and divers took home several honors at the 2005 MWC Championships held in February in Oklahoma City. And on the slopes, the UNM ski team failed to repeat as national champions but still managed a top-4 finish at the 2005 NCAA Championships in Stowe, Vermont.

Proving that UNM student-athletes are truly at the top of their game, their combined grade-point-average has once again set a school record. The overall GPA for the Lobos' 21 sports during the 2004 fall semester was a 3.05, surpassing the previous standard of 3.04 set in the spring of 2003.

• Lobo Men at the NCAA Results
• Lobo Women at the NCAA Results
• Lobo Ski Team
• Swimming & Diving Champions
• Buy Tickets to Cheer on Your Teams!

There are still classes left, but Continuing Education at UNM is gearing up for summer. Registration begins

• Make Summer Plans

Just for Alums

UNM Alumni Association Online Community
Make new connections with the Online Community. Registration is free and easy. One of the benefits is free permanent email forwarding with an "@unmalumni.com" address. Now you can have a have a free permanent email address that NEVER changes and is affiliated with your alma mater! Even when you change jobs or email

providers, your free permanent email address remains the same. All you have to do is come back and change your forwarding email address. It's as simple as that. Plus, it's a great way to show your Lobo pride. Sign up for the UNM Alumni Association Online Community

Greet Spring with Lobo Gear
Get ready for warmer weather with some fresh new alumni gear! How about a new hat, t-shirt, and jacket to proclaim your Lobo Pride from head to toe?

Looking for the perfect gift for a new grad? Join the Hodgin Hall Brick Brigade and commemorate a loved one's days at UNM with a personalized brick laid in a handsome walkway leading to Hodgin's main entrance. We’re even offering a special discount for bricks bought in honor of recent grads.

Start Shopping Now

Join the Brick Brigade

How About a Lobo License Plate?

Chapter Happenings—Get to Know Your Chapter Coordinator!
Have you met the alumni who help run your local UNM alumni chapter? These friendly hard-working folks are looking forward to meeting you, answering any questions you have, and helping you get involved! Click below to find out what’s going on at a chapter near you.

Check out the Chapter Calendar

• Learn More

The UNM Alumni Association is pleased to offer a new resource: CareerTools®! This is a comprehensive job search and career management site that includes resume templates, index of job sites, assessment

• UNM Alumni Association Career Exploration Center

Your search for knowledge begins here. Choose from a wide variety of interactive courses, including the one highlighted below. UNM alums enjoy a 20 percent

• Explore AllLearn Now
  
• Upcoming Course: Why Smart People Do Stupid Things