Eighteen of 20 degrees awarded by Wayland Baptist postgraduate

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Master Sgt. Christopher Corralez knew he wanted to further his education, but wasn’t interested in online schooling.

That led the active duty airman, stationed at Cannon Air Force Base and originally from Pecos, Texas, to pursue his bachelor’s in management at the Clovis branch of Wayland Baptist University.

He received his diploma Friday in a commencement ceremony held at Central Baptist Church in Clovis along with 19 other Wayland Baptist graduates.

According to Executive Director and Dean Gary Mitchell, Friday’s graduation was unique because Corralez was one of only two students receiving undergraduate degrees.

“One of the unusual things about this particular graduation is that of the 20 who are graduating, 18 of them are master’s students,” Mitchell said.

link CMI staff photo: Emily Crowe

Wayland Baptist University alumni Damon Pearce offered a special musical selection during Friday’s commencement ceremony. Pearce holds a master’s degree in Christian ministry from the school.

Kristin Pearce, a Clovis native, received a master’s degree in management, and will use it to further her career in the contracting squadron at Cannon Air Force Base.

Pearce said Wayland Baptist was a good fit for her.

“It really worked around my schedule with work, and I was able to combine the two without any problems,” she said. “I enjoyed it.”

During his commencement address, Mitchell took time to applaud the family members and friends of the graduates.

“I know that their accomplishment is also your accomplishment,” he told the audience. “All of us here at Wayland Baptist University applaud the support, the encouragement and the dedication that you have shown for these graduates to get them here.”

Commencement speaker Joe Strickland, director of human resources for Clovis Municipal Schools, posed a simple question to the graduates: What are you going to do with the rest of your life?