Going places

Staff writer

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Kamarie Schmidt, 24, has many plans when she leaves Portales. One will be going to the University of Northern Iowa to get her master’s degree in music education.

“I am a little apprehensive being 16 hours away from home, but I am very excited too,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt, from Farwell, has spent six years at Eastern New Mexico University and she will be graduating at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Greyhound Arena with 561 students.link Lillian Bowe: Staff writer

Kurt Munz-Raper, 21, takes a walk Thursday to his favorite Portales restaurant, Roosevelt Brewing Company. Munz-Raper is graduating Saturday from Eastern New Mexico University with a bachelor of science degree in music and a minor in music technology.

Schmidt has been a part of the Kappa Kappa Psi honorary ENMU band and she was part of the marching band.

“One of my favorite memories at ENMU was joining the marching band and meeting a lot of people,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt will be graduating with a major in music education and instrumental performance saxophone. She chose this major because of the many influential teachers she had while in elementary school and junior high.

“The thing I love about Eastern is how small the university is. I always felt safe and comfortable there,” Schmidt said.

Nathan Andrada, 22, felt the same way about the college. He will be joining Schmidt in graduating.

Andrada, from Tucumcari, will be graduating with a degree in science information systems with a minor in business.

“All the professors knew me by name and were wanting to help me in my studies,” said Andrada.

Andrada already has two job offers in his field — one from Quay County and another from New Mexico State University’s Agriculture department in Tucumcari.

“I hope to gain experience there and then go to Austin. Austin is becoming a lot like Silicon Valley,” Andrada said.

Andrada said he will miss ENMU, but is glad to be graduating in four years.

Kurt Munz-Raper, though he is graduating, will not miss ENMU as he will be pursuing his master’s there in the fall in media criticism.

“It has not hit me yet that I am graduating, but I bet it will the day before,” said Munz-Raper, who grew up in Edgewood.

Munz-Raper, 21, will be getting his bachelors of science in music with a minor in music technology.

“When I got into the program, I was considered a mediocre performer, but all my professors pushed me hard and I became a better performer,” Munz-Raper said.

Munz-Raper was also a part of Kappa Kappa Psi and loved being in the band.

“After I get my master’s, I also want to get a doctorate and hopefully teach history of music. That would be really cool,” Munz-Raper said.