UNMC’s minority graduates are more than new health professionals, one UNMC faculty member said during the 2002 Minority Graduate Recognition Reception. They also are role models for others who aspire to follow in their steps.
Nearly 65 people attended the May 8 reception, which provides an opportunity for graduates, family members, faculty and administrators to acknowledge each graduate’s achievement.
“In almost nine years since I’ve been at this institution, I believe this is the largest turnout we have ever had at this occasion,” said UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D. “I not only want to congratulate all the graduates, but just as importantly, I want to congratulate all the parents, friends, husbands, wives, significant others, relatives, children and grandchildren who are here for them. We understand how difficult it is to reach the goals set by these graduates. Family support is terribly important.”
The program included remarks by William O. Berndt, Ph.D., vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean for graduate studies; John McClain, Ph.D., associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and chief student affairs officer; Mary McNamee, Ph.D., director of the Office of Student Equity and Multicultural Affairs; and keynote speaker Jose Romero, M.D., director of pediatric infectious diseases and chief recruitment officer of Latino students.
Accompanied by Calvin Phillips, vocalist Peggy Hunter sang “Through the Years We’ve Come This Far” and “The Wind Beneath My Wings.”
During the reception, graduates acknowledged those who most supported them in achieving their degrees. Always personal, testimonials to husbands, parents, children and faculty advisers ranged from deeply moving to hilarious to tearful.
UNMC Student National Medical Association President Oluyemisi Smith and Lakisha Williams, past president, hosted the presentation of roses.
Dr. Romero expressed gratitude for the graduates’ achievements and cautioned them about their responsibilities to students who might follow them.
“If you look at our nation, only 15 percent of African Americans, 10 percent of Latinos and less than 7 percent of Native Americans have college degrees,” Dr. Romero said. “Although more than 25 percent of the American population are underrepresented minorities, only 7 percent of physicians are minorities and only 11 percent of current medical students are minorities.
“Whether you like it or not, all of you are role models. I remember when NBA basketball star Charles Barkley, said on national television that he’s not a role model and didn’t want to be one. But you graduates must hold yourselves up as guiding lights for all the students behind you. You can help many more students in the future believe that they can make it, too.”
A number of the graduates had special praise for Dr. McNamee and remembered attending one of her presentations on health science careers — some as far back as middle school. Dr. McNamee is well known for telling children and students of color about UNMC and its many career possibilities.
“The room has been filled with love this evening — people appreciating other people,” Dr. McNamee said. “We don’t do enough of that in the real world. We don’t do enough of that in our curriculum. It’s a hard struggle to get through this university. It means so much to gather each year like this, to meet your families and feel their pride in you.
“We have an awful lot of people — from the chancellor on down — totally committed to making this university a real center of diversity. That’s why each and every one of you mean so much — not just to yourselves and your family, but to all of us at UNMC.”
The growing success of the annual Minority Graduate Recognition Reception is the result of the behind-the-scenes work of Taneya Horton, administrative technician, and Janet Moore, outreach retention specialist, in the Office of Student Equity and Multicultural Affairs.
UNMC’s 2002 under-represented minority graduates were:
- School of Allied Health Professions — Andrea Barbosa (physical therapy), Tunisia Ellis (clinical perfusion), and Meylin Menoya and Sara Rosales (medical technology);
- College of Dentistry — Carolyn Taggart;
- College of Medicine — James Byrd, Maria de Brito McGee, Sussy (Smith) King and Jeffrey McGee;
- College of Nursing — Celia Blizzard, Cassandra Croghan, Dawn Franklin and Sylvia Lichius;
- College of Pharmacy — Vincent Jorn, Joy Payne, Matthew Toscano, Ramon Ulmar and Michael Watkins;
- Graduate College — Cynthia Hammond, Sandra Miller and Phyllis Wallace.
Photos in descending order: 1) From left, Dr. Mary McNamee, Celia Blizzard and Dr. Jose Romero; 2) Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., with Tunisia Ellis,
first African American graduate in SAHP Clinical Perfusion Education; 3) Guest vocalist Peggy Hunter; 4) Michael Watkins praises his mom.