New Mexico State University will award 1,256 degrees this week, honoring its fall 2025 class at two commencement ceremonies at the Pan American Center.
A commencement ceremony for recipients of master’s and doctoral degrees will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12. A separate ceremony for recipients of bachelor’s degrees will take place the following day, Saturday, Dec. 13, starting at 10 a.m.
Arcelia Mendoza, of Anthony, New Mexico, is among the 366 graduates from NMSU’s College of Arts and Sciences. Mendoza followed her siblings’ footsteps to NMSU, but she forged her own path.
At 8 months old, Mendoza was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which affects the way she moves and speaks – but not how she thinks. A double major in journalism and Spanish, Mendoza will earn a bachelor’s degree with honors and begin a new phase of her life, in which she aspires to become a bilingual disability journalist and advocate.
“Being a part-time student with cerebral palsy has given me independence, courage, confidence and, above all, a sense of purpose in life,” said Mendoza, who uses an augmentative and alternative communication device to speak.
Mendoza was the keynote speaker at the Disability Access Services ceremony honoring fall 2025 graduates.
Mendoza said she began thinking about college at a young age. When she was 7 years old, she visited NMSU’s Las Cruces campus with her sister, Concepcion, a student at the time, and came across a man in a wheelchair going to class.
“My sister told me, ‘You see, you could also attend college,’” she said. “That memory has forever remained etched in my mind.”
As a student, Mendoza managed a demanding workload with support from Disability Access Services and TRIO Student Support Services Program, which works to increase graduate rates among first-generation college students, low-income students and students with a disability. Mendoza also advocated for improved accommodations throughout campus.
“My message to others facing similar challenges, who also dream about going to college, is to believe in themselves – not in what society says,” she said.
Trevor Stephens, a fellow student from the College of Arts and Sciences, came to NMSU from Lubbock, Texas, on a football scholarship in 2022 and found success on and off the field. This week, he'll bid farewell to NMSU – and his football career – with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology in hand.
“It’s a little bittersweet,” he said. "I've been a football player for the last 15 years of my life, so it's weird not being able to call myself that anymore. But I'm excited for the next chapter of my life.”
For Stephens, that hopefully means starting medical school next year – a step he feels prepared to take after growing his skills and confidence at NMSU.
Looking back at his time as an Aggie, Stephens said he’s thankful for not only the opportunity to play college football but for the many close friendships he made over the years. He added that graduating with high honors in front of friends and family will be one of his proudest moments.
“It shows my dedication over these past three and a half years and all of the work I’ve put in,” he said. “And, of course, getting that picture for my mom, too – she will love that.”
For Aya Abdaljalil, NMSU always felt like home. She grew up in campus housing with her family and has fond childhood memories of playing at Preciado Park and wandering through the different halls while her father, Talal, was a student at NMSU.
“NMSU has been a part of my life since I was 10 years old,” she said, “so it always felt natural coming to NMSU as a student.”
Abdaljalil will earn a master’s degree in public health from the College of Health, Education and Social Transformation – her second degree from NMSU after completing a bachelor’s in biology in 2021.
Abdaljalil said her interest in public health grew from her time as an Arabic tutor for Las Cruces Public Schools and her role as a project manager for NMSU's Immigrant and Refugee Educational Support Program. She plans to continue working with underserved communities after leaving NMSU.
Abdaljalil said many faculty members were pivotal to her success at NMSU.
“I really want to highlight the professors in the College of HEST. They were very supportive,” she said, adding, “NMSU has truly helped shape the person I am today.”
Like Abdaljalil, Kazeem Abdulrazaq will earn a master’s degree in public health. Abdulrazaq came to NMSU from Nigeria after hearing a close friend speak highly of New Mexico’s land-grant institution.
“I’ll never regret coming here,” Abdulrazaq said. “I was able to achieve my academic goals.”
Part of what motivated Abdulrazaq to pursue a master’s degree was a desire to equip himself with the knowledge to help his home community. As a graduate researcher, he studied tuberculosis in dairy workers under Elizabeth England-Kennedy, an assistant professor of public health. He wrote his thesis on the highly infectious disease, which remains a health concern in Nigeria.
“It’s one of my goals later in life to acquire enough knowledge here, so I can set up an operation over there to help the people of West Africa,” he said.
Abdulrazaq plans to continue his education at NMSU and pursue a second master’s degree next spring. Eventually, he said, he'd ike to get a Ph.D.
The Pan American Center will open to the public one hour before each commencement ceremony. Tickets are not required. Graduating students should arrive one hour before the ceremonies start. A clear bag policy remains in effect at the Pan American Center, and gift bags, balloons and signs are among restricted items.
The two ceremonies will also be livestreamed on NMSU’s YouTube channel. For more information, visit https://commencement.nmsu.edu.
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CUTLINE: New Mexico State University will recognize fall 2025 graduates during commencement ceremonies at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, and 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Pan American Center. The Friday ceremony will honor students receiving master’s and doctoral degrees, while the Saturday ceremony will celebrate those earning bachelor’s degrees. (NMSU photo by Josh Bachman)
CUTLINE: Arcelia Mendoza will graduate from New Mexico State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and Spanish. (Courtesy Candace Deskin)
CUTLINE: Kazeem Abdulrazaq will graduate from New Mexico State University with a master’s degree in public health. (Courtesy photo)
CUTLINE: Aya Abdaljalil will graduate from New Mexico State University with a master’s degree in public health. (Courtesy photo)