'Every Lobo makes a difference:' Family and friends celebrate UNM grads

The closer his brother got to the stage, the wider the grin on Javier Castañeda’s face grew.

“It’s a great feeling. It’s a blessing to be able to have him attend this school,” Castañeda said of his younger brother, Jose Castañeda, who received his bachelor’s degree in theatre on Saturday from the University of New Mexico. “Every day, he finds new ways to not just impress me, but our family, and just keep on going.”

The Castañeda family was one of thousands who celebrated this weekend as more than 2,000 students from the largest university in the state received their bachelor’s degrees, with family and friends packing the Pit for UNM’s spring commencement ceremony.

“We are not the same university we were before you walked through our doors. Every Lobo makes a difference, every Lobo has an impact, every Lobo makes us better,” UNM President Garnett Stokes told attendees. “We will watch with pride and certainty as you make your way into the world, but we also know that you are ready for it, for each of you has been well-prepared.”

Across its campuses, UNM counted 3,636 students receiving degrees as part of the spring 2025 class, including associate’s degrees from its campuses in Gallup, Los Alamos, Taos and Valencia, according to a news release. Its main Albuquerque campus accounted for over 3,000 of those degrees, with 2,172 of those being bachelor’s degrees, 487 being master’s degrees, over 200 doctorates, 127 graduate certificates and 12 education specialists.

Before the ceremony began, Cynthia Garibay described her feelings as a mix of excitement and anxiety as she prepared to walk the stage and receive her business administration degree.

“It’s also exciting to know you’re on to bigger and better things,” Garibay said. “I already have a full-time job, but they are looking to promote me, so this degree definitely helps.”

Before he made his way to the floor, Jose Contreras, an Anaheim, California, native who came to Albuquerque to study, excitedly pointed to a section of the crowd where 12 of his family members sat. They made the more-than 18-hour drive to watch him walk the stage.

“I’m excited to just enjoy a meal with them, and just enjoy New Mexico for a weekend with them,” he said. He also reflected on his time in college and the milestone just minutes away.

“My favorite experience in college is, I think, this moment,” said Contreras, who earned degrees in electrical engineering and Spanish. “Seeing everyone’s faces from when we first started to now, I see all the years that have gone by, and I’m excited to just see this moment.”