Turning their tassels

Paul Spears started college 41 years ago, but received his first degree Tuesday night at the Carson City Community Center.

"I graduated from high school in 1965, and then took some college classes," the 60-year-old said. "But I had to stop to take care of my adoptive parents. I never got to continue school. And when I got married and had children, I had to take care of them first."

Spears, who is blind due to diabetes, graduated from Western Nevada Community College with an associate of arts degree. He hopes to continue working toward a bachelor's degree in education, specifically special education.

"This has been a long time coming, and a lot of times I didn't think I was going to make it," he said.

More than 370 students received associate degrees or certificates of achievement Monday and Tuesday nights at Fallon and Carson City commencement ceremonies.

Some, like Verle-Ranae Hoskins, 21, received both. She graduated with associates degree in math and deaf studies as well as a certificate of achievement in American Sign Language.

"Maybe I'll combine (my degrees) and teach math to deaf kids," she said. "We'll see what happens."

Hoskins plans to start at the University of Nevada, Reno, in the fall and study math, possibly earning a master's degree.

"I have always liked math since I was a little girl and told my mom I loved it and wanted to do it for the rest of my life," said Hoskins, who wore a magna cum laude medal around her neck.

Magna cum laude students have reached a 3.75-3.89 grade-point average; cum laude, a 3.60-3.74 GPA; and summa cum laude, a 3.9 and above GPA.

Minutes before the Carson City procession, Hoskins helped her 22-year-old friend Shannon McDaniel fix a gold Phi Theta Kappa honor society stole around her neck.

McDaniel, who graduated cum laude with an associate degree in math, has taken a pre-calculus class, three calculus classes and a differential equations class at Western Nevada.

"I'm very excited to graduate because it's one step closer to my future goals," she said.

She plans to transfer to UNR and study to become an environmental engineer.

"This is the only place we have to live," she said. "We might as well keep it livable."

The ceremony began with a procession by the Sierra Highlanders Pipe Band, followed by the graduates in royal blue caps and gowns. Audience members waved, bellowed out names, whistled, and held up digital cameras to capture the moment.

Family members, like 17-year-old twins Stacy and Shelley Smith, brought a bouquet of yellow flowers for their sister Shannon Archer, 22, who graduated with a general studies degree.

"We're proud of her," Stacy said. "She had a long struggle through high school. And she's the first one in our the family to go to college."

During the ceremony, Ed Epperson, president and CEO of Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center, and Steve Lewis, cooperative extension educator for UNR, received honorary degrees.

Regent Howard Rosenberg gave the commencement address. He included advice from author Robert Fulghum's "All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten," like don't hit others, and put things back where you got them. Some of his advice was his own, too.

"You've got the beginnings of a first-rate education," he told the graduating students. "But please promise yourself you'll never stop learning."

• Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.