ALAMOSA – Trinidad State will award certificates and degrees to about 129 graduates at an indoor ceremony on Friday, May 11, at 6 p.m. at Plachy Hall on the Adams State University Campus.    

President Dr. Carmen Simone will use the opportunity to honor current graduates for their achievements as well as graduates from past decades (’98 and ’08). 

Two top graduates will also have a chance to speak. Katy Winters is only 17 and will graduate with an Associate of Arts in Psychology. Her classes were taken totally online. In fact she has only been to the Valley Campus once – to meet with an advisor. She lives in La Jara where she was homeschooled before enrolling at Trinidad State. 

Kristina Antillon graduates with a perfect 4.0 Grade Point Average with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Education. During her time at Trinidad State she also worked fulltime at either a Head Start or a daycare center. As soon as she graduates she’ll move to Grand Island, Nebraska where she has a new job at a Head Start program.

This graduating class features a large number of high school students who will receive certificates or diplomas from Trinidad State. Seven students from Alamosa High School will receive Nurse Aide certificates. Another, Cameron Mobbley, will receive Associate of Arts and Associate of General Studies degrees. Ten from Centauri, three from Antonito High School and one from Del Norte will get Nurse Aide certificates. One student from Center High School will receive an Emergency Medical Technician certificate.

The concurrent enrollment program became Colorado law in 2009. It allows high school students to take college classes at little, or in some cases no cost. 

“It makes so much sense for these bright and motivated young people to take college level classes while still in high school,” said Simone.  “Not only does it make our campus more diverse and vibrant, it’s a time and money saver for high school students who are ready to embrace the college experience.”