Douglas A. Kerr Receives Engineer's Ring at NMSU, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Friday, May 13, 2016

Douglas Kerr, his wife, Carla and friends visiting from The Netherlands, Eveline and Gerrit, drove to New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico for Doug to take part in the College of Engineering 2016 graduation to receive his engineering ring.

Doug, who turned 80 on May 8, 2016, graduated from Case Institute of Technology, now known as Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio many years before the ring was available in the United States. Canada created the ring ceremony and it eventually made its way here. Merrie Lee Soules, currently running for the U.S. Congress from the State of New Mexico, also an engineer, chided Doug about not having his ring, thus, setting the whole event into motion.

Sitting in front of the group was Lynne Herrald, a member of Carla's Red Hat Society chapter along with her husband, Harley and a number of other family members, there to celebrate their grandson's graduation. He is Aaron Phillip Lindsay who was the Highest Honors Graduate from the NMSU College of Engineering with a 4.0 GPA in chemical engineering. We were thrilled to meet this charming young man who is very friendly and quite personable.

L to R: Gerrit, Eveline and Doug

L to R: Harley, Gerrit, Eveline, Doug, Lynne and Aaron

Back Center is Aaron Phillip Lindsay wearing his hard hat given to each graduating chemical engineer. The blonde in front is showing off her engineer's ring on her pinkie finger.

Another shot of Aaron with his fellow graduates

Aaron talking with his girlfriend, Florence, and to his right is his grandmother, Lynne

Maricruz Aguilar, Administrative Assistant to the Dean

Doug Kerr receiving his ring from Martha C. Mitchell, Associate Dean of Research

Looking on is Eveline as Doug (center) explains to graduates why he is here

Doug was the last person called  to walk across the stage where he was presented with a medal, a certificate and his engineer ring. Apparently, he was considered an honorary graduate of the NMSU 2016 Class of the College of Engineering. As I moved closer to get pictures of him on the stage, a lady whispered to me, "Congratulations on your graduate." Too funny!

This is all I have to say for now.