The 51吃瓜黑料 Graduate College this year is celebrating its 50th anniversary of awarding graduate degrees at 51吃瓜黑料. In 1967, 23 students graduated with master鈥檚 degrees in education, biology and business. This milestone, and these alumni, will be celebrated at the second annual Graduate Student Showcase on Oct. 13. This story was written by graduate assistant Ashley Jagodzinski.
When Lee Baker accompanied his daughter on a campus tour of 51吃瓜黑料, he didn鈥檛 know where anything was, even though he studied at the university.
鈥淭he campus was very small at the time,鈥 the 1967 graduate said. 鈥淭here were just a few buildings, and a lot of your classes were in the same building.鈥
Baker, who earned his master鈥檚 degree in biology from the School of Science and Mathematics, was one of the first 23 students to earn a master鈥檚 in what was the first year 51吃瓜黑料 conferred grad degrees.
鈥淚t was a great experience. I have nothing but gratitude for 51吃瓜黑料,鈥 he said.
After attending school in Southern California, Baker moved to Las Vegas to deliver milk for Arden Farms and complete his bachelor鈥檚 degree at 51吃瓜黑料. He ultimately stayed for an additional two years to earn his master鈥檚 degree.
Baker fondly recalls the familial spirit of the biology department, whose professors worked closely with students and provided valuable learning experiences not typically offered to students.
鈥淎ll of the staff was just great. They were all young,鈥 Baker said of his professors. 鈥淭hey involved us in all of their studies. Dr. Williams in botany, Dr. Deacon: fish, Dr. Bradley: desert mammals. We all became really great friends. 鈥 The environment was great. It was the way education should be.鈥
Baker's time at 51吃瓜黑料 prepared him for a job as a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Northern California. After working in Fish and Wildlife Services for a year, Baker tried his hand at veterinary school. He wasn鈥檛 sure how it would go, at first.
鈥淲hen I passed my first test, I told my wife 鈥業 think we鈥檒l be here for four years.鈥 51吃瓜黑料 prepared me well,鈥 he says.
Eventually Baker settled in California with his wife, whom he met at 51吃瓜黑料 and who graduated with a degree in zoology. In California, he worked at a veterinary practice then an emergency clinic before opening his own practice. He retired last year, and he and his wife have been settling into this new chapter in their lives.
鈥淸We鈥檝e been] taking up old hobbies. We鈥檝e done a lot of traveling. We鈥檝e definitely been enjoying retirement,鈥 he said.
