COEHS Alumnus Grant Atencio (Ohkay Owingeh) gives keynote at Fall 2021 UNM Undergraduate Graduation Ceremony

The COEHS is extremely proud of all of our graduates who completed degrees in these challenging times. One of these was honored to speak at the university’s undergraduate commencement in December. Grant Atencio received his BS in Community Health Education in the COEHS.

Adjusting to new surroundings is nothing new for UNM graduate Grant Atencio. His dad’s military career took the family across the United States to Hawaii, Georgia, Texas, Arizona and Colorado, just to name a few. New schools, new friends, new cities, and new cultures came with every move. Originally from Ohkay (Okay) Owingeh (Oh-wing-gay) Pueblo in Northern New Mexico, Atencio says there have been times when he had to choose between pursuing higher education or traditional values – and he’s learned to do both; but not without some hardship along the way. Moving around so much made him more culturally appreciative and he gained great insight from friends of many racial and ethnic backgrounds. 

He is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree at UNM.

Watch the keynote speech with an introduction by UNM President Garnett Stokes.

Grant Atencio earned his B.S. in Community Health Education.