From 1982 to 1996, Richardson was elected eight times to represent New Mexico's 3rd Congressional District. President Kathryn Mohrman will present Richardson with an honorary doctor of laws. He is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, and one of eight national winners of the prestigious National Medal of Science in 1995, bestowed by President Clinton. Student Michael Johnson, physics major and CC quarterback, has been elected by the Class of 1999 to deliver the senior address. At the conclusion of Johnson's talk, President Mohrman will award the graduates their degrees in the college's traditional Z - A fashion.
Commencement is free and open to the public.
Though attendance at the baccalaureate ceremony is restricted to graduates and their guests due to limited seating in Shove Chapel, an audio feed of the baccalaureate service will be broadcast to the lawn outside Shove Chapel, and there will be a live telecast transmitted to Armstrong Theatre.