Preston Dennard to Inspire CNM Grads as Keynote SpeakerFormer NFL standout Preston Dennard will be the keynote speaker at the Commencement Ceremony for Central New Mexico Community College graduates at 6 p.m. Friday, May 2 at The Pit. Approximately 450 graduates will participate in the ceremony.
Lena Baxley, president of the Executive Council of Students, will introduce Dennard. President Kathie Winograd will present the graduating class.
Dennard played wide receiver for the University of New Mexico from 1974 to 1977 and caught 142 passes for 2,257 yards in his career for the Lobos. He was named First Team All-Western Athletic Conference selection in 1974 and 1976. Dennard was the first freshman to ever garner First-Team All Western Athletic Conference Honors.
During his time in the NFL he played for the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers. He was named Most Outstanding Receiver and twice nominated “NFL Man of the Year.” Dennard played in the 1980 Superbowl for the Los Angeles Rams.
Preston was inducted in the New Mexico Hall of Honor in 2000 and the Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
