Mike Rubio receives degrees in journalism and political science at the University of Nevada, Reno, this week.
After spending the last five years focused on his education, 2020 Jump Start Valedictorian Mike Rubio is collecting two bachelor’s degrees at this week’s University of Nevada, Reno, graduation ceremonies.
According to his mother, Rubio received the Robert Laxalt Distinguished Writer's Award and will receive his degree from the Reynolds School of Journalism on Friday. He is also collecting a degree in political science.
Rubio said Sunday that he plans to work for a bit in order to raise money for a trip to Europe.
“As for my plans now, I have no idea,” he said. “I don't plan to be working in journalism until I come home from that trip. At least, I won't be planning to find a career until then.”
In addition to the Laxalt award, Rubio received the Sidney W. Robinson Memorial Scholarship from the Department of Political Science, and he was nominated for the National Honor Society from the Reynolds School of Journalism and is part of the Kappa Tau Alpha group, according to his mother.
Rubio received an associates of arts degree while attending Douglas High School, which accelerated his university education.
In a 2020 interview with The Record-Courier, Rubio said he spent his junior and senior years as part of the Jump Start program. The program allows high school students to work toward an associate degree at Western Nevada College.
During his last semester at college, Rubio took all his classes online, signing up before the coronavirus outbreak shut down in-person classes. He said he just didn’t want to drive to Carson while trying to lock down his final semester at Douglas High.
Since then, he took the advice he offered back in 2020 to achieve dual degrees.
“Put your head down and push forward until you get through to the other side.”
Around 55 Douglas County residents are eligible to participate in this week’s graduation ceremonies at the University of Nevada, Reno.
The university will confer more than 3,100 degrees in five in-person ceremonies scheduled for Thursday through Saturday.
This week will see the university confer it’s 125,000th degree in its 149-year history.
Founded in 1874, the University serves 21,000 students.
There are Douglas high school graduates who are not included on the list because they moved to Reno or other places.
Gardnerville
Jakob James Gmitter
McKenzie Fay Henley-Ballard
Carly Elaine Howe
Ian Alexander Ozolins
Bhavin G Patel
Dillon Joseph Seward
Madison Taylor Vickers
Genoa
Jeannette Meszaros Bostedt
Christopher Martin Reichhold
Minden
Hannah Barca
Alyssa Corynn DiBona
Sydne Huck
Jillyan Lynne Jacobson
Hunter Eugene Morris
Corinne Noemi Novotny
Joe G. Paschke
Douglas William Vannest
Sarah Ellen Vannest
Matthew Michael Wallace
Megan Crystal Xin
Kaspar Lily Donoho Young
Martina A Schambra
Alexander Julian Valdes
Tristan Shae Bailey
Dylan Jeffrey McCullough
Justin K. Lu
Mikaela Denise Camara
Wellington
Cassidy Marie Still
Ian Everett McGraw
Zephyr Cove
Melanie Aide Sanchez
Gardnerville Ranchos
Jonah Muir Hedlund
Brianna Jo Fujii
Austin Montgomery Clutts
Gavin Fitzhugh
Celime J. Garcia
Andrew Cameron Isherwood
Sydney Alan LaCost
Casey Shyan Lawrence
Erika Ann Leitenbauer
Evan B. McCormick
Lana Alexandra Merkley
Brianna Michelle Mooney-Bennett
Michael Jacob Rubio
Darrell Shawan Staley
Patrick Abbott Voss
Indian Hills
Julia Rose Blank
Bradley Benjamin Denney
Brooke Elizabeth Gardezi
Samantha Rose MacCarty
Lydia Marquez
Parker Randy Nelms
Hannah Elizabeth Potts
Victoria Lynn Stroud
Catherine Aniela Wedin
Jennifer Georgia-Anne Weston
Mirian Cruz Ponce
