Among the 800 students to receive their diplomas Sunday at Metro's Fall Commencement was Lisa Alexander, recipient of the Fall 2003 President's Award.

A nontraditional-aged student, Alexander returned to college in 2001 to seek greater career opportunities after a back injury left her permanently disabled. She was chosen as the President's Award recipient for her strong educational record as well as her contributions to the college and community. A technical communications major with an emphasis in technical writing and editing and a minor in computer information systems, she graduated with an overall 4.0 grade-point average.

Alexander was a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and received the Emeritus Faculty Award from the Department of Technical Communications. She earned numerous Colorado Scholar Scholarships and held an internship at the Bureau of Land Management as an assistant technical writer and editor. She also volunteered in the Department of Technical Communications to help highlight the accomplishments of the department's alumni. In the community, Alexander has worked with recovering alcoholics and drug addicts.

Alexander's professors describe her as follows: "She is a bright, dedicated individual who communicates well and is an excellent scholar. Ms. Alexander has a great work ethic. She worked on projects that had exceptional challenges and performed well. Her work was very nearly perfect and was on time, every time. She earned a reputation…for doing outstanding work and exhibited strong leadership skills. Ms. Alexander's interest in doing her very best and going beyond the required standard is a consistent pattern that will benefit those who instruct her, work with her, and depend on her for a professional performance. She is truly a student who comes along once in a decade."

The 10,000 friends and family in attendance heard Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper give the commencement address, urging the new graduates to seek out the many opportunities that are available to them. The mayor also pointed out that not everyone in the world has the freedom to learn, using the Iraqi people as an example. "You have, through your citizenship and education, true freedom. Leave here and use that asset. Let freedom ring."