EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Graduates from Texas Tech Health El Paso will be honored Saturday, May 16, during four commencement ceremonies at the Plaza Theatre in Downtown El Paso.

The ceremonies will be held at the Plaza Theatre, 125 W. Mills Ave., El Paso, TX 79901, with separate events for the Hunt School of Nursing at 8:30 a.m., the Hunt School of Dental Medicine at noon, the Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at 3:30 p.m., and the Foster School of Medicine at 7 p.m.

Hunt School of Nursing

At 8:30 a.m., the Hunt School of Nursing will recognize 120 students who completed the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and the R.N. to B.S.N. program during a commencement and pinning ceremony. The graduates include spring and summer cohorts. An additional four students will graduate with a Master of Science in Nursing. Of the 124 students graduating from the Hunt School of Nursing, 119 are from El Paso County and three are from Doña Ana County, New Mexico.

The accelerated B.S.N. program is a 16-month program in which students complete up to 17 credit hours per semester across four consecutive semesters, along with 1,008 hours of clinical rotations. The university said it is the only accelerated nursing program of its kind in the region. The R.N. to B.S.N. program is designed for licensed nurses who previously earned associate degrees; students complete 36 credit hours at the Hunt School of Nursing to earn bachelor’s degrees.

Hunt School of Dental Medicine

At noon, the Hunt School of Dental Medicine will celebrate its second graduating class. The school, which opened in 2021, said the Class of 2026 includes 61 students, including 11 from the Borderplex region.

The school’s curriculum places students in clinical settings beginning in their first semester and includes required Spanish-language training, the school said. Graduates earn a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree and a Community Health Certificate. Three members of the Class of 2026 earned a dual-degree Doctor of Dental Medicine and Master of Public Health in coordination with the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in El Paso.

The dental school was founded with a $25 million gift from the Hunt Family Foundation. Texas Tech Health El Paso said it is the first new dental school in Texas in more than 50 years and the only dental school on the U.S.-Mexico border. The school has more than 200 students across four classes and provides more than 60,000 patient visits annually, the university said.

Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

At 3:30 p.m., the Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences will honor 25 students graduating with a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences and seven students graduating with post-baccalaureate certificates in biomedical sciences. Of the 25 students graduating with a master’s degree, 16 are from the Borderplex, and two of the post-baccalaureate certificate graduates are from the area.

The university said the school prepares future scientists and health professionals through a research-focused learning environment emphasizing innovation, discovery and student success. This year, the school launched its Ph.D. program in biomedical sciences. Many graduates continue to medical or dental school or pursue doctoral degrees, the university said.

Foster School of Medicine

At 7 p.m., the Foster School of Medicine will honor 106 students graduating with Doctor of Medicine degrees. Earlier this year, graduates matched to residency programs across the country, including programs in El Paso and at Texas Tech Health El Paso. The university said physicians often practice in the communities where they complete residency training, supporting the school’s mission to increase the number of physicians serving the Borderplex region.

Texas Tech Health El Paso was established as an independent university in 2013. The university offers medical, nursing, biomedical sciences and dental education and has graduated more than 2,600 professionals over the past decade. More information is available at ttuhscepimpact.org.

RECOMMENDED: El Paso Community College to hold spring commencement and pinning ceremony

Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.