IN THE SPOTLIGHT
ELISA SANCHEZ
Elisa Sanchez took a stand for herself early, thanks to her family’s emphasis on education—and her mother’s work as a union leader. She joined the staff of NMSU in 2000 and brought with her decades of experience at the national level in social justice, education, health care, workforce opportunities, and equal rights. Elisa set up three endowed scholarships at the NMSU Foundation to pass on her legacy to future students.
THE HARDIN FAMILY
Margaret Hardin ’92 carried on the family tradition of attending NMSU just like her father, Stephen ’67, and mother, Roni ’66. Transformed by the opportunity to work in more than 50 countries, Margaret established an endowed travel scholarship in honor of her father. Roni, too, wanted to honor her husband and created an endowment in civil engineering as well as a legacy gift.
NAYLA SALINAS
Nayla Salinas ’25 wants to follow in the footsteps of her father, a diligent construction worker who always makes sure his structures are sturdy and secure. Pursuing a double major in civil engineering technology and geomatics, Nayla aims to become a surveyor, dedicated to executing projects with meticulous precision. The Hardin Scholarship allowed her to gain experience by traveling to Guatemala to build water wells.
DR. SYLVIA Y. ACOSTA '10
From football to the Organ Mountains to student engagement to red chile, the NMSU Foundation's new CEO is elated to be back at her alma mater.
CHUCK & NITA SWARTZ
Lifelong educator Nita Swartz ’67 received a degree in Elementary Education from NMSU. Together with her husband, Dr. Charles (Chuck) Swartz – a professor emeritus of Mathematical Sciences at NMSU – they created a charitable gift annuity to benefit the university. The two have supported NMSU students for more than 50 years through scholarships and a professorship due to their passion for education and interest in helping graduate students who need a little help along the way.
BEVERLEY MANLEY
A free spirit who writes poetry and has a passion for public radio and television, Beverley Manley moved to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico to celebrate life in one of her favorite places – the great southwestern desert. Along her journey, she discovered KRWG, the PBS and NPR affiliates based at NMSU. While Beverley isn’t an Aggie herself, she developed a deep passion for giving to NMSU in support of KRWG knowing she would be passing on her estate to help save the earth and make it a better place to live.
TINGTING TONG
When Tingting Tong was a little girl growing up in northern China, she never imagined that one day she would move to Las Cruces, New Mexico to study mathematics. Twenty years later, she is about to finish her doctorate at NMSU while teaching in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. As the recipient of the Nita Swartz Endowed Scholarship for students in the College of Arts and Sciences, Tingting is grateful for the extra support to help her finish her graduate studies. Now, she hopes to pass on her passion for teaching and the beauty and simplicity of mathematics to others.
DR. JOHN WAELITI
After retiring from teaching agricultural economics for some 40 years, including 11 years as head of NMSU’s AgEcon department in the College of ACES, John Waelti turned his attention to philanthropy. He established a charitable gift annuity at NMSU, linking his legacy with the tripartite mission of NMSU – teaching, research and extension – in the spirit of our land-grant mandate.
PAULA SASS DONNELLY
Judge Thomas Allyn Donnelly ’52 was the consummate NMSU Aggie – serving his basketball team, his country, his profession and his community with dignity and honor. Paying tribute to someone as extraordinary as the late Judge Donnelly was very important to his wife, Paula Sass Donnelly. To do so, she created an endowed scholarship in the College of Arts and Sciences to carry on his legacy of public service and leadership.
ANDREW PICK-ROTH
Andrew Pick-Roth developed his worldview at an early age. The child of an attorney-turned-civics and public policy teacher, he had friends from every continent and developed a passion for justice and cultural awareness.
BUDDY CORTESE
When he’s not helping Farm Credit Bank of Texas support agriculture and rural communities with reliable credit and financial services, Buddy Cortese ’69 can usually be found roaming the family ranch in Fort Sumner, N.M., playing with his grandchildren or taking long walks with his wife Mary ’71.
DR. ROBERT GALLEGOS
Thanks to Robert and his wife, Professor Emerita Anne Gallegos, his legacy will live in perpetuity through four already-funded endowed scholarships. A fifth, The Roberto Gallegos Rural Northern New Mexico Scholarship, is currently underway. According to Anne, this final scholarship will help young people with “determination and potential but who lack the resources to go to college.”
CELINA CAMARILLO-DILBERT
Celina Camarillo landed her first job at age 15, teaching dance to young children at a gymnastics studio in her hometown of El Paso. She held down various jobs throughout her early twenties, but none of them could hold her interest—until she started working in insurance at AAA New Mexico and discovered her true calling.
DR. CONRAD G. KEYES, JR.
Dr. Keyes blazed his own pioneering trail, becoming a leader in addressing water issues across New Mexico and other parts of the Southwest during his lengthy career working in NMSU’s Department of Civil Engineering, and then as a consultant after retirement.
LUCAS RIVERA ’20, ‘22
The importance of water became etched in Lucas Rivera’s mind as he watched the family’s agricultural fields in Canjilon, New Mexico flourish or fade based on irrigation and rainfall. Now the NMSU graduate is committed to a career focused on this precious resource, following in the footsteps of Dr. Conrad Keyes, retired head of NMSU’s Civil Engineering Department.
ANA CORDOVA ‘11
Ana Cordova is passionate about education, science and service. And thanks to the strong educational foundation received at New Mexico State University, she is building a life that combines all three at top research labs and around the table for important policy discussions.
LUCAS RAMIREZ
A 2021 graduate of New Mexico State University's College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), Lucas Ramirez is taking his love of soil and plowing it into a career in regenerative agriculture, farming in harmony with nature to restore soil quality. His goal is no small feat: he wants to change how Americans view nose to tail nutrition.
DR. PRISCILLA BLOOMQUIST
Dr. Priscilla Bloomquist’s Commitment to Service Continues into Retirement. Remaining true to her commitment to service, Bloomquist invited former and current students, colleagues, and others to donate $33 (marking the length of her tenure as an NMSU faculty member) to the Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management (HRTM) Alumni Endowed Scholarship, through the NMSU Foundation.
TRENNERY TURNER
Heroes of Compassion Annual Fund for Excellence Provides Crucial Support to Nursing Student Trennery Turner in Finishing Degree. Volunteering is central to Trennery Turner’s life. Her commitment to offering her time and talent to others also helped her identify her passion to pursue a healthcare career.
ROY TRUJILLO
Roy B. Trujillo – chief operating officer of TransPerfect – is a 1989 graduate of both the colleges of Business and Engineering. Trujillo always enjoys recruiting from NMSU because he understands the deep bench of talent at the university.