It has been a busy year as the NMSU Alumni Association has focused on reconnecting alumni and worked to rekindle and start new alumni chapters across the country. Each of these efforts, led largely by volunteers, helps to strengthen the ties between alumni and NMSU and paves the way for generations of alumni to come.

This university has alumni from across the United States, representing more than seven decades of degrees earned at NMSU. Richard Johnson ’36 earned his degree 75 years ago. Valecia Gavin ’61 ’73 recently visited the Alumni Center (previously the Chi Omega sorority house) to have her Chi Omega pin re-pinned prior to the 50-year homecoming reunion. Beverly and Herb Weinman celebrated their 56th anniversary during the Bay Area chile roast. And the 2012 homecoming logo was created by the alumni-student mentoring duo of Jessica Payne and Mike Rogers ’73.

Hundreds of alumni across New Mexico celebrated the State Centennial with chapter celebrations during the past year, bringing together graduates from Las Cruces to Bayard, Artesia, Taos, Clovis, Gallup, Roswell, Santa Fe, Deming, Albuquerque, Vaughn, Los Alamos, Grants and Carlsbad. Jack Fox ’69 and Gary Beene ’74 started the year with a gathering of more than 300 Santa Fe alumni. Jim ’75 and Sheila ’91 Brown rallied Aggies in Artesia for a reception hosted by Yates Petroleum. JR Tellez ’84 ’91 and Scott Sponseller ’96 ’98 celebrated new freshmen and their parents with a celebration in Albuquerque.

We have worked to grow and renew chapters across the country with alumni volunteers who have gathered thousands of Aggies for chile roasts, game watching parties, community service, social celebrations and athletic events. Collectively, the NMSU Alumni Association has done a great deal in the past year, sharing laughter, stories and memories with alumni from Florida to Washington, D.C., California, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Tennessee, Georgia, New York, Colorado, Texas, Alabama, Nevada, Washington and Hawaii. Mike ’73 and Carol ’76 Rogers hosted a chile roast in the California Bay Area, Doug Hooper ’88 and John ’80 ’82 and Diane ’84 Cordova gathered Aggie fans for a tailgate in Georgia, and Mike Mendoza ’05 and Adam Alvarez ’08 celebrated New Mexico Aggie pride with alumni on the Hill in Washington, D.C.

Many chapters continue their work to provide student scholarships. The ROTC Chapter and the Gallup Chapter award scholarships each year. Two chapters established scholarship endowments this year, Aggies on the Hill Chapter in Los Alamos and the Social Work Chapter. And others are preparing to begin scholarship support programs, Crimson Central Albuquerque Chapter and Bay Area California Chapter.

Participating in an alumni chapter is a great way to stay connected to your alma mater, to reconnect with your Aggie family or meet new Aggies in your area. Visit alum.nmsu.edu to find a chapter near you. If there is not a chapter close to you, let us know and we will work with you to help establish one.

Please continue to share your important milestones. If we can’t get it in Panorama, your stories will be highlighted in the monthly alumni e-newsletter.