When it comes to fundraising ideas, NMSU’s Phonathon may be one of the best. The event was reintroduced in 2010 after a decadelong gap, but it has already proven to be a productive and educational fundraising activity. About 20 current NMSU students called close to 4,000 NMSU alumni this past academic year to give them a convenient opportunity to make their annual gift to NMSU. The phone calls have turned into much more than just a request for financial support. They have provided an opportunity for alumni to share stories with current NMSU students and reminisce of the time when they attended the university. The effort raised about $80,000 to support scholarships and other NMSU programs.