We have been delighted to see continued growth in diversity among our students over the past few years, because one of our goals is to have a student population that closely reflects the rich diversity of our state's population. Enrollment numbers for this fall are not available yet, but last fall minority students made up a majority of the undergraduate enrollment at the main campus. Almost 51 percent of our undergraduates were Hispanic students, American Indian students, African-American students and Asian-American students. Among graduate students, the figure was about 30 percent.

Traditional dance groups, native arts and a talk by former Navajo Nation president Peter MacDonald Sr. were among the highlights of Native American Week in late April. Trina Begaye, a junior studying microbiology, was selected as Miss Native American NMSU 2002-03 in a pageant that capped off the week. An honor graduate of Shiprock High School, Trina will represent our Native American students well during the year ahead.

Also in late April, the university held its first Hispano Alumni Chapter Banquet, featuring a keynote address by Clara Apodaca, former first lady of New Mexico and new member of the NMSU Foundation board. State Rep. J. Paul Taylor, who has done so much for education in New Mexico, was selected as the 2002 Outstanding Hispano Alumnus.

The most significant thing about the banquet, perhaps, is that a new tradition has been established, one that will help keep our Hispano alumni in touch with the university's programs and students.

A well-established tradition, the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Breakfast, drew a typically large turnout of campus and community people in January. This event, sponsored by the Black Programs Office, is a wonderful celebration of diversity and unity. Curtis Rosemond, who runs the Las Cruces Wal- Mart Supercenter, and Elva G. Telles, the university's director of Equal Employment Opportunity/ Americans with Disabilities and Employee Relations, received the annual Racial Harmony Awards.

We look forward to continuing these traditions in the 2002-2003 academic year.

As October approaches, Homecoming activities are really taking shape. The brochures are out and reservations are coming in daily. Homecoming kicks off early this year— Oct. 10-12—so mark your calendars.

Danny Villanueva will be in town for his 2nd annual breakfast to benefit Chicano Programs scholarships. The breakfast will be held at 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 8 in the Corbett Center ballrooms. Tickets can be purchased for $20.00 each through the Alumni office.

Lots of groups are hosting reunions. In addition to the classes of 1942, 1952 and 1962, the Conquistadores will have their annual dinner on Friday, Oct. 11. Gary Cataldo has several events planned in honor of ROTC’s 100-year anniversary on campus. Pi Beta Phi is celebrating its 30th anniversary and the White Sands Missile Range Co-op is planning a reunion.

Our Friday evening social has a new look and has been moved to our main campus. The social area will celebrate all the decades, and will be decorated with themes for each decade. We will have food and, of course, cocktails. You won’t want to miss seeing old friends, so make plans now to join us Friday, Oct. 10, for our “Decades Social.”

For more information on Homecoming activities check the Alumni Association Web site or call 1-866-678-2586.