The Phoenix Alumni Chapter has had a busy year with a variety of different activities, says Joel Granger ’98, president of the chapter.

A Diamond Backs baseball game, a Suns basketball game, a golf tournament, a trip to the Phoenix Symphony and of course a chile roast with Hatch green chile was the most popular, says Granger, when listing all the social activities the chapter board has organized.

“The chile roast is the most popular event,” Granger says. “It’s a lot of fun because we don’t get a lot of that here in Arizona.”

Granger points out though that the group also has developed more than social activities. Granger and fellow chapter board member Tony Malaj ’86 ’95 worked with university officials to launch the Phoenix Plan in 2005. The plan is designed to recruit high school students to attend NMSU. Next year they also plan to host a speakers’ series for Phoenix-area alumni with speakers from NMSU.

“It’s important to keep close ties to your alma mater. I personally have very fond memories of my time at NMSU and I want to give back any way I can,” Granger says.

Granger says that’s why recruiting is a natural fit for alumni chapters.

“We’ve been through the whole process. We have first-hand knowledge to share that is especially important for parents to hear,” he says. “We can help put parents at ease.”

Granger, Malaj and fellow chapter board members Lecretia Trujillo-Sisbarro ’93, Kristin Graham-Chavez ’93 ’95 and Aaron Schlessinger ’96 would like to encourage more Phoenix-area alumni to participate.

Granger says there are about 3,000 alumni in the area, but the chapter only has e-mail contact information for about 800.

“We regularly send out invites through e-mail, so everyone should make sure their e-mail address is on file with the Alumni Association,” he says. “Participating in the chapter is a good way to reconnect with old friends, make new friends and keep up with what is going on at NMSU.”

For more information about the activities of the Phoenix Alumni Chapter, contact Granger at joel@ziaproducts.com.