1960s

Garrey Carruthers ’64 of Las Cruces has been introduced into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame. The Junior Achievement New Mexico Business Hall of Fame annually recognizes the most esteemed leaders of the American free enterprise system. Carruthers is currently the NMSU College of Business Dean and the Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman.

1970s

Jeanne M. Lutz ’72 of Las Cruces received her Doctor of Ministry May 2008 from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, Texas. Lutz is an Episcopal priest serving Peace Lutheran Church in Las Cruces under a full communion agreement between the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). For her final project, she wrote a guidebook for Episcopalians explaining the basic doctrine, worship and polity of the ELCA.

Jim Noble ’72 of Las Cruces, a former Aggie Tennis player, won the Open Division Men’s Doubles Tennis Tournament in El Paso in May with partner Jim Krueger, who also played tennis for the Aggies before transferring in the late 1960s. Proceeds from the tournament were donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure to further the fight against breast cancer.

Pete K. Rahn ’76 of Jefferson City, Mo., director of the Missouri Department of Transportation and a former director of the New Mexico Department of Transportation, was elected President of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, which represents the state departments of transportation in Washington, D.C.

Michael Gabaldon ’77 of Albuquerque, has been named the director of Technical Resources for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. His duties include the oversight of the Technical Service Center, Research and Development, the Power Office, and the Dam Safety Office.

Stephen K. Valdez, Ph.D., ’77 of Athens, Ga., was invited to read his paper entitled, “Affektenlehre, Contrast, and A Day in the Life” at a conference at the University of Leeds, England, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album.

Esteban C. Apodaca ’79 of San Angelo, Texas, has been promoted from assistant professor of art to associate professor at Angelo State University.

Mario Acevedo ’79 of Denver, Colo., has recently found success with his current series of books. His first (sold) book, “The Nymphos of Rocky Flats,” was selected as Westword’s Best New Book for 2007. He continues his storyline with a sequel, “X-Rated Blood Suckers,” and the next installment called “The Undead Kama Sutra.”

1980s

Michael H. Erfert ’80 of Yuma, Ariz., participated in the International Association of Fire Chiefs annual photo contest, in which Erfert’s work was named the No. 1 Fire Fighting Photo for 2007.

Maurice Townley ’80 of Rio Rancho, N.M., is a member of New Mexico Task Force I, which assisted at the pentagon after 9/11 and New Orleans after hurrincane Katrina.

Adair Margo ’83 of El Paso, Texas, received Mexico’s Order of the Aztec Eagle Award Nov. 19, 2007. The award is the highest awarded by Mexico to people who are not citizens. Margo is the chairwoman of U.S. President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities and is also a member of the U.S. Commission for the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Sandra E. Rotruck ’83 of Albuquerque has become an attorney in the domestic relations section at Sutin, Thayer & Browne PC. Rotruck has been a licensed attorney for more than 21 years and has practiced family law. Rotruck also is a member of the Family and Elder Law Sections of the State Bar, the Supreme Court’s Alimony Guideline Committee and Disciplinary Board as well as served in collaborative practice groups. Rotruck was a former prosecutor in the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office, focusing on child abuse cases.

Michael E. Machak ’85 of Nashville, Tenn., has joined Crye-Leike Realtors as the director of public relations out of the Middle Tennessee Headquarters office. Machak’s responsibilities fall within public relations, corporate communications and news media relations in the eight-state southern region. Not only does Machak handle public relations, but he also handles the company’s internal communications and coordinates the company’s annual involvement with the United Way fundraising campaign. Prior to joining Crye-Leike, Machak was a residential mortgage loan officer and in the fall of 2006 helped launch the opening and operation of a new Countrywide Home Loans and Commerce Union Mortgage.

Leila A. Eisold ’85 of Jacksonville, Fla., has been promoted to controller of Episcopal Children’s Services in Jacksonville, Fla.

Libbye A. Morris ’85 of Durham, N.C., is the senior writer for Yankelovich Inc., in Chapel Hill, N.C. Yankelovich Inc. is a leading consumer market research firm that was founded in 1958.

Raymond Baer ’86 of Marana, Ariz., a financial services veteran with more than 24 years of experience, has been named area manager for Wells Fargo Business Banking in Greater Arizona. Baer will be responsible for Wells Fargo Business Banking teams in Tucson, Prescott, Flagstaff and the River Cities. Baer was a Senior Business Banking Manager for Wells Fargo in El Paso for 11 years before relocating to Arizona.

Bernard Dodson ’86 of Riverview, Fla., has been assigned to U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla., as Chief of the Gulf Branch, Security Cooperation Division, Strategy, Plans, and Policy Directorate.

Cathy Melcher ’88 of Ashburn, Va., has been named vice president of marketing communications at OAO Technology Solutions Inc. Some of her responsibilities with this new position include being responsible for marketing communication campaigns as well as the executive communications program for OAOT’s president and CEO. Before joining OAOT, Melcher was the director of marketing communications and campaigns at Northrop Grumman Information Technology’s Civilian Agencies and Intelligence business groups.

Teri Schultz ’88 has moved from Washington, D.C., to Brussels, Belgium, where she is covering the European Union and NATO as a freelance correspondent for National Public Radio.

Lionel Jones ’89 of Fayetteville, Ga., has had his debut CD nominated for the Instrumental Gospel CD of the Year award. Jones plays the vibraphone and his new CD is supposed to be “soul smoothing” to anyone whether they are tired, troubled, sick or even well. Jones began his musical career in a church in Oxford, Ala., where he was always inspired by the teaching. He then eventually became the choir director.

Martina Kreidl ’89 of Santa Fe had a film “Killing Snakes” screened at the Cannes Film Festival 2007. She is developing the short film into a feature.

1990s

Tyler Kahdeman ’90 of Chicago, Ill., recently published a book on education reform. Kahdeman received his doctorate and is now a professor at DePaul University in Chicago, Ill.

Brenda Miller ’90 of Roswell, N.M., was hired as the new middle school and high school principal at Alamo Navajo Community School. Miller served eight years with the Roswell Schools as a special education teacher and eventually became a behavioral consultant for middle and high school students. She was the director of special education for Goddard High School as well as the assistant principal for Mesa Middle School in Roswell prior to her new position.

Steven Montano ’92 of Las Cruces has been promoted to the position of senior business development officer for the State of New Mexico Economic Development Department. He is responsible for business development activities for southern New Mexico. In the past, Montano has been involved in X-Prize activities and recruitment of Fortune 500 firms to New Mexico.

Alan Murray ’93 of Kansas City, Mo., is a tenor with the Kansas City Chorale that recently won a Grammy for Best Engineered Album. The group won for their recording with the Phoenix Bach Choir of Grechaninov’s “Passion Week” on the Chandos label. One reviewer called it a slam dunk for those who love great choral music.

John (Jay) Quaintance ’94 of Niskayuna, N.Y., will begin his new position of associate professor and department chair of developmental studies at Schenectady County Community College in Schenectady, N.Y. Prior to this position, Quaintance served as director of TRIO Student Support Services at SCCC for eight years.

Joshua Holmberg ’95 of Littleton, Colo., recently published “The Teen’s Guide to Personal Finance - Basic concepts in personal finance that every teen should know.” This is a primer for all teens as they become more independent and more responsible for the financial choices they make. More information can be found at http://www.theteensguide.com.

Christian H. Hendrickson ’97 of Denver, Colo., has been nominated to receive a Forty under 40 award presented by the Denver Business Journal. This award is granted annually to nominees who are successful not only in their fields, but also at bettering the metro area through civic and philanthropic efforts. Hendrickson has been an active trial lawyer for seven years in fields such as banking and finance, construction and design, and insurance recovery.

Andrea Ortiz ’97 of Albuquerque has been awarded a detective position in the Homicide Unit of the Albuquerque Police Department.

Natalie White ’97 of Coppell, Texas, has been named director of Loyalty Marketing for Kimpton Hotels and Restaurant, which is the leader in the fast-growing boutique/lifestyle hotel segment. White will be responsible for leading Kimpton’s InTouch program, loyalty marketing strategies, customer experience, and acquisition management, as well as customer insight efforts. Prior to joining Kimpton, White spent 11 years at Wyndham International in Dallas.

Garth D. Scrivner ’98 of Albuquerque received his Certified Financial Planner designation. Scrivner owns and operates Scrivner Financial Services LLC, an Albuquerque fee-based financial planning and wealth management firm. Scrivner and his wife, Jennifer, also recently welcomed their first child, Addison Jo.

2000s

Rus Bradburd ’02 of Las Cruces received the 2007 Author Award, which was presented by Friends of Branigan Library in Las Cruces. Bradburd is the author of the memoir “Paddy on the Hardwood: A Journey in Irish Hoops.” Bradburd, before becoming a writer, coached basketball for 14 seasons at the University of Texas in El Paso and NMSU, as well as overseas in Ireland as coach of the Tralee Tigers, who won a national championship.

Celina Garcia ’04 of Las Cruces has taken up her role as the Conquistador Chair for the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce. The duties of the Conquistadors include serving as goodwill ambassadors and hosting visiting dignitaries. Garcia is the marketing coordinator for the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum.

Jennifer M. Gerholdt ’04 of Washington D.C., got a job with the World Wildlife Fund working as a forestry program officer with WWF’s North American Forest and Trade Network. Among Gerholdt’s tasks, she manages U.S. forestry companies in order to promote substantial forest management.