Foundation
New campaign chair committed to
helping
Benjamin Montoya of Albuquerque, president and chief executive officer of
the Public Service Company of New Mexico, is the new chairman of the
university's Cornerstone Campaign for Excellence.
Montoya is the grandson of immigrants from Chihuahua, Mexico.
His grandfather worked with Fabian Garcia, the university's famous chile
researcher. Montoya has a great affection for the Las Cruces area, and PNM
has given substantial financial support to NMSU for student
scholarships.
"Ben's enthusiasm for NMSU and his commitment to helping young
people become educated will make this campaign successful," said Marcia
Muller, vice president for university advancement. "He is a man of
action."
The Cornerstone Campaign, which was kicked off in January, aims to
raise $9.7 million by the year 2000 to support academic excellence and
renovate the YMCA Building for use as an honors center. The building,
which was designed by renowned Southwestern architect Henry C. Trost, is
the campaign symbol of the university's commitment to preserve the best
from the past while building for the future.
'I think this campaign needs the support of everyone who comes in
contact with it, because we're talking about our future," Montoya said.
"This truly is a community project for our future, which is embodied in
our youth, so I would implore everyone to take part in this campaign."
Montoya moved to Albuquerque in August 1993 to become the
president and chief executive officer of the Public Service Company of New
Mexico. He left the Sacramento, Calif., area, where he was employed as a
senior vice president with Pacific Gas & Electric Co. In 1989, he
completed a 31-year U.S. Navy career with the rank of rear admiral. A
highly decorated officer with several honors including the Distinguished
Service Medal, Montoya's last assignment was chief of the Navy's civil
engineers. He was in charge of construction, maintenance and utility
operations worldwide.
Montoya graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, has a bachelor's in
civil engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a master's
degree in environmental engineering from the Georgia Institute of
Technology and a law degree from Georgetown University. He is a licensed
engineer and a member of the District of Columbia bar. He was elected to
the NMSU Foundation Board in 1995 and in 1996 was elected to the corporate
boards of Northwest Corp. and Furr's Supermarkets Inc. Montoya is a leader
in many civic activities.
"The campaign for this project is so important because it really
is another way to assist today's students, of which there are so many in
need and who have so much talent and need our encouragement," Montoya
said.
For more information on the Cornerstone Campaign for Excellence,
call (505) 646-1613.
Cornerstone Campaign for Excellence
New Mexico State University has embarked on a three-year capital campaign
to remodel the Trost-designed YMCA Building to serve as a home for the
University Honors Program and to provide funds for scholarships, faculty
development and program support. The total campaign goal is $9.7 million,
including $1.7 million to remodel the YMCA building, $3 million for
scholarships, $3 million for program support and $2 million for faculty
development.
Highlights (January to April 1997)
Ben Montoya, CEO of Public Service
of New Mexico and member of the NMSU Foundation Board, is named chairman
of the NMSU Cornerstone Campaign for Excellence.
87 donors make gifts of $5,000
or more for an average of $41,000.
$3.6 million is raised
toward $9.7 million goal.
Donors make leadership gifts
to four focus areas of the campaign.
For further information, please contact:
NMSU Office of University Advancement
PO Box 3590
Las Cruces, NM 88003-3590
(505) 646-1613
Students present arts and research
Chemistry juniors Patricia Francis of Kayenta, Ariz., left, and Elexandria
Caboni of Kirtland, N.M., explain their scientific poster at the
Undergraduate Research and Creative Arts Symposium April 18 at Corbett
Center. The symposium is one of handful of its kind in the country,
featuring advanced research by undergraduates, many of whom are supported
by scholarships and special programs like University Honors.
Francis and Caboni are mentored by Chemistry Professor Antonio
Lara in the New Mexico Alliance for Minority Participation (AMP) program,
which aims to increase the state's graduate rate of ethnic minority
students with baccalaureate degrees in science, mathematics, engineering
and technology.
Scholarship awarded to French horn player
|
Karim Martinez, a 1996 graduate of Onate High School, is the second
recipient of a four-year, full-tuition Elsie Rigney Carr Scholarship to
attend NMSU.
The scholarship pays full tuition, fees, room and board for
exceptional female students of New Mexico residence majoring in the
humanities, art and sciences.
Martinez is a Crimson Scholar at NMSU majoring in sociology. She
said she is considering a career in research. Martinez is also active in
music at NMSU. She plays the French horn in the NMSU Pride Band and the
Horn Choir, a new club for French horn players. |
| Martinez
|
Elsie Rigney Carr of San Rafael, Calif., '36, received a
bachelor's degree in English from NMSU, and was her class valedictorian
and the university's first
Sun Bowl princess. Carr established the endowed scholarship in 1991 in
honor of her family. Her late parents, Joseph W. Rigney and Raye Hines
Rigney, both received degrees from the university, then
named New Mexico A&M. Her father was a horticultural professor at NMSU
until 1934, and her mother was a pianist. All four of their children
became NMSU alumni.
Aggies run in the Richardson family
|
E.W. "Rich" Richardson has given $50,000 to fund two scholarships
to be given annually to students in any major starting this fall.
Richardson, owner of the Rich Ford car dealership in Albuquerque
and other dealerships in the region, has four children, three of whom
attended NMSU; and four grandchildren, two of whom attended NMSU. |
| The decendants of E.W "Rich" Richardson
include Terry
Richardson, '72, uncle to Vanessa Lucero, '94, and Brennan Lucero,
'93. |
Preference for the scholarships will be given to the children of
employees of Richardson's companies, including Rich Ford, Rich
Mazda/Subaru/Kia, Richardson Investments, Deep Seal International and The
Horizon Insurance Companies. The amount of each scholarship will be about
$4,000 per year for four years. The awards will be made through the Office
of Financial Aid.
In 1960, Rich Richardson started the Rich Ford car dealership,
which has grown to become the second-largest, privately owned business in
the state. Richardson owns or has interest in six automobile dealerships
in New Mexico, Texas and Arizona.