Living legacy funds fit their namesakes Numerous funds created by NMSU donors assist students and enhance academic programs. Many funds are established as living legacies that honor the memory of loved ones. Rule scholarships For example, in 1992 Donald Rule received in his mailbox an NMSU Foundation publication outlining options for establishing scholarships, shortly after the death of his wife Verna, a 1949 alumna of the English department. Interested in preserving his wife's memory, Rule established the Verna Newman Rule Scholarships for academic excellence in English. Each year scholarships valued at nearly $2,000 a semester are given to the department's junior and senior with the highest GPA and a graduate student who has demonstrated academic excellence and community involvement. The 1999-2000 recipients are junior Amy Kierzek of Hillsboro, Ohio, and senior Sheila Telles and graduate student Ann Kendzierski, both of Las Cruces. At the time of his death in the summer of 1999, Rule had given nearly $500,000 to fund the endowment. Skaggs work-study fellowships Ralph Skaggs and his wife Martha knew the difference having a job could make while studying for their degrees at what was then the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in the early 1930s. Skaggs went on to head NMSU's dairy program from 1951-65 but never forgot the value of his first job, which paid 25 cents an hour. In 1986 the couple created the Skaggs Work-Study Fellowships in the Colleges of agriculture and home economics, arts and sciences and engineering. Through this program qualified students work for faculty members in their major academic areas. Skaggs died Jan.11. (An obituary appears in Aggie Whirl.) To date the Skaggs' gifts have funded awards valued at nearly $82,000. Twenty-five students from the three colleges have gained valuable work experience. Valentine visiting writer fund Alice Ward's mother, Louletia Valentine, was a faculty wife. A scholarship honoring Alice's father Kenneth Valentine, a professor in the animal and range sciences department, was created at his retirement. When her mother died, however, Alice wanted to preserve her mother's love of stories. She converted an insurance policy into an endowment for the English department. After consulting department head Chris Burnham, she created a fund that supports a visiting writer. The writer will work with area students and offer public readings. These are three of the hundreds of funds donors have created. For more information on how to make a similar gift, call the NMSU Office of Development at (505) 646-1611. Ann Palormo

YMCA Building named for President Conroy

As the final plans are put in place for renovating the Trost-designed YMCA Building, the Board of Regents has given the building a new name - the William B. Conroy Honors Center. The name recognizes the many contributions President Conroy has made to the university. The renovation project, part of NMSU's Cornerstone Campaign for Excellence, will begin in the late spring, according to university architect Martin Hoffmeister. The building is scheduled to open as an honors center in fall 2001.

In the last few months several private gifts earmarked for the project have come to NMSU, including two anonymous gifts totaling $205,000. One of these was from a university alumnus, the other from a private foundation.

Additionally, $25,000 from the estate of Claud Tharp and the same amount from Wells Fargo (formerly Norwest) Banks New Mexico bring the total private support for the renovation to just under $1 million. University reserve funds will pay for the rest of the $1.7 million project.

J. Bruce Streett, 1935-2000

Streett

J. Bruce Streett, former NMSU vice president for development, died Jan.4 of lymphoma at Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces. Streett earned his doctorate in philosophy from England's Oxford University in 1973 and the same year came to NMSU as an assistant English professor. He became English department head in 1976 and theatre arts department head in 1981. While head of theatre arts, Streett co-founded the American Southwest Theatre Co. As managing director of ASTC, he gained financial support from the local community and was recognized nationally for his efforts in Forbes magazine.

"We are twice or three times the program today than before Bruce turned his hand in our direction," said NMSU theatre arts department head Frank Pickard, '74, '76. "His influence is still felt and his contributions will remain to strengthen this program for years to come."

From 1984 to his retirement in 1990 Streett was NMSU's vice president for development. During his tenure, the university's endowment grew from less than $4 million to nearly $18 million. He greatly expanded donor contact and recognition, giving a professional structure to the office that has promoted the continued growth and success of fund raising for NMSU.

A legendary professor and lover of Shakespeare, he continued teaching at NMSU until spring 1999 when his deteriorating health forced a final retirement.

While serving on the Memorial Medical Center Board of Directors, Streett suggested the name "Salud" for an award to a member of the community who demonstrated outstanding concern for health care. Later, he became the first recipient of the award. Among many awards for educational and civic service he also received the Branding Iron Award, the highest honor given for service to NMSU, and the Dona Ana Arts Council's Julie Papen Arts Patron Award.

He is survived by his wife Mary Shanahan Thompson Streett and children Barbara Rodio and Lucy, Robert and John Streett.

The John Bruce Streett Endowed Memorial Fund has been established to support faculty professional development in the departments of English and theatre arts. Gifts to this fund can be made by sending a check to NMSU Foundation Inc. - Streett Endowment, Box 3590, Las Cruces, N.M. 88003.

Grant promotes higher education for Hispanic youth

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has awarded a $98,700 planning grant to NMSU to continue its work to improve higher education opportunities for Hispanic youth.

NMSU is one of 18 colleges and universities to receive planning grants in the first phase of the Kellogg Foundation's six-year, $28.7 million ENLACE (Engaging Latino Communities for Education) initiative.

Juan N. Franco, NMSU vice president for administration, said the ENLACE program will enable the university to form partnerships with school districts and community and business organizations "to develop innovative ways of addressing critical issues, such as the high drop-out rate among Hispanic students in the public schools."

NMSU's key partners in the ENLACE program include Dona Ana Branch Community College; Las Cruces, Gadsden and Hatch school districts; Court Youth Center; Colonias Development Council; and Dona Ana Workforce Action Council.

"ENLACE will strengthen the educational pipeline, so that more Hispanic youth will enter and complete college," said Betty Overton-Adkins, the Kellogg FoundationŐs director of higher education programming. "And it can improve the performance of students who are already attending Hispanic-serving institutions."