Author Archives: Abe Villarreal

The iconic cars of the mid 20th century beloved by the Hispanic-American community will be featured in an upcoming New Mexico History Museum photo exhibition at Western New Mexico University. An opening reception will take place Thursday, September 7 at 4:30 p.m. in the Frances McCray Gallery of Contemporary Art. The exhibit, funded in part by the New Mexico History Museum, will feature photos chronicling the beauty of the classic cars for several decades. The images will showcase New Mexicans who have customized, detailed, painted, and upholstered symbols of Hispanic culture, creating mobile works of art. Focusing on lowriders, a term used for cars whose suspension has been lowered to inches from the ground, the Spanish translation is bajito or suavecito, meaning low and slow. Lowriders have become expressions of faith, to honor the dead and bring families together for generations. The art opening will be followed by a Lowriders, Hoppers and Hot Rods competition...

Western New Mexico University alumni will be teeing up for the sixth consecutive golf tournament, hoping to raise thousands of dollars for student scholarships. The sixth annual Alumni Scholarship Golf Tournament will take place on Saturday, October 14. More than 80 golfers participated in 2016 and more than $87,000 has been raised in the previous five events. Monies raised benefit student scholarships, assisting students with campus jobs, and the general scholarship fund. Interested golfers can register for $125 individually or as a foursome at $400. Fees include greens, tee prize, golf car, range balls, refreshments, complimentary breakfast, and attendance to the awards luncheon hosted by Kevin McGrath’s Burger Time. Area businesses can support the event through a tee-sign sponsorship ranging from $60 to $75, in kind donations or raffle items. Shotgun start time is 8:30 a.m. at the University Course at Scott Park. To register for the event, or to sponsor a tee sign,...

The Early Childhood Education Program at Western New Mexico University, already accredited in offering associate and bachelor degrees by the Higher Learning Commission, has earned an additional recognition from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). “This associate degree program offered by WNMU is the first in the state to earn this special recognition,” said Shannon Rivera, Early Childhood Programs Executive Director. “This accreditation is an added step to say that we are going above and beyond what we are required in delivering quality classroom education.” Nationally recognized for its quality on-site classroom learning laboratory, the Early Childhood Programs offers degrees at the certificate, associate and bachelor levels. “We are offering our students a program that will better prepare them for the workforce,” said Rivera. The standards of accreditation requirements ensure that WNMU offers high quality faculty that are...

Students attending Dine College will soon benefit from an agreement singed with Western New Mexico University, offering a seamless transition for candidates in the special education degree program. The new partnership will give Dine College students admission to WNMU after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. The students will then earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree with a concentration in Special Education by attending WNMU fully online. The Office of Navajo Nation Scholarship and Financial Assistance includes a stipulation in the agreement for financial aid recipients in the program to teach in Navajo schools for each year financial aid was received. Leaders of both higher education institutions applauded the agreement that creates more opportunities for Native American students to earn master degrees and teach for the communities in which they reside. “Education is a key component to economic development,” said Dr. Joseph Shepard, WNMU...

For the seventh consecutive year Western New Mexico University will team up with the Historic Downtown Silver City businesses to host the Welcome Back Bash on Friday, August 11. Offering socialization for both new and returning students, the event signifies the exciting arrival of the fall semester with music, games and dancing in historic downtown Silver City. WNMU President Joseph Shepard will deliver a State of the University Address at 5:30 p.m. inside Syzygy Tile; located at 106 N. Bullard Street. After updating the community with an account of current and future happenings, the downtown party will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Syzygy Tile parking lot with live music by the Brandon Perrault Band. The event will include family games and information booths by local organizations. Community groups and small businesses can register to have free booth space by contacting 575.538.6336 or news@wnmu.edu. The Welcome Back Bash is sponsored by WNMU in partnership with...

Mariachi Plata struck all the right notes at a recent competition in Albuquerque, where the Western New Mexico University musical ensemble took home two top awards. Mariachi Plate earned first place in the university category and second place overall at Mariachi Spectacular, an annual summer conference for mariachi ensembles throughout the region. The WNMU group returned to the event, having initially taken second place in 2016. “Our group has really progressed over the last two years,” said Bryant Chaffino, Mariachi Plata musical director. “I’m proud to say that Mariachi Plata has become a positive source of pride for Western.” The two-day conference and competition provided the student musicians with access to knowledge from renowned artists and composers. At least 14 ensembles performed in the contest. The community-at-large can support Mariachi Plata’s ongoing efforts by donating to the University Foundation. For more information, contact...

After a year of establishing relations and forming agreements with several Mexican universities, the exchange of faculty and students between institutions is taking place by Western New Mexico University. More than a dozen Mexican students who attend the Universidad de Occidente in different Mexican states are enrolled in a week of intensive English courses on the WNMU campus in Silver City. WNMU has become a desired place for students throughout Mexico who are looking for an international experience that feels close to home. “The Silver City community has been so welcoming to our Mexican students,” said Manual Rodriguez, WNMU Language Institute Director. “Some students return, and many new students choose us for their English language studies because of the positive word of the mouth.” Earlier this summer, Adrian Barbosa, 29, of the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL), spent a week at the WNMU campus, a result of an exchange agreement between the two...

Cornali Field, owned by Western New Mexico University, has been a popular recreational area for community members, and their favorite canine companions for several years. Now, area residents are coming together to raise funds for the park. Julie Cason is a Silver City resident who has been visiting the park with her young, 12-pound dog. She is hoping that soon a new fence is erected, helping separate the larger from the smaller dogs who visit Cornali Field. Cason is spearheading a fundraising effort, with a goal to collect $1500 for the project. “This project is important to the community in terms of Silver's dog park being on the same level of most dog parks in other cities,” said Cason, owner of Silver City RV Park. “Being in the hospitality business I often get questions and feedback from visitors to our city. Folks don't feel comfortable taking their small dogs to the dog park with the current situation, and many campers we see have small dogs.” Located one block...