Press Releases

For The Mustang student newspaper, 18-year-old Western New Mexico University freshman Bridgette McGallicher penned an article about the recent service-learning trip a few students took with Student Life organization Mustang Cares. Read Bridgette's full story here or check out the abbreviated version below. The Western New Mexico University Department of Student Life recently teamed up with an organization called Rancho Feliz to help families across the border in Aqua Prieta, Mexico. There, the team experienced three days full of excitement. While building houses for needy families, they mixed cement by hand for foundations and raised walls. They also visited a drug rehab center and helped the community by cleaning an abandoned Jewish cemetery that was filled with trash. When asked about the trip, Jayden Jones says, "I learned to be grateful for what you have, even if it's nothing." Gloria Umutoni, another student on the trip, explained that she wanted to go just to...

For the 36th year in a row, Western New Mexico University students are offering tax help to seniors and low-income families here in one of New Mexico's most rural and underserved areas. This free service, called the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program and supported by Tax Help NM, is for people whose household income is $54,000 or less and for those who are 65 years or older. The Tax Help NM volunteers - Western New Mexico University business and accounting students by day - are certified by the IRS and are trained to help taxpayers identify tax credits. "The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program benefits our students and community," said Dr. Laurie Barfitt, the Western New Mexico University faculty member who sponsors this program. "Students can walk out of here with their degrees saying that they've done 50 to 100 tax returns already. The community benefits because they don't have to pay for this service as long as they meet the requirements." Local certified public...

Nearly 40 Western New Mexico University students and public citizens attended Congressman Steve Pearce's educational talk about business in New Mexico on campus Monday. The members of Delta Mu Delta, the international business honor society, hosted the event and asked Pearce to speak from a business owner's perspective since he and his wife owned and operated an oilfield services firm in Hobbs. "The idea was for students to listen to a professional and learn from his experiences so they can use his knowledge in their own futures," said President of Delta Mu Delta Vladimir Gnilozubov. "For students, it was nice to hear from him." Pearce, who is in his sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, spent time getting to know the audience - Western New Mexico University students from Mexico and Hawaii, local business owners, and interested citizens - and took a few questions. He said he started his first business at age nine. "Early on, I found revenue and expenses need to...

Reporter Anna Daggett wrote about WNMU's Adult Education Services recent awards and new partnerships for The Mustang. Read an abbreviated version of Daggett's full article below. On Monday, Jan. 26, three individuals visited the Roundhouse in Santa Fe to receive the New Mexico Adult Education Association's Outstanding Student of the Year Award from New Mexico Higher Education Secretary Barbara Damron. Of these three individuals, two have decided to continue pursuing their educations at Western New Mexico University, according to WNMU's Adult Education Services Director Debbie Maldonado. WNMU's Adult Education Services also experienced some changes and growth at the end of 2017. The program entered into a new partnership with the Rainbow Housing organization. This national organization offers life assistance to those living in two different housing areas of Silver City and provides educational opportunities to low-income families in Grant County. Other services offered...

Multidisciplinary artist Angela Ellsworth will speak and have her work on display at Western New Mexico University on Feb. 8, 2018. Members of the public are invited to enjoy the free lecture, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in Parotti Hall, and then view the "Between Them" exhibit in McCray Gallery, which opens at 7:30 p.m. Ellsworth navigates the disciplines of drawing, sculpture, installation, video and performance, exploring subjects like illness, physical fitness, endurance, religious tradition and social ritual. Her interest is in merging art with daily life. "I saw Angela's 'Seer Bonnets-a Continuing Offense' exhibit at the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe and was struck by her fearless interpretation of controversial social topics," organizer Faye McCalmont said. "She explores women's lives throughout history in amazingly creative and provocative ways. I wanted to bring the 'Bonnets' exhibit to the McCray Gallery, but it turns out that each one is extremely heavy and...

As part of Western New Mexico University's celebration of Black History Month, the Black History 101 Mobile Museum will be on campus. Black History 101 Mobile Museum Founder Khalid el-Hakim will bring 150 original artifacts representing slavery, politics, Jim Crow, science, religion, education, music, sports and civil rights. One of Black Enterprise's 100 Men of Distinction for 2017, el-Hakim acquired this archive of memorabilia over 25 years while he traveled the nation, shopping at antique shops, flea markets, estate sales and auctions. The collection includes documents signed by Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. The Black History 101 exhibit and lecture runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 26, in Miller Library. Other Black History Month events at Western New Mexico University include "Tribute to the Little Rock Nine," a presentation by Dr. Carlos Richard of Oregon, and a free screening of "Baltimore Rising,"...

The Western New Mexico University Board of Regents heard from a number of state leaders and unanimously approved Western New Mexico University's Fiscal Year 2017 audit report during their meeting at the New Mexico capitol on Jan. 25, 2018. Chair Jerry A. Walz, Vice Chair Janice Baca-Argabright, Student Regent and Secretary/Treasurer Arlean Murillo and Regent Dr. Dan Salzwedel were in attendance. Dr. Carl Foster was unable to attend. As the board meeting took place while the New Mexico Legislature was in session, regents discussed higher education policy proposals with special guests such as Executive Director of the New Mexico Independent Community Colleges Clayton Abbey, Rep. Rebecca Dow, Sen. Howie Morales and Rep. Candie Sweetser, who is an adjunct professor for Western New Mexico University's Deming branch. New Mexico Lt. Gov. John Sanchez commended Western New Mexico University for its "far reach into the fabric of the state" and expressed his support for Western New...

The Western New Mexico University Foundation is holding a special fundraising drive leading up to the university's 125th anniversary. The 125 Hours of Giving event takes place Monday, Feb. 5, through Friday, Feb. 9, 2018, as Western New Mexico University celebrates Founder's Day on the latter date. The Foundation's goal is to raise $16,000 that week, which means donors need to contribute about $125 per hour over the 125 hours. "One hundred and twenty-five dollars goes a long way at Western New Mexico University. That amount makes the difference between an undergraduate being able to buy his textbook or dropping the class and between an online master's student paying for a semester's worth of Wi-Fi or putting her degree on hold again," Western New Mexico University Foundation Director Jodi Edens-Crocker said. Since 85 percent of Western New Mexico University students draw on financial aid, contributions to the Foundation enable the university to continue providing low-cost...

The following two stories were originally published by The Mustang, Western New Mexico University's student newspaper. Read them below or click on the article titles to see the original pieces. Legislators Meet With Lobbyists on Grant County Day By Eric Lowe Additional reporting by Brenda Acosta The Associated Students of Western New Mexico University were among the many organizations from Grant County to participate in the day-long lobbying session in Santa Fe, NM, on Wednesday. The members of student government planned to present their plans for Virtual Applications for Western New Mexico University students, while the Western New Mexico University Early Childhood Program lobbied for sustain funding for their program. The university also requested funding to Phase III renovations of Harlan Hall, roof replacements, information technology infrastructure and more funding for Mustang Athletics and the Student Success Center. They expressed their hope to maintain their current...

Western New Mexico University will commemorate its 125th anniversary with a Founder's Day celebration on Friday, Feb. 9, 2018, hosting the public for tours, birthday cake and history presentations on campus. Founder's Day will kick off at 11 a.m. in Light Hall Theater. Silver City mayor Ken Ladner and other WNMU dignitaries will speak at the opening ceremonies, which will also include a reading of Western New Mexico University's Founder's Day proclamation and an historic video presentation. Local musicians will give a live performance during the cutting of the cake on Light Hall Patio at noon, and Western New Mexico University's Mariachi Plata will play in Old James Stadium, while the university photographer gets an aerial group photo at 1 p.m. Members of the public are invited to be in the photo, forming the numbers 125 with their bodies for the camera. During the campus tour, which starts at 2 p.m., the public can wander campus and learn some of the stories behind historic...