In conjunction with National TRiO Day, the NMSU campus TRiO programs will make a presentation on the third floor bistro at the Danny Villanueva Club at 9 a.m.
NMSU’s Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Dr. Bernadette Montoya and Provost Dr. Dan Howard will speak at the event on the importance of a college education and how being civic minded is part and parcel with higher education. Representatives of U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich’s offices will be there to congratulate the students on their accomplishments, as well as a field representative for U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce.
This year, TRiO has decided to also recognize one of NMSU’s own who has continued to uphold TRiO’s mission in his everyday life.
James Hall, associate athletics director for student development and academic support at NMSU, began his journey with the TRiO program in 1984 at the University of Iowa.
Hall is being recognized at this year’s presentation for being a positive role model to the youth of the Las Cruces community and embodying the values that TRiO holds.
“It was an opportunity to help underrepresented, underprivileged students go on to a college program from an educational standpoint,” Hall said about his involvement in the program. “TRiO provided an educational component that was going to help students become involved.”
As the associate AD for student development and academic support at NMSU, Hall is responsible for ensuring student athletes perform adequately in the classroom as well as succeeding in components other than their respective sports.
“Some of the most important ideas taken from TRiO were discipline in the educational process, understanding what it will mean later on and the mentors who try to help others understand why focusing on academics is so important, ” Hall said.
Members of TRiO will meet at 9 a.m. on the third floor of the Fulton Center at the Danny Villanueva Victory Club for the presentation and will proceed with the community service project at Aggie Memorial Stadium directly following.