Eastern New Mexico University Announces 2023 Homecoming Honorees

Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
Published: 11 October 2023 11 October 2023

Portales, NM – Oct 11, 2023 – Eastern New Mexico University will recognize their 2023 Homecoming Honorees at the annual ENMU Foundation Breakfast on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 8 a.m. at the Campus Union Ballroom. The annual banquet will present awards from the ENMU Alumni Association, ENMU Foundation, ENMU Educators Hall of Honor, and the ENMU Athletics Hall of Honor.

“This is an excellent opportunity to thank those who support ENMU with their time and also to treasure and celebrate those who have achieved so much,” said James Johnston, ENMU Chancellor.  These individuals represent such an impressive range of contributions and achievements. On behalf of ENMU, we say congratulations and thank you.”

The 2023 ENMU Foundation Honorees include the Business of Year awarded to the Xcel Energy Foundation, Philanthropist of the Year awarded to Dr. Sandra Williamson, and Volunteer of the Year awarded to the ENMU College of Business.

The Xcel Energy Foundation will be awarded 2023 Business of the Year, contributing over $108,000 to various ENMU programs. The nonprofit foundation’s most consistent support is the $5,000 annual grant for the ENMU Alliance for Minority Participation (AMP) Program since 2002, awarding over $82,000 to STEM-based minority students enrolled at Eastern New Mexico University.

Dr. Sandra Williamson (MS ED 69, BS 64) graduated from ENMU with her bachelor’s degree in 1964 and received her master’s in education from ENMU in 1969. She will be awarded the 2023 Philanthropist of the Year. In 2015, Dr. Williamson established the Dr. Sandra C. Williamson Endowed Scholarship in Physical Education. She has contributed over $58,000 to her scholarship, which has helped to fund 12 female ENMU students to continue their higher education.

The ENMU College of Business will be awarded the 2023 Volunteers of the Year.  The ENMU College of Business exceeded traditional expectations for the past seventeen years by providing free tax services to many Roosevelt County citizens, including senior citizens, after partnering with the local AARP branch. The College of Business team of faculty and students offers their expertise to prepare between 145 and 257 tax returns annually.

The 2023 ENMU Alumni Association Honorees include the Outstanding Alumnus Awards, awarded to Dr. Michael W. Moffitt and Jim Thrash.

Dr. Michael W. Moffitt (BS 68) Graduated from Eastern in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology. He and his wife, Reba, founded a dental practice where he built an extensive referral business renowned for its exceptional cosmetic and implant restorative work. Dr. Moffitt reached the milestone of working in dentistry for over 50 years in 2022. In addition to taking pride in his local community, Moffitt routinely supports ENMU by attending the summer alumni golf tournament.

Jim Thrash (BS 69) graduated from Eastern in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. Thrash went on to coach at the high school and college level and later became an NBA talent scout for the Golden State Warriors and Charlotte Hornets. He has used his resources to help provide college scholarships to those who would not otherwise have been able to afford education.

The ENMU Educators Hall of Honor will welcome Pam Richards as their newest member. Richards (BS 76) graduated from ENMU in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. She went on to a successful 34-year teaching career in Lovington and Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Always an advocate for students, Pam created the highly successful student leadership program “Youth to Youth” while in Fort Sumner.

The 2023 Eastern New Mexico University Athletics Hall of Honors class will welcome six new members, including Dana Altman, Kamal Cass, Kristen Cruickshank, Albert Flinn, Mike Howard, and Cecil Jackson. This class features members who are long-time successful basketball and rodeo coaches, one of the greatest running backs in ENMU history, an All-American and All-Conference Linebacker, one of the great power hitters/pitchers in Softball history, and a former football coach who led some of the most successful offenses in Greyhound History, for more information on the Eastern New Mexico University Athletics Hall of Honors class visit www.GoEasternAthletics.com .

For more information on the Alumni and Foundation honorees being recognized at the ENMU Foundation Award Breakfast on Saturday, Oct 21, please visit www.enmu.edu/Homecoming .



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