Community News

Western New Mexico University class of 2025 spring graduates were honored both on campus and virtually with a Friday evening hybrid ceremonySILVER CITY, NM – This spring, 510 students earned degrees or certificates from Western New Mexico University, and the Mustang community celebrated their achievement through a hybrid Commencement ceremony that allowed for the participation of graduates on campus as well as those living and attending WNMU at a distance.

In total, 565 degrees and certificates were awarded, with some of the 510 graduates earning more than one degree or certificate.

Of the 2025 spring and summer graduates, 431 chose to participate in the Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 9, with 398 walking across the stage at Ben Altamirano Field and 33 participating virtually. 

Silver City, NM — As Executive Director of the Gila Community Foundation, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who made Give Grandly 2025 a success so far—our sponsors, donors, volunteers, and the 67 local nonprofits that work tirelessly to uplift Southwest New Mexico.

Thanks to your generosity, we’ve raised over $178,000 from 1000 donors and counting. This level of community participation shows how deeply people care about the wellbeing and resilience of our region. I especially want to thank our incredible matching fund sponsors—Janey and Suzi, Southwest New Mexico United Way, SunZia/Pattern Energy, Gila Community Foundation, First American Bank, Edward Jones, Century21, the McKinney Family, Grant County Title Company, and 1st New Mexico Bank—for helping us secure $33,000 in matching gifts.

The 74th National Day of Prayer took place at noon in Gough Park on Thursday, May 1, 2025.

Welcome by Susan Bryant,
Grant County Coordinator

The Lord’s Prayer was led by Pastor Tim Heyer of Cross Point Church

Pledge of Allegiance led by Ronald Ogelsby, Commandant Marine Corps League Detachment 1328

Music minister’s lifting us up in prayer and songs of praise:
Faye Severe and Barry Agnew led us in worship with the following:

“God Bless America”
“How Great Thou Art”
“Holy Forever”
“We Your People”

Prayed by All Who Are Gathered.

The PDF below gives details on flights and READ ID., which became required on May 9, 2025

View this email in your browser

¡FIESTA LATINA!
JUNE 5-8
REGENTS SQUARE ON THE WNMU CAMPUS

Fiesta Latina relies on sponsorships from the community to support artisans' food, travel and lodging while they are on the WNMU campus. This year we have confirmation of 35 artisans and assistants, and costs associated with each artisan are approximately $400 per person. Your sponsorship will ensure we can continue to offer this beloved event to the community free of charge.

Please consider becoming an Artisan sponsor today!

If you are interested in an event sponsorship, we are happy to customize to your business needs. Call us at 575-538-6469.

See sponsorship benefits below. 

WNMU student Arnav Arkanath has been balancing university-level golf with high academic achievement. Arkanath graduates this month with degrees in Business Management and MarketingSILVER CITY, NM—Business Management and Marketing double major Arnav Arkanath had a lot of adjustment ahead of him when he made the decision to leave his hometown of Milton Keynes, England to come to Western New Mexico University.

Arkanath, who is set to graduate in May, was recruited to WNMU by former Men's Golf Coach Kent Beatty. "When I first got here it was very strange," he said. "It is quite a small town, and the scenery is really different from the U.K. In the U.K., there are houses built everywhere, and everything is really packed close together, whereas here you have thousands of miles of open space."

In addition to experiencing an unfamiliar landscape, Arkanath was also living away from his family for the first time. "Especially the first few months, I was adjusting," he explained. "I had never lived away from home before and it was a bit of a shock, but the guys on the team have been awesome. They helped me settle in, and I have stayed for four years and really enjoyed it."

Arkanath said he has grown in the past four years, especially in the area of time management. When he started college, time management was a challenge, he said. "We only have so much time, and we have got practice and travelling for tournaments," he explained. "If you don't stay on top of your assignments, you can fall behind quite easily."

Members of Preceptor Tau Chapter celebrated their annual Founder's Day on April 30. In addition to the traditional program, special rituals were bestowed on two members. Debbie Gerleve received the Preceptor Laureate Ritual and Leticia Obar received the Silver Circle Ritual. Marylee Bell was awarded Program of the Year, and the theme for the upcoming chapter year was announced.

Silver City, NM – In a bold step toward confronting the growing crisis of human trafficking, Silver Regional Sexual Assault Support Services (SRSASS & CAC), a trusted non-profit rape crisis center founded in 2011, successfully launched its first-ever Human Trafficking Conference this week, drawing more than 100 participants to a united front of education, prevention, and collaboration

Held from April 22nd to 24th at the Grant County Business and Conference Center, the three-day event brought together a powerful coalition of law enforcement officers, attorneys, healthcare professionals, social workers, behavioral health experts and advocates from across New Mexico and beyond. The conference aimed to strengthen the community’s response to trafficking through comprehensive training, shared resources, and critical networking to achieve positive outcomes.