Community News

Nominations are open for the Presidential Leadership Award, one of Western New Mexico University's most prestigious awards. This honor is awarded annually to the staff member who best represents remarkable achievement, unwavering dedication and leadership, and a commitment to excellence.

Any employee of WNMU with at least three years of service who works in a regular, benefits-eligible position is eligible for nomination, except faculty and senior leadership.

 American Express and Main Street America

SILVER CITY, NM — On Tuesday, June 25, American Express and Main Street America announced the grant recipients for the Backing Small Businesses Grant Program. Birdwell's Vintage Vibes, located at 602 North Bullard Street in historic downtown Silver City, NM was among the winners.

"We are extremely proud and grateful for the grant we received from Mainstreet America and American Express," said Kelly Edwards and Bryant Foster, owners of Birdwell's Vintage Vibes. To learn more about Birdwell's Vintage Vibes visit their website, www.birdwellsvintagevibes.com, or stop by and see them at 602 North Bullard Street, across from The Hub Plaza.

Diana Ingalls Leyba and Susie Brown of the Youth Mural Program accept a check from the winning team from Adjunct Professor Doug Fletcher's Entrepreneurship II class at WNMU, August 29, 2024. Pictured (L-R) are Brown, Anysi Vazquez Ortiz, Ingalls Leyba, Raul Burgos Ramos and Kevin Perez Marquez. Not Pictured: Genaro Mancinas was also part of the winning teamSILVER CITY, NM—Students in the Western New Mexico University School of Business Entrepreneurship II class created pop-up start-up businesses to begin the fall semester. For this assignment, Adjunct Professor Doug Fletcher's students worked in small groups, and each was provided with $20 in start-up funding. Their task was to come up with a money-making business that could turn a profit in two hours.

Fletcher said that the assignment is a common one in courses on entrepreneurship. "It was started about 20 years ago at Stanford," he explained, "and became hugely popular just because of its craziness."

Silver City, NM – Silver Consolidated Schools has officially submitted a Letter of Intent to the Public School Capital Outlay Council (PSCOC) seeking funding for a comprehensive rebuild of the Cliff Combined School, located at 622 State Highway 211 in Cliff, New Mexico. The rebuild is essential due to the severe infrastructure deficiencies of the current campus, which was originally constructed in 1936.

The proposed project, estimated at $45,855,464, includes the demolition of several outdated and unsafe buildings, which have long exceeded their expected lifespans. "Cliff Schools are a vital part of our community, and it's essential that we provide our students with a safe and effective learning environment," said William D. Hawkins, Superintendent of Silver Consolidated Schools. "The current facilities are no longer adequate, and this project will ensure that Cliff Schools can continue to serve our students well into the future."

IME Becas Scholarship recipients gathered with representatives from the Mexican Consulate and WNMU leadership, August 23, 2024SILVER CITY, NM – Officials from the Mexican Consulate in El Paso visited Western New Mexico University on Friday, August 23, 2024, to celebrate a new agreement between the two parties to provide scholarship funding for WNMU students who are either from Mexico or are Mexican American.

The new IME Becas Scholarships are jointly funded by the WNMU Foundation and the government of Mexico. The WNMU funding comes from donors, while the funding from Mexico comes from the Institute for Mexicans Abroad, which is part of the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Institute for Mexicans Abroad has as its mission "to improve access to educational opportunities in all levels for Mexicans and persons of Mexican origin living in the United States of America," according to the agreement between the consulate and WNMU.

Off Broadway theatre director Krysta Hibbard to direct Eleemosynary .

Silver City, New Mexico —August 12, 2024 — Silver City Community Theatre in collaboration with Starlight Theatre is thrilled to announce the upcoming production of "Eleemosynary" by Lee Blessing, a richly-themed theatrical experience that promises to captivate audiences with its celebration of women's stories across three generations. This compelling production is set to take the stage at Starlight Theatre from October 31, 2024 to November 14, 2024.

WNMU continues to earn accolades for its student-athletes academic success.

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 Photos by Mary Alice Murphy

On Sunday afternoon, Aug. 25, 2024, a reception took place at the Grant County Veterans Memorial Business and Conference Center to celebrate the 16th anniversary of two Grant County Catholic priests. Father Ephraim Ezulike serves as pastor to the St. Francis Newman Center Parish in Silver City, and Father Casmir Anozie serves as pastor for the Infant Jesus Shrine in Hurley. 

Also joining them was their mentor, Father Alphonsus Ezeoke, director at the seminary in Nigeria, where both entered the seminary on the same day and graduated from the seminary together 16 years ago.