Community News

Florida A&M University Goes Wire-to-Wire to Win DI Title at 39th PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship

Western New Mexico University Wins First PWCC Division II Men's Title;
Nashawn Tyson Wins Men's Individual

WNMU information  BOLDED below.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL (May 6, 2026) – Florida A&M University, led by sensational sophomore Sascha Robinson, won the Men's Division I title Wednesday in the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship presented by Chase and Kohler Co.

Robinson fired a 6-under 65 at The Park to boost the Rattlers to a 12-shot victory over North Carolina A&T State University. FAMU won in wire-to-wire fashion.

SILVER CITY, NEW MEXICO:  The Jacob Bennett Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in Silver City is pleased to announce that Brennan Dale Shock (photo attached) has been selected to receive our Chapter's Good Citizen Scholarship Award.  He is a Senior at Cliff High School and is the son of Chelsea and Brian Shock. 

Other finalists for this award were Alexis Marie Carrillo, a senior at Cobre High School and daughter of Bonnie and Hector Diaz Carrillo; and Ivy Marie Stephens-Etheridge, a senior at Aldo Leopold Charter School and daughter of Nancy Stephens and Brian Etheridge.

The DAR Good Citizen Scholarship Award is intended to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship.  The program is open to all senior class students enrolled in accredited public or private secondary schools that are in good standing with their State boards of education.  Recipients of the Jacob Bennett Chapter scholarship become a candidate to compete for the State DAR Good Citizen Scholarship Award.

From left to right, Carlos Carranza, Keana Huerta, and Nayelli Mancilla, the WNMU Student Hall of Fame 2025-2026 inducteesSILVER CITY, NM —Three Western New Mexico University students were recently inducted into the 2025-2026 Student Hall of Fame. This year's honorees—Keana Huerta, Carlos Carranza, and Nayeli Mancilla—stand out for their academic excellence, leadership, and service in the Mustang community. Their selection reflects their hard work, resilience, and dedication to WNMU and their peers.

The Grant County Pacific War P.O.W. Remembrance Scholarship is taking applications for the fall awards in 2026.

There are 3 scholarship level awards. First Place is $2,000. Second Place is $1,000. Third Place is $500. This is a competitive scholarship. The award can be used for tuition, fees, housing, meals, books and supplies, and transportation costs.

 News from the Fire Adapted New Mexico Learning Network

Excerpts:

Wildfire Wednesday #185: Preparing for Wildfire Smoke with Clean Air Solutions

Learning to live with fire also means learning to live with smoke. Communities are often evacuated when flames directly threaten homes and personal safety. However, communities that are not evacuated but remain near active fires can experience significant smoke impacts and poor air quality.

LORDSBURG – Hidalgo County Magistrate Court Manager Connie Newell is retiring after 26 years of public service in the Judiciary.

Newell has served as court manager since November 2010, and began working for the Hidalgo County Magistrate Court in 2000 as a court clerk-judicial specialist. Her retirement is effective May 1.

Newell said she was excited about retirement and considered it "time to enjoy family and friends." A daughter will graduate from high school next month and a son is a junior at Lordsburg High School. An eldest daughter is moving to Albuquerque from Texas, and Newell said she looked forward to spending more time with a grandchild and her daughter because they will be living closer to her.

Suzette Wilson graduates in May with a master's in education and a life that's thrivingSILVER CITY, NM — For many, a college degree is framed as a transactional checklist—a clinical accumulation of courses, credits, and requirements designed to satisfy a professional prerequisite. However, for Suzette Wilson, a Carlsbad resident and online student at Western New Mexico University (WNMU), her degree represents far more than a credential. Her pursuit of a Master of Arts in Education is a profound odyssey defined by perseverance, passion, and an unwavering sense of purpose. 

As Wilson prepares to walk across the commencement stage, this milestone signifies a major personal and professional breakthrough. It marks Wilson's successful transition from a participant in the Vocational Rehabilitation system to a Senior Career Counselor, now professionally dedicated to empowering others to navigate their own complex paths.

Governor Michelle Lujan GrishamSILVER CITY, NM — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will be the keynote speaker at the Western New Mexico University (WNMU) Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 8.

Gov. Lujan Grisham's upcoming visit shines a spotlight on an era of remarkable growth for WNMU, underscoring its proud role as a beacon of higher education and workforce development in Southwest New Mexico. Her participation honors the administration's strong commitment to expanding educational access and celebrating new opportunities for graduates who will contribute to the vibrancy of the Land of Enchantment. The governor's address will celebrate the resilience and accomplishments of the Class of 2026, whose journey reflects both the challenges and triumphs of studying in a dynamic, interconnected world.