AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

NMSU has recognized more than 400 alumni as standouts in their community, service work, university, and career fields.
Distinguished Alumni James F. Cole Memorial Award for Service Young Alumni Service Award
DAA Awards 2024

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS

Since 1956, the NMSU Alumni Association has presented accomplished alumni with the Association’s highest honor — the Distinguished Alumni Award. The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes living NMSU alumni who have achieved national or international distinction by their accomplishments and leadership. They have performed impactful, meritorious service that, in deeds and action, reflects and recognizes the importance of his or her education at NMSU, exhibits pride in their alma mater, and demonstrates integrity and stature.

This year’s awards ceremony will be held In Las Cruces on Friday, November 8 during homecoming weekend. Click here for tickets to the Distinguished Alumni Awards celebration dinner.

Purchase Tickets Past DA Honorees

2023 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS WINNERS

Dr. Jeanne Gleason

Dr. Jeanne Gleason. BA BS ’74, MS ‘77

College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences

Dr. Gustav “Gus” Seligmann Jr.

Dr. Gustav “Gus” Seligmann Jr. BA ’57, MA ‘58

College of Arts and Sciences

Charlie Rogers

Charlie “Charlie” Rogers ‘63

College of Business

John Yates Jr.

John Yates Jr. ‘77

College of Engineering

Travis C. Leyva

Dr. Christopher Kazanjian ‘12

College of Health, Education and Social Transformation

Dr. Heather Whitley

Dr. Heather Whitley ‘02

College of Arts and Sciences

JAMES F. COLE MEMORIAL AWARD FOR SERVICE

Since 1966, the New Mexico State University Alumni Association has honored numerous alumni with the James F. Cole Memorial Award for Service. This award instills the tradition of excellence NMSU has upheld throughout the years, and each recipient (one per year) is selected based on support to NMSU, involvement with NMSU, civic and humanitarian service and professional success.

2023 James F. Cole Memorial Award for Service Honoree

Barbara Hubbard

Barbara Hubbard, ’70, honorary doctorate ‘07

About the James F. Cole Memorial Award for Service

Since 1966, the New Mexico State University Alumni Association has honored alumni with the James F. Cole Memorial Award for Service.

The award is given annually to someone who has demonstrated outstanding support to NMSU through civic, humanitarian or professional support for NMSU. The award instills the tradition of excellence NMSU has upheld throughout the years.

“It’s a shining star. It is a once-a-year award that’s given by the NMSU Foundation for extreme service to New Mexico State University,” James Libbin said, former Dean for the College of ACES.

Who was James F. Cole?

Bill Cantrell, '67, was especially proud to receive the James F. Cole Memorial Award for Service at because he studied under Cole.

"James Cole was a cotton farmer who taught Agricultural Economics 100. He also assisted President Corbett," Cantrell recalled. Cantrell came to NMSU at age 30 in 1964, and Cole was one of his professors his first semester. "I remember that he was so supportive of this person who was coming back to school and was as old as some of the professors. The first test of the semester was in his class, and I made the best grade. He stopped class to congratulate me on how well I'd done." Cole was always interested in what his students were doing and his door was always open, Cantrell said. As a student, Cantrell also was impressed that Cole was a "real-live producer teaching about agricultural economics. Today I appreciate that more than I did then." -- Lena Parsons

Past JFC Honorees
Lea Wise-Surguy

Lea Wise-Surguy, ‘15

YOUNG ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD

Started in 2019, the Young Alumni Service Award recognizes living New Mexico State University alumni under the age of 40 who have made great strides in shaping their community’s future and have brought distinction to New Mexico State University.

2023 Young Alumni Service Award Honoree - Lea Wise-Surguy

The Young Alumni Service Award recognizes living New Mexico State University alumni under the age of 40 who have made great strides in shaping their community’s future and have brought distinction to New Mexico State University.

Past YASA Honorees

Past Honorees Archive

Past DA Honorees Past JFC Honorees Past YASA Honorees