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

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, demonstrates pride in their alma mater and possesses integrity and stature.

This year’s event will be held on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, at Hotel Encanto in Las Cruces. Check back in August for further details. Registration for this event will open in mid-September.

Past DA Honorees

2022 Distinguished Alumni Awards Winners

Dr. Michael Galyean

Dr. Michael Galyean ‘73

College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences

Dr. Kellie Ann Jurado

Dr. Kellie Ann Jurado ‘11

College of Arts and Sciences

Anthony Boor

Anthony Boor ‘89

College of Business

Wencil Mcclenahan

Wencil McClenahan ‘91

College of Engineering

Travis C. Leyva

David Gallegos ‘97

College of Health, Education and Social Transformation

Don T. Foster

Don T. Foster ‘81

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.

2022 James F. Cole Memorial Award for Service Honoree

Dr. Charles L. Johnson

Dr. Charles L. Johnson, ‘61

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

Nominate Now Past JFC Honorees
Megin Nichols

Dr. Bobby Brooke Herrera, ‘12

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.

2022 Young Alumni Service Award Honoree - Dr. Bobby Brooke Herrera

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.

Nominate Now Past YASA Honorees

Past Honorees Archive

Past DA Honorees Past JFC Honorees Past YASA Honorees