Eight students were awarded scholarships through the CNM Foundation for their dedication to receiving an education. The students each received a $500 scholarship from Wells Fargo at the CNM Foundation Donor Appreciation Dinner on Nov. 7.

• Evelyn Howe is a work study in the Job Connection Center and was nominated by Annette Chavez y de la Cruz. Howe plans to graduate in May 2010 with an associate’s degree in nursing. Evenly has attended six consecutive terms taking at least five classes a term, working 20 hours a week and maintaining a 3.5 GPA. Evenly’s parents immigrated to the United States when she was eight years old. She had a difficult time adjusting to the language, but now as an adult she has made it her priority to become a nurse and help other Hispanics with the language barrier they might face.

• Aaron Skiles was nominated by Kat Flies. Kat says he is “the kind of student whom every instructor would like to copy…multiple times.” Aaron commutes from Cuba. His goal is to become a healthcare professional and treat rural New Mexicans in his area. 

• Anthony Guevara was nominated by Sharon Gordon and is a student employee in Center for Community Partnerships and Programs. He has faced homelessness for years.  He came to CNM in March of this year and earned his GED in June.  He and his brother combined his Rust Fund award with his brother’s money to get into an apartment. Anthony wants to be a fireman and is working toward the Fire Science Degree. 

• Vanessa Allen Anaya was nominated by Nathalie Dominique and is a student employee in Financial Aid. She is a young mother with two boys ages 4 and 2.  She had her first child at 15, graduated from New Futures and will soon graduate from CNM. She is already set to start at the University of  New Mexico in the spring. After she found out she was pregnant, Vanessa says she grew up in 9 months. She hates that they have to be in daycare, but knows her education will provide a better future for them. In the future she wants to work with at-risk-teens. 

• Sam Lockwood was nominated by Tricia Miller. He is studying electrical trades. He is both a CNM and an Eldorado High School student. He is on track to receive his associate’s degree in April and his high school diploma in May.  He made the nationals in SkillsUSA where he competed in residential wiring. 

• Dominic Montoya was nominated by Lyn Pierre. Dominic survived a serious accident a year ago that took the life of a friend. He has used art, art history and other courses in the School of Communication, Humanities and Social Sciences as part of his rehabilitation. He writes poetry and is an apprentice to an artist at the Hispano Cultural Center. 

• Clifford Lucero was nominated by Ann Lynn Hall. He overcame drug and alcohol addiction and homelessness to become a successful CNM student. He started his first semester at the UNM this fall pursuing Family Studies and Substance Abuse Counseling. He graduated from CNM last summer with a General Studies degree. He has participated in Service Learning, has interned with U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson’s office and received an award from the U.S. Postal Services for his community service. 

• Roberto Chavez hopes to be a paralegal.  He is also deaf and has specific learning needs as result. Roberto does not let this impede his education. He completed all four years of high school receiving a Certificate of Completion from Del Norte High School.  He was not given a diploma because he didn’t have his English Competencies. English is his second language and American Sign Language is his first. Roberto currently commutes to CNM from Belen studying to take the English Competencies to receive his high school diploma.