UNM Alumni Legislator Awards
The UNM Alumni Association honors New Mexico legislators with two awards: the Higher Education Distinguished Legislator Award and the Legislative Service Award.
Nomination Information: The nomination deadline is TBA. The awards will be presented at the Alumni Association's "thank you" reception in June.
Available Legislator Awards
The Higher Education Distinguished Legislator Award
Purpose: The Higher Education Distinguished Legislator Award recognizes a New Mexico state legislator who has made an extraordinary and exemplary contribution to higher education at the University of New Mexico during the immediate past legislative session.
Criteria: The recipient of the award must be an elected official currently serving in the New Mexico state legislature who has shown a demonstrated commitment to higher education at the University of New Mexico.
Guidelines:
- Was the legislation results oriented?
- What was the amount of money allocated?
- What is the potential dollar impact (long-term/short-term) of the legislation?
- Was the legislation a high priority of UNM’s?
- Did the final actions of the Governor alter the legislation?
Award: The recipient receives a $500 scholarship in the legislator’s name to be awarded to a student from the legislator’s district. The chosen legislator will be involved in the selection process of the scholarship recipient.
The Higher Education Distinguished Legislator Award is presented at the Alumni Association's "thank you" reception in June.
2011 Recipient:
Representative Rick Miera
Previous Recipients:
Rep. Bryan Egolf (2010)
Rep. Jimmie Hall (2010)
Rep. Larry Larrañaga (2009)
Rep. Ben Lujan (2008)
Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort (2007)
Sen. Shannon Robinson (2007)
Rep. Kiki Saavedra (2006)
Sen. Cisco McSorley (2005)
Sen. Cynthia Nava (2005)
The Legislative Service Award
Purpose: The Legislative Service Award recognizes state legislators who have made a difference to the lives of all New Mexicans, through 20 years of dedicated public service.
Criteria: 20 years of service as an elected official in the State of New Mexico Legislature.
Award: The recipient receives one “UNM brick” for personal display and another to be placed in the Hodgin Hall walkway on the UNM campus.
The Legislative Service Award is presented at the Alumni Association's "thank you" reception in June.
2011 Recipients: Senator John Arthur Smith and Representative Rick Miera
Past Recipients:
Sen. Ben Altamirano (2006)
Sen. Manny Aragon (2006)
Sen. Pete Campos (2010)
Sen. Joe Carraro (2008)
Sen. Carlos Cisneros (2005)
Rep. Max Coll (2006)
Sen. Joseph Fidel (2006)
Sen. Mary Jane Garcia (2008)
Sen. Stuart Ingle (2006)
Sen. Timothy Jennings (2006)
Rep. Ben Lujan (2006)
Rep. Fred Luna (2006)
Rep. James Roger Madalena (2006)
Sen. Roman Maes (2006)
Sen. Cisco McSorley (2006)
Rep. Rick Miera (2010)
Rep. Danice Picraux (2010)
Sen. John Pinto (2006)
Sen. Leonard Lee Rawson (2006)
Sen. Shannon Robinson (2008)
Rep. Henry “Kiki” Saavedra (2006)
Rep. Nick Salazar (2006)
Rep. Edward Sandoval (2006)
Rep. Daniel Silva (2007)
Sen. John Arthur Smith (2008)
Rep. Joe Stell (2006)
Rep. J. Paul Taylor (2004)
Rep. Luciano “Lucky” Varela (2007)
Rep. Jeannette Wallace (2010)
Distinguished Service Award for 2011
Representative Rick Miera has been serving the citizens of the State of New Mexico as a Representative of Bernalillo County, District 11, since 1991. He currently serves as the Chairman of the House Education Committee, and Chair of the Legislative Education Study Committee during the interim.
Representative Miera has been a tireless advocate for the University of New Mexico during his time in the New Mexico House of Representatives; he has been a sponsor for UNM of over nineteen pieces of legislation and a strong contributor for capital projects. In the 2011 legislative session Representative Miera sponsored legislation for the UNM students. HB 394, Bingo and Raffle Act Organization Definitions, which was signed by the Governor, amends the Bingo and Raffle Act by allowing recognized student organizations to hold raffles thus ensuring that student groups could properly fundraise without violating any laws. This specific piece of legislation will be beneficial to the 400 plus UNM student organizations and to all recognized student organizations statewide. Representation Miera also showed his support for KNME by sponsoring a proclamation recognizing March 1st as “Public Television Day in New Mexico.”
Representative Miera continues to show support for the University of New Mexico not only through his actions during the session, but throughout the entire year. He attended the Open Forum sponsored by UNM faculty, students and parents and spoke truthfully about the difficult decisions the State would be facing in the upcoming session.
Twenty-Year Service Awards for 2011
Senator John Arthur Smith: Senator, District 35 representing Hidalgo, Luna and Sierra counties. Served in the Senate from 1989-2012.
Representative Rick Miera: District 11, representing Bernallilo County. Served in the House from 1991-2012.
