New Mexico State University’s Department of Government hosted a reception on Nov. 2 to celebrate homecoming and unveil new scholarships for students of all levels.
Hosted by Department Head Dr. Neil Harvey, the event had appearances from alumni guest speakers Bob Nosbisch (‘86) and Gerard “Jerry” Nevarez (‘78). In addition to celebrating two new scholarships for government students, the event was an opportunity for alumni, past and present faculty and current students to reflect on their experiences at NMSU and within the department.
“We wanted to thank them and honor them,” Harvey said. “We invited them to speak about the scholarships that they are establishing, and how in doing that they remember their good times, the faculty who were there and the professors who have since retired, but also thank their own families.”
Both men are graduates of the government department and provided reflections on the opportunities that NMSU provided for them. This event has been planned for some time, now using the day to unveil future opportunities for the department.
Nosbisch, who graduated from the university with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications and completed a master’s degree in government in 1993, talked about three experiences through his time at NMSU that helped place him on the path to his current successes.
Since graduating, he has returned to teach at the university, Dona Ana Community College and El Paso Community College. Nosbisch says that he returns to NMSU not only because of what it has done for him, but because of what it does for the larger community.
“The relationships between the faculties and the students, you have a lot of collegiality, you have a lot of working together,” Nosbisch said. “You have a lot of people wanting to see each other succeed.”
It is because of his successes with the Department of Government and the potential he sees for the program that prompted him to begin working with the New Mexico State Foundation. Through the foundation, he plans to create a scholarship fund that would benefit students within the department.
According to Nosbisch, the scholarship would go towards both undergraduate and graduate students who show appropriate need and who have demonstrated high academic achievement. A portion of the money would also benefit the Model United Nations team.
“The Model UN program has been a great shining light not just for the college of arts and sciences, but for the university,” Nosbisch elaborated. “These Model UN students they go to places and come back with awards. They are always coming back with awards.”
Nosbisch is not the only alumni who wishes to give back to the university. In honor of his family, guest speaker Nevarez also expressed his want to form an endowment fund for students, specifically those who will work in the public sector.
“It really provides services to people,” Nevarez expressed. “You cannot go anywhere without touching some federal service, state service or local service. It deals directly with the local people.”
In addition to helping improve the academic community, Nevarez is also working to create the Nevarez Family Papers within the NMSU Library, Archives and Special Collections to preserve the memory of his who first settled in the Mesilla Valley in the 1850s.
The event brought together retired professors and current students, and all were given a chance to take part in the department’s ongoing mission. The event is an example of the larger meaning of homecoming for those who have already passed through the University yet still return.
“It’s home,” Nosbisch said. “You get to go home and see people who you went to school with, and you get to see what their accomplishments were not just career wise, not just professionally, but also who got married and who had children. You get to share in their successes, and you get to learn about how people’s lives have gotten better.”
Further information regarding the scholarships is still pending. The students interested are encouraged to contact Department Head, Dr. Neil Harvey ([email protected]) for more details.
