The Office of the Dean of Students, Student Involvement & Leadership Programs, NMSU Foundation, Associated Students of NMSU, and Integrated Services organized the university’s annual Aggie Remembrance Day Ceremony on May 1 in the Corbett Center Student Union’s ballrooms. They honored the lives of students, faculty, and alumni who passed away during the 2024-2025 academic year.
The event began with an invocation from Pastor Lance Renfrow and a Posting of the Colors by NMSU’s Air Force ROTC. Student singers from NMSU Choirs performed the songs “Wanting Memories” and “Good Night, Dear Heart.” CEO of the NMSU Foundation, Dr. Sylvia Acosta, gave remarks commemorating the Aggies that the community lost.
ASNMSU President Ala Alhalholy spoke at the event and listed the names of Aggie students who passed throughout last year. She said that those alive today should reflect and cherish the memories they shared with those who are now gone.
“While I may not have had the privilege of knowing them personally, I am certain that each student shared similar NMSU experiences that have shaped us all,” Alhalholy said. “From taking a photo with Pistol Pete, to strolling down International Mall, and of course, being in complete awe of our beautiful sunsets that cast golden hues across the sky. I will carry the memory of each student we honor today in my heart.”
Vice-Chair of the Employee Council Sonia White spoke about the NMSU employees who passed away in the past year. White said that through the campus’s unity, the community can overcome the sorrow of loss and celebrate the lives of those employees.
“In times of sorrow, we lean on each other, united by the strength of our shared connection,” White said. “As we reflect this evening, may you find comfort in the stories, laughter, and memories we share. Speak their names, celebrate their accomplishments, express your pride, mourn your loss, and above all, cherish the moments that still bring a smile to your heart. Their light may no longer shine among us, but it will forever glow within us.”
White read the poem “To Honor You.” Written by Connie F. Kiefer in 2005, it is a poem recited at funerals and other honorary events.
Associate Vice President of Student Development & Dean of Students Dr. Ann Coombes Goodman opened and concluded the ceremony that evening. She reminded attendees to continue to hold onto the memories and experiences of their lost friends, families, and significant others.
“Know that you do not experience this loss alone,” Goodman said “We join tonight as an Aggie family to share our love for you and to those who we have lost, We hope that the silence that has entered your life will be replaced by the beautiful sound of our Memorial Bell, bringing to acknowledge the memory of your loved ones. Gone, but most certainly not forgotten. We remember those departed Aggies – the fullness of their lives, their heart in our community, and everything that brought them happiness and purpose.”
