Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces alumni spotlight: Emma Christiano

When most Las Cruces locals hear the name Emma Christiano, they associate it with the five-foot-three powerhouse that plays guard for NMSU women’s basketball. However, when you ask the Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces staff, they remember a 5-year-old little girl with pigtails shooting hoops on the blacktop outside.

Emma started attending the Club in 2010. Her mother, Stacie Allen, was looking for a place for Emma and her brother to spend their after school and summer hours that felt safe, provided opportunities for growth, and connected them to a community network outside of their elementary school.

Immediately, Emma thrived in the Club environment. She learned how to play chess and joined the Chess Club. She experienced first-hand how to be of service to her community through the Torch Club program. And through the leadership and public speaking skills she developed, she represented the local Club at the regional level as the Junior Youth of the Year in 2017 and 2018.

While there was an emphasis on character development and growth, Emma was also allowed to just be a kid and have fun.

“Although the programs were great, and I looked forward to being involved in them all, so were the activities the staff put together for us,” she said. “My absolute favorite activity at the Club was walking to Pioneer Park to play capture the flag.”

The Club staff also played an integral part in Emma’s overall experience.

“The staff all touched my heart and were dedicated to supporting me,” Emma said. “I remember them always being there to talk, to teach, and to guide me.”

Emma was a member of the Club for 10 years, until her junior year of high school. Reflecting back on her time, she truly feels like the Club helped to shape the person she is today.

“It taught me leadership, discipline, and the importance of giving back,” she said. “These are lessons that I carry with me both on and off the basketball court.”

For anyone who has witnessed Emma dominate on the Pan American Center court, her grit and leadership are impossible to miss.

Emma is also actively involved in helping the Club plan for the future to expand its reach with a new facility that will triple the number of youth it is able to serve. She attended the April 2026 groundbreaking event as a representative for Club Alumni and, along with local leaders, was one of the designated shovel holders.

As someone who recently attended the Club, she feels the time is now to make a difference for youth.

“This building is non-negotiable and long overdue,” Emma said. “We should never be in a position where we have to turn kids away because we are at capacity. This new facility will give the kids the space they need to grow, be active, to be seen, and—most importantly—to be safe.”

For now, you can see firsthand the impact the Club makes when you observe Emma do what she loves during the upcoming basketball season.

“The Club has never let me down, and I am proof that with their guidance and help, you can absolutely make your dreams happen,” she said.

To learn more about programs offered by the Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces and their current Building Great Futures Capital Campaign, visit www.bgclascruces.org or call (575) 516-1519.