NMSU Foundation honored for fueling Latino innovation

Dove Hall at New Mexico State University houses NMSU Foundation.

Courtesy NMSU

Posted Thursday, October 2, 2025 12:10 pm

Remaining NMSU Hispanic Heritage Month events:

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The NMSU events aim to honor Latin people and their culture and contributions to the nation’s history. Many are collaborations between NMSU’s Latin American Programs, Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity, and other on-campus organizations.

Daniel Alvarenga, a queer Salvadoran journalist, will present “El Salvador’s Authoritarian Turn: A Harbinger for the Hemisphere” from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, on Zoom. Email lap@nmsu.edu for the link. Alvarenga will discuss rising fascism in El Salvador and his mission to change how mainstream media outlets cover Central America.

Fans of video games and lotería are invited to join the first-ever “Cultural Game Night” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, in NMSU’s Esports Lab at Corbett Center Student Union.

Cassandro El Exotico, born Saul Armendariz, will visit NMSU’s Las Cruces campus Wednesday, Oct. 15, for an event co-sponsored by NMSU’s LGBT+ Programs. Cassandro is a renowned Mexican professional wrestler known for breaking barriers in the world of Lucha Libre for nearly 40 years. Cassandro will discuss his life and career from noon to 1 p.m. in the Corbett Center Student Union parking lot. The Luchador food truck will also be on site, providing free food.

The New Mexico State University Foundation has been named a 2025 Angeles Higher Education Impact Award honoree by Angeles Investors, a national investment group dedicated to harnessing Latino-driven growth to find, fund and fuel high-potential ventures across the United States. This prestigious award recognizes higher education institutions that are making meaningful impact through visionary leadership, innovative programs and dedicated support of entrepreneurs and changemakers.

“We are honored to be recognized by Angeles Investors for our investment performance and disciplined stewardship in support of New Mexico State University, our students and the generous donors who make our work possible,” said Sylvia Y. Acosta, CEO of the NMSU Foundation.

The award will be presented to the NMSU Foundation at the Angeles 3rd Quarter Summit and Awards Event Aug. 22 at Wintrust Grand Banking Hall in Chicago. In addition to the awards ceremony, the day will feature startup case studies, panel discussions and networking opportunities with industry leaders, investors and innovators.

“Our mission at the NMSU Foundation is to support student success, academic innovation and new opportunities through raising philanthropic resources and growing them for a sustainable source of support,” said Louis A. Vega, NMSU Alumni ’91, chair of the NMSU Foundation Board. “The Higher Education Impact Award recognizes the vision and dedication of those who believe in NMSU’s ability to positively shape students’ futures and our Foundation Board’s dedication to ensuring a strong governance model for the most effective investment of those funds.”

This year’s honorees exemplify the vital role Hispanic-serving institutions play in empowering Latino entrepreneurs and strengthening the startup ecosystem through visionary leadership, impactful programs and strategic endowment growth.

“New Mexico State University’s economic development impact draws on its entire system —main campus, community colleges, research and Extension stations, and its alumni network. The NMSU Foundation’s support of entrepreneurs and changemakers fuels an innovation ecosystem for New Mexico and beyond,” said Luis Cifuentes, vice president for NMSU’s Research, Creativity and Economic Development.

More than 20 colleges and universities — representing Hispanic-serving institutions and Hispanic-emerging institutions — received awards for their role as accredited, degree-granting institutions with at least 25 percent full-time equivalent undergraduate Hispanic student enrollment, according to the U.S. Department of Education. HSIs play a crucial role in providing educational opportunity and culturally responsive support for Hispanic students across the country.

“Every award recipient reflects the very best in higher education, driving impact through leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Guillermo Diaz, Jr., chair of the Angeles Higher Education Impact Awards. “New Mexico State University stood out for its exceptional role as a Hispanic-serving Institution and its strategic investment approach through the NMSU Foundation.”

From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the heritage, history, traditions, and cultural diversity of Hispanic Americans whose heritage is rooted in Spain and 19 countries and territories: Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. This heritage month is celebrated to highlight the independence of several countries. Sept. 15 is the day that five Latin American countries celebrate their independence from Spain: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras. Mexico celebrates its independence on Sept. 16 and Chile on Sept. 18. Also, Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day, or Día de la Raza, in mid-October, falls within this 30-day period. The national observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period.

NMSU Foundation honored for fueling Latino innovation

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