NMSU Alumni Association honors DACC Outstanding Graduates

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A Message from
the President
In this issue, we celebrate Commencement
and the many awards and achievements
earned by our graduates. Nearly 1,100
graduates of credit programs and Adult
Basic Education were eligible to walk the
stage at our recent 2007-8 Commencement,
and it was a wonderful event.
DACC Honorary Degree Recipient Mary A.
Garza, owner of Solar Electric Co., Inc., was
part of the commencement celebration.
Competitors shine at state, honing
skills for national competition
Electronics Technology
winners at the New Mexico
SkillsUSA Award Ceremony
are, from left, Sandra
Sanchez, silver medalist;
Zulema Castaneda, gold
medalist; and Ruben
Rodriguez, bronze medalist.
They are just a few of
DACC’s medal winners at
the competition.
DACC photo by Joe Morales
NMSU
Alumni
Association
honors
DACC
Outstanding
Graduates
Outstanding Graduates for 2008, as named by the NMSU Alumni Association are, left to right, Melissa Nayares,
Business and Information Systems Division; Rhona Holden, Technical and Industrial Studies Division; Kathryn
Cosimati, Health and Public Services Division; Joseph Varner, General Studies Division; and Deryck James, White
Sands Center. NMSU photo by Ermelinda Quintela
We also celebrate our successful bid for
independent accreditation by the Higher
Learning Commission of the North Central
Association of Colleges and Schools.
The Doña Ana Community College Self-
Study, a campus-wide effort, has resulted in
a process and documentation that reaffirms
the college’s mission in serving the diverse
needs of our community.
As president, I gained the support of New
Mexico State University’s administration
to pursue independent accreditation in
this cycle. In November 2004, I charged a
Steering Committee of volunteers, led by
Co-Coordinators Anna Chieffo, campus
academic officer; and Fred Lillibridge,
officer of Institutional Effectiveness and
Planning (OIEP) with conducting an inclusive
self-study to evaluate and determine
the college’s effectiveness in meeting our
mission. English Professor Susan Wood
was the self-study editor and also serves
as DACC’s assessment coordinator. I asked
that the committee emphasize a culture of
evidence and data as they responded to the
Higher Learning Commission’s criteria and
core components.
I thank the DACC Steering Committee, in
addition to everyone else who assisted in
the accreditation process, which led to the
positive outcome.
Dr. Margie Huerta, President
Doña Ana Community College
DACC’s SkillsUSA teams once again did well at the state competition held in Albuquerque in
April, bringing home numerous medals. All first-place SkillsUSA winners at the state competition
are eligible to compete at the National Leadership and Skills Conference Competition in Kansas
City, Mo., in June.
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry, working together to ensure that
America has a skilled workforce. The organization serves more than 280,000 students and
instructors annually, and has 13,000 school chapters in 54 state and territorial associations.
More than 14,500 instructors and administrators are professional members of SkillsUSA.
In Building Construction, with Juan Reyes as adviser, winners are Joe Quintana, first place in
Carpentry, and second place in Job Interview; Frank Holguin, second place in Cabinet Making;
Ruben Amador, first place in Extemporaneous Speaking, and first place in Customer Service;
Richard Mele, first place in the Power Equipment Competition.
In Electronics, with Joe Morales as adviser, winners are Zulema Castaneda, first place in Electronic
Technology; Sandra Sanchez, second place in E.T.; Ruben Rodriguez, third place in E.T.; Victor
Carranza, first place in Electronic Application.
Also, three New Mexico state officers for SkillsUSA were recognized from DACC — Annette
Uzueta, president; Daniel Chester, vice president; and Ruby Rich, secretary.
Welding Technology Technician IV Bobby Brito and Facilities Maintenance Technology
Technician Juan Reyes were recognized as DACC NM SkillsUSA Chapter Program Leaders.
Brito also served as a judge in the leadership competitions at state.
Husband and
wife graduate
together
Husband and wife Edith and Sergio
Ureño crossed the stage together during
the DACC Commencement at the
Pan American Center as they received
the GED (high-school equivalency)
diploma through DACC’s Adult Basic
Education.
HLC accreditation, continued from page 1
In a 1998 visit which was made in preparation
for independent accreditation, an HLC
team named two primary challenges for
DACC — making General Education courses
more available to meet students’ needs, and
offering DACC freshmen developmental
education while simultaneously streamlining
the transfer process to NMSU.
In response to the first challenge, the community
college greatly increased the number
of General Education sections offered to its
students, and implemented Associate of Arts
and Associate of Science degrees. Both are
offered at all DACC locations. Secondly,
DACC now has a University Transition Program
in which students who have applied for
admission to NMSU but do not yet qualify
for regular admission may undertake an individualized
course of study providing a good
foundation for university-level courses.
English Professor Susan Wood edited the selfstudy,
which was compiled by a large number
of contributors. A Steering Committee was
headed up by Campus Academic Officer Dr.
Anna Chieffo and Dr. Fred Lillibridge, director
of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning.
Lillibridge and his staff, with the assistance
of staff from Computer Support, Library
and Learning Technologies, Business and
Information Systems Division, and campus
academic and executive offices, developed
the resource room for the convenience of
the evaluators.
Student team wins contest for
film encouraging more turnout
for voters with disabilities
Celebrating the team’s win are, back row from left, Eric Lentz, Division Dean Jerry Welch,
Aron Hethcox, Barson Hethcox, Faculty Member Mark Vasconcellos; and front row, J.R. Powell,
Secretary of State Mary Herrera, Faculty Member Lamaia Vaughn, Jesus Montanez, Colin Lewis,
Department Chair Rebecca Kongs. (photo courtesy Office of N.M. Secretary of State)
N.M. Secretary of State Mary Herrera recently announced that a DACC student team earned
the first-place prize in her Student Film Competition aimed at encouraging persons with
disabilities to vote in this year’s elections.
The team’s winning 30-second public service announcement earned a $750 prize. In
addition, the PSA will be offered for broadcast at the state’s major television stations. The
winning team was honored at a Santa Fe news conference and reception.
“This production is sensitive, informed and inspiring,” said Art Schreiber, president of the
National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico. “I am confident the efforts of the winning
team and the other entries will mean more disabled persons will take advantage of
their fundamental right to cast their vote in-person at their polling place.”
The competition was funded with a grant from the federal Help America Vote Act. Students
from New Mexico colleges and universities were invited to form student teams to
participate.

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DACC SIFE Chapter wins
regional competition and
heads to nationals
The DACC Chapter of Students in Free Enterprise took first place in its
region for the third time, making the members eligible to compete at
the national competition in Chicago. SIFE is an international organization
that mobilizes university students around the world to make a
difference in their communities while developing the skills to become
socially responsible business leaders.
Earning the honors in Denver at regionals with SIFE advisers Professor
Andy C. Saucedo and Associate Professor Susan Williams were
members Chancy Deal, Melissa Nayares, Brandon Neale, Marco Ortiz,
Daniel Vargas, Eric Owens, Gloria Martinez, Benjamin Cluff, Shirley
Carrillo, and Kylee Ruiz.
The chapter not only is comprised of DACC students, but also those
of NMSU. Anyone with any major is eligible to join the group. The
members will make a presentation focusing on the results of their
NMSU Doña Ana Community College
MSC-3DA . Box 30001
3400 South Espina Street
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001
Pinkerton named Leadership Award Winner
Dr. Susan Pinkerton, DACC associate professor of Library Science, was named the recipient of
the 2008 Library Leadership Award.
This award is presented annually by the New Mexico Library Association to someone who has
rendered outstanding service beyond the local community for the advancement of libraries
within the state. The criteria states that the recipient should be known and recognized in more
than one community, and must have rendered contributions that have enhanced libraries within
New Mexico.
As a library educator and leader of the Library Science Program, Pinkerton has developed a
program that is available solely online, thus providing access to library education and a degree
program for students throughout the country who otherwise might not have been able to pursue
this career. Graduates and students of her program hold positions in libraries throughout the state
of New Mexico, nationwide and even worldwide.
In 2006, the “Library Journal” recognized Pinkerton as one of the field’s “Movers and Shakers,”
shaping the future of America’s libraries, and in 2007 she received the Mountain Plains Library
Association’s Distinguished Service Award. She also received the NMSU Roush Award for Teaching
Excellence in 2006.
outreach projects to judges at the national competition. To determine
which teams made the most impact on their communities, judges will
take into consideration the presentation, its PowerPoint accompaniment,
the group’s newsletter, and each presenter’s appearance.
The local chapter was one of 144 teams to advance to the SIFE USA National
Exposition in Chicago. The Expo will culminate with USA national
champions being crowned in both the four-year and two-year divisions. An
estimated 4,000 people will attend, including leading business executives
who are slated to judge the competition.
For more information go to our Web site http://dacc.nmsu.edu
In this
Issue:
page 2
• Message from the President
• SKillsUSA team goes
to nationals
• Husband, wife graduate
together
page 3
• Outstanding Graduates
honored
• Students win film contest
page 4
• Pinkerton earns NMLA
Award
• SIFE team competes at
nationals
Doña Ana Community College
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N M S U | D O Ñ A A N A C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E
A newsletter for the friends of Doña Ana Community College | SUMMER 2008
HLC team highly recommends
independent accreditation for DACC
A four-member team from the Higher Learning Commission
of the North Central Association of Colleges
and Schools was hosted by Doña Ana Community College
for a three-day visit in April, resulting in the team’s
recommendation for accreditation that is independent
from that of New Mexico State University.
The team members reviewed DACC’s self-study and
evidence in its HLC Resource Room, and met with
many employees — including administration and
exempt and nonexempt personnel — as well as students,
graduates and community members. HLC team
members commended DACC personnel for meeting
the challenges faced in preparing for the separate and
Garza receives
honorary degree
Longtime DACC supporter and businesswoman Mary
A. Garza, owner of Solar Electric Co., Inc., was presented
an honorary degree by DACC President Dr.
Margie C. Huerta and Dr. Reed Dasenbrock, cabinet
secretary of the N.M. Department of Higher Education,
at the recent 2007-8 Spring Commencement.
Garza and her husband, Ralph, established Solar
Electric in 1979. When he suddenly died in 1989,
Garza promised her nine employees that she’d do
whatever it took to keep the business going. Today,
Solar Electric is one of the most prosperous electrical
contracting companies in southern New Mexico, and
was awarded the Employer of the Year Award in 1991
by the Jobs for Progress Board of Directors.
Garza is well known as a fair employer, a giver to the
community, a mentor to women and minority-owned
businesses, and one who is able to communicate
with a broad spectrum of types of people. She holds
successful business relationships with local, regional
and national clients.
independent accreditation visit.
Calling the self-study document prepared by personnel
“the best self-study we’ve seen,” the HLC accreditation
evaluator team gave a summary of their findings to DACC
President Margie C. Huerta, faculty and staff at the end of
the recent visit. As community college peers from various
parts of the country, the evaluators are well-acquainted
with the diverse populations that these institutions serve,
as well as the unique challenges they face.
Their report will be sent to Huerta and will become final
after review by the commission in early fall 2008.
See HLC accreditation on page 3
Mary A. Garza, center, of Las Cruces, was presented an
honorary degree by Dr. Margie C. Huerta, left, and Dr. Reed
Dasenbrock at the 2007-8 Commencement Ceremony.
A few of the many other awards and achievements of
Garza and her company are an appointment by the
governor to serve on the N.M. Small Business Investment
Corporation Board of Directors, 1998 and 1999 U.S. Small
Business Administration Awards of Excellence, recognition
as one of the 2002 Top 50 Women-Owned Businesses of
New Mexico, and the 2003 Hispanic Small Business of
the Year Award.
Garza is a business college graduate who raised Melinda,
an NMSU graduate, and David, a graduate of the University
of California at Berkeley.
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