September 28, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Donna Oracion, 575-624-7403

ENMU-ROSWELL STUDENT RECEIVES FIRST SCHOLARSHIP

NAMED FOR MORGAN AND JOYCE NELSON

ENMU-Roswell student, Chris Neal, is the first recipient of the Morgan and Joyce Nelson Endowed Scholarship administered by the ENMU-Roswell Foundation. Neal, 46, is enrolled in the Human Services program and will graduate next May with an Associate of Arts degree in Human Services and Certificates of Employability in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Studies and Helping Relationship Skills. He said the $1000 scholarship will be used to pay for his tuition and books expenses as he completes his associate degree requirements. He plans to continue his education at ENMU in Portales taking online classes in career and technical education or human services. “Receiving this scholarship is awesome,” he said. “Students need to make an effort to apply for these scholarships because the help is out there.” Neal said his financial aid has run out, so he also works at several part-time jobs. He thanks Financial Aid Assistant, Kimberly Andazola, for her support and he also appreciates his parents, Butch and Karen Neal, for their assistance as he reaches his higher education goals.

In 2014, ENMU-Roswell Foundation Board member, Morgan Nelson, created the scholarship to honor his late wife of 58 years, Joyce. Nelson is credited with establishing Roswell Community College, now ENMU-Roswell, through his work in the New Mexico House of Representatives. He served in the legislature from 1942 to 1962 (with the exception of 1952-1954) and was instrumental in the passage of the 1957 Branch Community College Act. He also used his contacts and influence to lobby for the passage of the Junior College Act in 1963, which authorized junior and community colleges to form districts for taxing purposes. When government officials announced that Walker Air Force Base would be closing on June 30, 1967, Nelson was part of the Executive Committee which oversaw the planning and development of the proposal to move Roswell Community College to the base facilities. Nelson is a founding member of the ENMU-Roswell Foundation and has served on the board since 1969. He received the President’s Distinguished Award from the Foundation in 2003.

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