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The University of New Mexico

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Contact: Cynthia Casados 412-2161
ccasados@unm.edu

August 29, 2007

Mesa Vista Student Receives UNM Ronald E. McNair Top Scholar Award

Jenelle ManzanaresThe University of New Mexico has chosen 2002 Mesa Vista High School graduate, Jenelle Manzanares as a recipient of the 2007 UNM Ronald E. McNair Top Scholar Award. Manzanares graduated from UNM’s College of Education with a bachelors of Science in Elementary Education, K-8 with an emphasis in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Mathematics in the Spring of 2007.

The daughter of David and Pamela Manzanares of Rio Chama, New Mexico attended Mesa Vista High School located in Ojo Caliente. During high school, she participated in a range of extracurricular activities. Manzanares was a member and tutor for the New Mexico Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) and also a member of the Student Council and the Mesa Vista Future Farmers of America Chapter (FFA). “It is through these organizations, especially FFA, where I learned the value of extracurricular activities, leadership, and goal setting,” she said.

Manzanares attended the College Enrichment Program Freshman Orientation where she learned how UNM’s CEP and Special Programs could support her through her college education. “It is the staff and participants in these programs that made my time at UNM worth-while and awarding,” believes Manzanares. The CEP Program offers services to students who are first generation college students and/or are members of underrepresented groups. Some services included academic and career advisement, tutoring, social activities, and job placement.

While at UNM, she participated in the College Assistant Migrant Program (CAMP), CEP and several honor societies. Manzanares was also involved in the Research Opportunity Program and the Ronald E. Mc Nair Scholars Program. She said, “Being involved with McNair was indeed a fantastic experience where I conducted research and learned about graduate school. I had the opportunity to learn about and become exposed to a variety of cutting-edge research projects in numerous disciplines.” Manzanares participated in a research project concerning elementary education such as analyzing classroom case studies and integrating children’s literature and mathematics.

Manzanares has accepted a position with the AmeriCorps in Austin, Texas. She will be working with the College Forward Program, which is a non-profit organization, which helps high school seniors apply for college. Manzanares involvement in these programs aspired her to further her education for herself and others.

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