The University of New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE


Contact: Carolyn Gonzales 277-5920
cgonzal@unm.edu

August 26, 2008

Latin American Students Attend UNM on Scholarships

The University of New Mexico Office of International Admissions recently offered a “Bienvenidos” to a group of students from Latin America who are now part of the campus community. Recruited from Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia and Honduras, the students include undergraduates attending UNM on the International Amigo Scholarship, as well as graduate Fulbright and CONACYT scholars.

International Admissions Manager Myriam Muñoz has developed relationships with schools throughout Latin America, including Colegio Americano and Colegio Internacional SEK-Ecuador, both in Quito. She has also developed close ties with the Fulbright office, said Janine Pacheco, international admissions representative .

“The International Amigo Scholarship makes UNM attractive to international students we recruit from Latin America. The scholarship pays the out-of-state portion of tuition, leaving the student only in-state tuition costs,” Pacheco said . She organized a dinner recently to welcome the students, and in some cases their parents, to UNM.

CONACYT, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia, is a prestigious scholarship available to Mexican students which the Mexican government funds to allow students to study abroad, generally in science and technology.

UNM welcomed four Ecuadorian Fulbright students, three of whom are studying in the School of Engineering. Elsa Castillo, student program specialist in Engineering Student Services, is also from Ecuador. “International students are drawn to the UNM School of Engineering for many reasons. The excellence of our programs attracts them. UNM is a top choice because of our nationally ranked programs, the quality of our labs and the funding we put in research.”

She added that the School of Engineering faculty is actively involved in recruiting internationally, and that the school puts forward the resources to offer the students assistantships. Castillo added, “We have a student-centered perspective in the college. The moment a student emails me, I respond.”

The Fulbright scholars are Feliza Montez, Teaching English as a Second Language; Antonio Ruales, electrical engineering; Daniel Riofrio, computer science; and Francisco Rodriguez, mechanical engineering.

CONACYT scholars are Yarnel Torres, computer science; Miguel Dominguez, Organizational Learning & Instructional Technology, College of Education; and Marcela Zarate, Latin American literature.

Amigo scholars are Lilliam Aguilar, Honduras; Felipe Acosta, Colombia; Sebastian de los Reyes, Ecuador, Jan Monterrubio, Mexico; Joaquin Borja, Ecuador; Fernando Najera, Ecuador; John Zamudio, Colombia; Milton Flores, Ecuador; and Rodrigo Osuna Orozco, Mexico.

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The University of New Mexico is the state's largest university, serving more than 32,000 students. UNM is home to the state's only schools of law, medicine, pharmacy and architecture and operates New Mexico's only academic health center. UNM is noted for comprehensive undergraduate programs and research that benefits the state and the nation.
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