JULY 23 EVENT TO HONOR PATRICIA MADRID, BENEFIT UNM COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS

July 16, 2003

JULY 23 EVENT TO HONOR PATRICIA MADRID, BENEFIT UNM COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS

The College of Fine Arts at the University of New Mexico and the Honorable Juan Manuel Solana, Consul of Mexico, host an event to honor New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid on Wednesday, July 23 from 6-9 p.m. at the Mexican Consulate, 1610 4th St. NW. The evening also features an auction to raise scholarship money for the College of Fine Arts.

The award is given to individuals who work to benefit the Mexican community. Madrid's work on behalf of immigrant women and children victims of domestic violence earned her recognition. The award, El Premio Ohtli, was presented in Phoenix, Ariz., in June, but the consulate thought it appropriate to honor Madrid in New Mexico, as well.

"I am deeply honored by this award. It is always gratifying to be recognized for the quality of your work. I am fortunate to be in a position to help people in need and to make a difference in their lives. Being able to place a crime victim's advocate in the southern part of our state to work exclusively with immigrant women and children victims of domestic violence helped to address a problem that had plagued the region for too long," Madrid said.

The auction features the art of Mexican painter Naret who contributed his work to the consulate to be sold to raise scholarship money. The art is valued at $3,500 and Dr. Eliseo Torres, UNM vice president for Student Affairs will match the money raised with scholarship money UNM receives from Pepsi.

"I am happy to match the initial installment. We want the fund to grow to $15,000. I am delighted to encourage the fund's growth so that ultimately we may create an endowed scholarship," Torres said.

Solana and Torres hope that to entice Mexican art students to attend UNM through the scholarship.

UNM Arts of the Americas Director Steve Loza will serve as the event's auctioneer.

For more information, contact Andrea Bromberg, College of Fine Arts, 277-7320, or Julieta Gracia Medrano, Mexican Consulate, 247-2147.

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