Contact:	Michael Padilla, 277-1816
April 16, 2002 LAS VEGAS NATIVE ERIN MARES EXCELS IN SIGN LANGUAGE AT UNM Las Vegas native Erin Mares’ fascination with signed language and the challenge of learning a new culture led to her to major in Signed Language Interpreting at the University of New Mexico. “I took a couple of courses in high school and I knew that I would someday be an interpreter,” Mares says. “It’s been a wonderful experience and working with the deaf community is fascinating.” Mares, a UNM Presidential Scholar and graduate from West Las Vegas High School, will graduate this May from UNM. She plans on seeking employment with a public school. She works part time as an interpreter with the Albuquerque Public Schools and is working on her next step of certification in signed language. She also signs at various UNM events. In addition, Mares works at UNM’s Anderson Schools of Management in the Management Development Center. Mares says she enjoys making a difference in people’s lives. “Working with people is fun and the deaf community is a very close and a culturally diverse group,” she says. “I am fortunate to be a part of the culture of the deaf community.” Mares encourages others who are interested in signed language to get involved early and not to get discouraged. She stresses that a lot of hours are needed for practice and those who are interested in the field should take advantage of all opportunities that are available and keep an open mind. One of those opportunities is the deaf chat at a local restaurant in Albuquerque where students have the chance to sit around and talk with the deaf community. Mares says she has really enjoyed her time here at UNM and working with other students in the program. Her most memorable class at UNM was her all inclusive signed language class where no voices were allowed in the classroom. “The last two semesters in the program have been the most challenging,” she says, adding that she has received strong support from her peers. “There are some great people in the program.” While she is not doing signed language she likes to do needle work and cross stitching. Mares is also a dancer in the Kalpuli Ehecatl dance group. Most recently, she became interested in flamenco dancing. She participates with the Aztec dance group of Albuquerque. Mares is a member of the Golden Key Honor Society. Mares is daughter of Kenneth and Ruth Mares and her sisters are Rachael and Esther. “I would like to thank my parents for their support throughout college,” Mares says. “Them in conjunction with my sisters, have been a big influence on my success as a student at UNM.” ###

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