The University of New Mexico will celebrate 16 de septiembre, or Mexican Independence Day, this Friday with a special scholarship presentation. Festivities start with a flag raising with Banda de Guerra at Scholes Hall at 11:45 a.m. followed with a march to the Student Union Building (SUB) where Baile Folklorico dancers and singers will perform in the SUB atrium.
The scholarship will be presented at 1 p.m. to classical guitarist Omar Villanueva, a graduate student in Fine Arts. Among those at the presentation will be Mexican Consul Joan Solana, Vice President for Student Affairs Eliseo Torres and Director of El Centro de la Raza Veronica Mendez-Cruz.
The scholarship is the result of a donation of artwork from Teran, a famed Mexican artist known as Naret. His donation included two original oil paintings, 21 giclee reproductions and more than 100 lithographs. He contributed a collection of his work to fund a scholarship benefiting Mexican students who wish to study in UNM’s College of Fine Arts.
This summer, the Honorable Juan Manuel Solana, consul of Mexico, hosted a reception auction of Naret’s work, co-hosted by the College of Fine Arts. Thus far, sale of the art has raised nearly $6,000, with an additional $4,000 match from Dr. Eliseo Torres, UNM vice president for Student Affairs.
Teran is unable to attend due to health concerns so he will be represented by his niece Yvette Vasques Elias.
“Opening doors to exchange programs between UNM and Mexico provides diversity of learning as well as creating a gateway in the fence between our two countries, and enhances and enriches the education of all our students,” Mendez-Cruz said.
Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920
Posted by scarr at September 14, 2005 02:10 PM