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A “Change of Command” ceremony for the NROTC was held on April 18 in the UNM Alumni Chapel to say goodbye to Capt. Nori Ann Reed and welcome Capt. Ronald Kennedy. The ceremony was also a celebration of Capt. Nori Ann Reed’s 30-year Naval .
Friends and family were on hand for the formal ceremony which had a little bit of everything—the singing of our national anthem, a presentation of awards, the reading of orders and remarks from both the outgoing and incoming NROTC Commanding Officers.
Although the ceremony consisted of the formal change of command, in the end, the event was mostly focused on Reed and her Naval service and a great opportunity to recognize her with awards.
“Capt. Reed has held the highest honors in her performance of duties with the US Navy,” UNM Naval ROTC Executive Officer, Ian Sorensen.
After the awards were presented and Reed had her chance to talk, she began by saying, “I thank God for being a woman born in America in the 20th Century--it has been good to serve in the Navy.”
Reed tearfully reminisced about her career, the great friends she’s made and the fond memories she will take with her. Surrounded by family, including her mother and brother who served in the service, and her extended Navy family of friends, she thanked them all for being there. “I didn’t invite the friends who showed, but they still showed up,” she joked. “Those are good friends.”
She continued by thanking UNM for the opportunity to work with such a great institution and such wonderful students and wished incoming Capt. Ronald Kennedy well in his service with UNM.
Kennedy has served at sea in USS MOINESTER (FF 1097), USS SPEIGEL GROVE (LSD 32), and USS FAIRFAX COUNTY (LST 1193), and additionally, has personal decorations including the Legion of Merit Medal with two gold stars, Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
Reed ended by saying that she enjoyed her time in the Navy and at the University immensely. “I only have a few regrets--the first is that the 30 years went by too quick,” she said as she turned to address her students. “And second, I wish I could have handed over a more perfect world to you – you deserve it.”
On April 9, the UNM Division of Student Affairs rolled out the red carpet to recognize outstanding UNM employees at “The Louies,” this year’s “Student Affairs Recognition Ceremony.”
UNM Employees were honored by their peers, based on their ability to provide excellent service to students, in three award categories: Student Affairs Employee of the Year, Student Affairs Student Employee of the Year and the UNM Student Service Award, an honor bestowed upon UNM faculty and staff from outside Student Affairs who represent the best in student services. 
Student Affairs, Vice President, Eliseo “Cheo” Torres, emceed the event, and began by presenting the first annual honorary “Louie,” a golden encased lobo statue, to President Schmidly for his commitment to UNM Students.
Edith Shelton, Student Union Building Event Planning Manager won the Student Affairs Employee of the Year award. She was described someone who remains a strong worker in tough times.
According to one co-worker, “Edith is always courteous and helpful with every request and never even gets flustered if those requests come at the last minute,” she said.
“People like Edith make her job easier, because she knows that Edith will get the job done right.” In addition to her golden “Louie,” Shelton received a commemorative plaque, a cash award and a paid day off.
The Student Affairs Student Employee of the Year award went to Jackie Walker, an American Indian Student Services (AISS) intern. Her co-workers identified her as “someone who cares deeply about student and goes out of her way to help them out,” and called her the “backbone of AISS.”
Walker serves approximately 120 students each day, making each and every one of them feel at home at AISS while encouraging students to become orientation leaders. Walker received a UNM Bookstore gift certificate along with her golden “Louie.”
Erika Gerety and Cindy Jaramillo were both recognized with the Student Service Award.
As a Graduate Advisor in the Anthropology Department, Gerety has been known by co-workers to be “directly and regularly in touch with graduate students from the moment they apply to the program until they file their dissertations and receive their diplomas.”
To make this happen, Gerety often works after hours and on weekends to ensure that students are informed of deadlines, status reports, funding opportunities and even unforeseen circumstances that may impact academic plans. Co-workers have noted that she “performs these and all of her other job duties with foresight, intelligence, efficiency and good humor”.
Cindy Jaramillo’s co-workers label her as “someone who purely and simply wants to make them come to work everyday.” She is known to be extremely punctual—oftentimes they she’s at her desk long before 8:00 a.m. She always performs her duties with a smile and offers homemade baked goodies to the department and students for every holiday and finals week and because of her dedication, many describe her as the “cog without which their entire department would grind to a halt.”
Loren Leekela, from the UNM Gallup Zuni Campus’ Construction Technology Department was given the Student Service Award for faculty members.
Leekela is described as “someone who has given so much of himself all for the benefit of students and community members alike.” Leekela’s began his stint at the Gallup campus in 1991, where he volunteered his time raise funds for a sub-student government at the UNM Gallup Student Senate for the Zuni branch.
By doing this, Leekela provided an opportunity for Zuni campus students to engage in similar social events, activities and student advocacy needs. He has also been involved with building projects, such as BIA Housing Quarters storage sheds, Zuni community homes, used for Shalako, the religious solstice activity.
There were several great employees nominated who didn’t win the award, but they didn’t leave empty-handed. Each nominee was given a gift basket as a sign of appreciation for all their hard work.
Before the event was over, President Schmidly offered his thanks to the individuals at UNM who go above and beyond their duties.
"You deserve to be proud of the work you do. The university community is lucky to have you,” he said.“
Congratulations, to everyone who has been nominated, the winners and all who are first-rate teachers, mentors, advisors and student providers at UNM.”