Second Volume 4, Issue 13 July 2, 2021 Luna Students Key in Vaccine Effort
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The The latest news from Luna Community College Second Volume 4, Issue 13 July 2, 2021 Luna students key in vaccine effort State credits students’ role in raising awareness, giving shots tudents and employees at S Luna Community College and other colleges and universities across the state have played a major role in administering the COVID-19 vaccine and raising awareness about the importance of getting fully vaccinated for personal, campus and community health. “As we look forward to the approaching summer and fall semesters, it is critical that all eligible students, staff and faculty get fully vaccinated in order to ensure the successful return to in- person learning and campus activities,” said Stephanie Rodriguez, New Mexico Secretary of Higher Education. “The state has met its 60 percent goal, and higher education was part of that equation.” While all New Mexicans age 12 and older are now able to receive the vaccine, only 43 percent of those age 18-24 have received their MORE: See Page 2 Northern New Mexico College, Continued from Page 1 Western New Mexico and CNM also first dose, and 36 percent have shared videos on social media “There was a limited completed their vaccination series. encouraging fellow students and number of public Last month, the White House community members to get health nurses, so and U.S. Department of Education vaccinated. began inviting colleges and Several colleges and universities having our students universities to join the national like Luna have partnered with the helped us to be able COVID-19 College Vaccine Department of Health and local Challenge, asking them to engage providers to host vaccine clinics, to get more people all students, faculty and staff; many of which are also open to the through and provided expand vaccine access; and community at large. At schools with relief to the other organize their campus communities nursing programs, the clinics have to champion access. New Mexico also presented an opportunity for nurses.” State University, the University of students to gain clinical experience Maxine Hughes New Mexico, Central New Mexico and learn about public health in a Director, Department of Nursing, Community College, UNM-Taos, real-world setting. Luna Community College Navajo Technical University, “Our students were excited to Eastern New Mexico University and see the look on people’s faces when New Mexico Tech have signed on. they got the shot,” said Maxine bookstores have also been offered “My friends and I got vaccinated Hughes, director of the Luna on some campuses in an effort to so we can feel comfortable to travel nursing program. “There was a increase vaccination rates. Faculty and to be safe going to work and limited number of public health and staff have been offered paid class,” UNM student Chris Naranjo nurses, so having the students leave to attend vaccine said. helped us to be able to get more appointments. Students over the “A lot of young people are people through and provided relief age of 18 are also eligible to essential workers like myself,” to the other nurses.” participate in New Mexico’s $5 UNM senior Grace Conlin said. “I Clinics hosted in Las Vegas million vaccine sweepstakes at also had not seen my elders since enlisted 41 student nurses to vax2themaxnm.org. the pandemic started, so that was administer vaccines to the College students and all New my reason for getting the vaccine.” community and senior citizens Mexicans are encouraged to sign up Naranjo and Conlin work as under the supervision of nursing for their free and convenient part of UNM’s Student Health and faculty. The clinic served around appointment at vaccinenm.org. A Counseling Center, which has been 300 patients per day. listing of local vaccine clinics and working to educate students about Northern New Mexico College, events can be accessed via the the COVID-19 vaccine and debunk Santa Fe Community College, New COVID-19 public calendar. myths surrounding it. They Mexico Tech, Mesalands Efforts at Luna have included a observed that reasons for college Community College, and ENMU- “Rough Up The Virus” initiative and students not getting the vaccine Roswell have also hosted or plan to participation in statewide public include not feeling susceptible to host vaccine events this month. information campaigns. the virus, not knowing that the NMSU is also offering mobile vaccine is free, and not having vaccine clinics statewide via its — New Mexico Department ready access to vaccines on campus Cooperative Extension Service. of Higher Education and or at times that work for them. Incentives including drawings, Luna Light staff reports Student leaders at UNM, grab bags and gift cards to campus 2 Valuable meetings Luna President Dr. Edward Martinez and the LCC Board of Trustees met with educational and business stakeholders during roundtable discussions on Wednesday, June 23 and Thursday, June 24. The roundtable discussions were part of a two-day training retreat for the president and board held at New Mexico Highlands University. Stakeholders meet president, BOT Roundtable luncheons hailed as positive outreach effort for Luna More than 30 community trustees.” to meet Dr. Martinez, who began his members within Luna Community The business roundtable presidency at Luna on Monday, College’s service area attended luncheon, facilitated by Las Vegas- June 21. educational and business San Miguel Chamber of Commerce “Community members asked roundtable luncheons with Luna President Phillip Martinez, was part questions and made suggestions to President Dr. Edward Martinez and of a two-day training retreat for the Dr. Martinez and the board of the LCC Board of Trustees on trustees and president. It was held trustees on how the college should Wednesday, June 23 and Thursday, on the campus of New Mexico move forward,” said Phillip June 24. Highlands University. Martinez. “I would love to go to “It was a real positive event for “The event was great,” said more of these types of discussions.” Luna and everyone involved,” said Phillip Martinez. “We are getting so Among those in attendance were West Las Vegas Superintendent many compliments on how well it individuals from Las Vegas, Mora, Chris Gutierrez. “It was something went and about all the good Santa Rosa and Springer. Luna has that was needed. It’s clear that information that was exchanged. We its main campus in Las Vegas, a site students are in the best interest of really appreciate that Luna is in Mora and satellites in Santa Rosa Luna’s new president Dr. Edward reaching out to the community.’ Martinez and the Luna board of Participants had the opportunity MORE: See Page 4 3 Luna closed July 5 Luna Community College in Las Vegas and its campuses in Mora, Santa Rosa and Springer will be closed on Monday, July 5, in recognition of Independence Day. The college will resume its regular hours on Tuesday, July 6. Fall classes start Monday, Aug. 23, and the last day to register is Monday, Aug. 30. For more information, call us at 1-800-588- 7232 or visit us at luna.edu. All Luna campuses are now open. Roundtable Continued from Page 3 and Springer. Other topics of the two-day training retreat were communication preferences between the BOT and the president, effective governance, strategic needs assessment of the college’s strategic plan, and evaluation process of the president. “I was really happy with the participation in the roundtable luncheons,” said Dr. Martinez. “We learned a lot on what the community wants and expects from us. Luna Hands-on learning will be having more of these events throughout our service area in the near future. Overall, the returns at Luna retreat went extremely well. There was a lot of Luna welding student Rico Gallegos prepares for good information that will assist us as we move an American Welding Society certification test in Luna forward.” the fall semester. Luna welding instructor Gene Martinez will have his students take the AWS certification test in August, giving them enough time to prepare. AWS certifiers make several trips a year to Luna. For more on the Luna “We really appreciate that welding program, please call 505-454-2530. Luna is reaching out to the community.” Phillip Martinez Las Vegas-San Miguel Chamber of Commerce 4 A splash of summer color Luna quilting student Rosita Ellis works with blocks on the design wall during a recent quilting class. The entire quilting class this summer is working on a blanket that will have nearly 200 blocks once it is finished. The class is currently situated in the Humanities Department and is scheduled to have two sections in the fall. Classes will be taught on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. For more information on quilting classes, please call 505-454-2530. Busy start for President Martinez Introductory gatherings, training retreat with trustees highlight week On his first official week as the new president of Luna Community College, Dr. Edward Martinez certainly hit the ground running. Martinez took time on his first day, Monday, June 21, to host an informal meet-and-greet gathering open to all Luna employees. The new president introduced himself and met individually with each of the dozens of faculty and staff who attended at the college’s Media Education Center atrium. On Wednesday June 23 and University. Luna’s board of trustees selected Thursday, June 24 Martinez took Martinez after a search that opened part in a two-day training retreat In the weeks ahead, Martinez is in January and included separate with the Luna Board of Trustees. expected to meet with individual interviews with the board as well as The retreat was held on the campus department units for further community forums streamed live on of nearby New Mexico Highlands exchanges about the college’s operations and plans.