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Second Volume 4, Issue 10 May 21, 2021 Graduation 2021

Luna students are all smiles after graduating on Friday, May 14, at the Media Arts Auditorium. Congratulations, and just as you made a commitment to graduate from Luna, do the same for the rest of your life. Commitment to your family, your career and your community will lead you to a joyous life. BOT okays president’s contract The Luna Community College Board community and creating partnerships

of Trustees approved a presidential con- with our Luna Community College ser- tract for Dr. Edward Martinez in a special vice area.” meeting on Wednes- “I’m excited to get to work. I’m Dr. Martinez is cur- day. looking forward to being the rently a Special As- Dr. Martinez president and plan on serving the sistant to the Presi- signed a three year students, working with the Luna dent at contract at Community College community Highlands Universi- $170,000 annually. and creating partnerships ty. Dr. Martinez will with our Luna Community College “The board of trus- begin his new job on service area.,”— tees is looking for- Monday, June 21. Dr. Edward Martinez ward to begin our “I am excited to work with our next get to work,” said Dr. Martinez. “I’m president,” said Luna BOT chair Dr. looking forward to being the president Phyllis Martinez. “We are very impressed Dr. Edward Martinez officially signs a contract to be the next and plan on serving the students, work- with his qualifications and look forward president at Luna. ing with the Luna Community College to his leadership at the college.” Rep. Leger Fernández announces nearly $143 million for NM colleges, students

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Teresa Leger nationwide. Fernández announced nearly $143 million in emergency The colleges and universities in New Mexico’s 3rd funding for colleges, universities, and students in New District receiving funding under the American Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District under the American Rescue Plan are: Rescue Plan. St. John's College: $991,088 “I’ve spent the last two weeks meeting with our local Eastern New Mexico University: $ 11,198,855 colleges and universities to discuss their needs as we work to New Mexico Highlands University: $ 5,795,385 get through the pandemic. I am inspired by the work they do : $ 10,614,845 within their communities to engage students and provide : $ 54,329,288 them with the opportunities to thrive,” said Leger Central New Mexico Community College: $ 37,145,081 Fernández. “The American Rescue Plan is delivering life Clovis Community College: $ 4,223,788 changing investments to our most vulnerable students, Luna Community College: $ 1,631,493 including our Dreamers. I voted for this legislation to bring Northern New Mexico College: $ 3,403,829 relief to communities across New Mexico.” Institute of American Indian & Alaska Native Culture: $ The funding will help local institutions cope with the 1,263,858 severe financial fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and Santa Fe Community College: $ 5,565,844 continue serving their students safely. At least half of the Navajo Technical University: $ 5,455,809 funding each institution receives will be distributed in the Southwestern College: $ 99,763 form of emergency cash assistance grants to students who are Mesalands Community College: $ 1,179,212 facing hunger, homelessness, and other hardship. Students should contact their institutions for more The American Rescue Plan provides $36 billion for nearly information about how they can apply for an emergency 3,500 public and private, nonprofit colleges and universities grant. 2 Luna celebrates the graduating classes from the past two school years in its ceremony on Friday, May 14.

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Part of graduation week is the annual pinning ceremony hosted by the Luna nursing department for its graduating class. The ceremony recognizes the tradition of commitment to the profession dating to Florence Nightingale.

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10 Luna Community College Board of Trustee Maximiliano Tenorio Jr. presents the Bridge to Success Scholarship to 22 Santa Rosa High School students recently during the school’s Senior Scholar Night. Courtesy photo

11 College Scorecard: The U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard has the most reliable data on college costs, graduation and post-college earnings. Visit collegescorecard.ed.gov

The Luna Light is a publication of the Luna Community College Office of Public Relations. To submit story ideas or items for consideration, please e‐mail Jesse Gallegos, [email protected], and Dave Kavanaugh, [email protected].

12 13 14 Rough Riders’ playoff runs end

The Luna baseball and softball seasons came to a halt in the Region 9 tournaments recently in McCook, Neb., and Trinidad, Colo., respectively Coach T.C. Nusser’s baseball team lost twice in a best-of-three playoff series at McCook on Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile, Coach Steve Wallace’s softball team came up short in a double-elimination bracket, falling to a pair of Nebraska schools at the neutral site in Trinidad. A recap of the regional Left: Shortstop Anahi Ruiz throws the ball to first in a recent Luna postseason games for the Rough softball game. Right: Francisco Ochoa congratulates Brandon Zwiener Riders: after a run for the Luna baseball team. Both squads have overcome McCook baseball 6, Luna 3 COVID-related challenges to return to action this past season. Game one of the best-of-three a run in the first, with McCook tying a.m. Northeastern, one of the series stayed close throughout. in the bottom of the frame and then regional powerhouses with records McCook scored a single run in the building the lead with back-to-back of 36-15 overall and 23-6 in the bottom of the first inning, and it was four-run innings in the second and conference, built its lead and put the still 1-0 going into the fourth. The third. Zwiener and Limon accounted game away after five innings. Riders pulled in front with three for two hits apiece and four of five Northeastern went on to play runs in the top of that frame, led by total hits for the Rough Riders. Trinidad State in the regional final Tony Limon’s two-RBI home run. McCook ace Maxim Mrakovcic went on Tuesday, May 11. But McCook countered with three six innings and limited the Riders to Western Nebraska 6, Luna 3 runs in their half of the inning, then one earned run on five hits and three After a scoreless first inning, added two insurance runs in the walks with eight strikeouts. For Western Nebraska scored three to seventh. Francisco Ochoa hit 3 of 4 Luna, Logan Wilson, Chisum Rush take the driver’s seat in the bottom of to lead Luna; James Cardenas and and Dakota Cummings pitched two the second. But Luna didn’t go away, Rogelio Gonzales had two hits each. frames apiece. Sipe and Zwiener took answering with two runs in the top of Ruger Bravo had a solid start and part in two double plays each, with the third. It was 4-3 midway through struck out 10, allowing four earned Ochoa and Limon also in on a double the fifth. The Riders’ pitching and runs on nine hits and three walks in play apiece. defense held Western to nine hits – six and one-third innings. Ryan Luna finished 13-25 overall and one a home run by Emma Schweitzer Clark struck out four in relief. 12-18 in the conference. -- over six innings. Limon, Dusty Sipe and Brandon Northeastern softball 17, Luna finished 1-23 overall and 1- Zwiener were credited with a double Luna 2 20 in the conference. Loaded with play. Both of the Rough Riders’ first-year student-athletes, the team McCook baseball 10, Luna 2 tourney games were held Saturday, will lose just two sophomores – Mary Luna got on the scoreboard with with the first-rounder starting at 10 J. Martinez and Anahi Ruiz. 15

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