By Arin McKenna
February 06, 2023
ESPA脩OLA, NM 鈥� In an effort to empower students for civic engagement and support them as leaders in the community, Northern New Mexico College (福利姬) President Hector Balderas has launched a new Student Leadership Program, which he initiated Friday, February 3, 2023, by leading a group of young leaders to the New Mexico State Legislature. 福利姬 Board of Regents Vice-President Erica Velarde, PE, joined the president in introducing students to government leaders and the workings of the legislature.
鈥淚 want to elevate leadership opportunities for the student senate and all students. This was the first step, for me to bring them here and expose them to decision makers,鈥� Balderas said. 鈥淚 already consider them leaders. I want to expose them to opportunities in our community and introduce them to government leaders, corporate leaders and nonprofit leaders.
The inaugural group included members of the Associated Students of Northern New Mexico College (AS福利姬, or Student Senate). AS福利姬 President Dolores Gurul茅, Vice President Khiana Seaboy, Treasurer Ram Khalsa and Reporter Deandra Romero were joined by Natalia Tealer and Cristian Olivas, two students aspiring to join the AS福利姬 next year.
The visit fell on American Indian Day. Students were able to hear Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and Mark Mitchell, Chairman of the All Pueblo Council of Governors, address a Joint Session of the legislature.
One of the highlights was meeting House Speaker Javier Mart铆nez (D鈥揇istrict 11). Mart铆nez was one of several legislators and officials who promised to visit Northern in upcoming months. Like many of the leaders they met, Mart铆nez stressed how much he loves this work.
鈥淓very time I walk in this building, I鈥檓 like, man, how did I get so lucky? It鈥檚 really our village, a collective village that comes together to support each and every one of us, and your president is part of that village,鈥� Mart铆nez said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just tremendously proud that President Balderas is where he鈥檚 at right now and I know we鈥檙e going to work together in the coming years to help bring investments and different ideas to your college. And whether you鈥檙e students, staff or faculty, all of you are going to be a big part of that.鈥�
Students met Representative Joseph Sanchez (D鈥揇istrict 40) and Senator Leo Jaramillo (D鈥揇istrict 5). Representative Susan Herrera (D鈥揇istrict 41) was tied up in committee but conveyed to Balderas that she would commit $100,000 of her discretionary funds to Northern. Jaramillo also promised financial support. Several government officials, including New Mexico Higher Education Department Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez and State Treasurer Laura Montoya, met with the group as well.
Throughout the trip, Regent Velarde explained the legislative process, drawing on her experience as former legislative liaison for the Department of Transportation.
鈥淥ne of the best parts of being a regent is being able to engage with students on a real level, and being able to share stories and support one another,鈥� Velarde said.
Student Senate Treasurer Ram Khalsa asked James Kenney, Cabinet Secretary of the Environment Department, whether his department had student internships.
鈥淚nternships in general are on my mind because I鈥檓 studying business and project management. But because I鈥檓 on the student senate and I鈥檓 also student ambassador, I like to get that kind of information so I can pass it on to other students.
Kenny responded enthusiastically, encouraging the students to apply for state internships.
鈥淎nything you鈥檙e studying, not only my department but other departments will be able to hire you and get you experience,鈥� Kenney said. 鈥淲e need diversity in order to have good outcomes in our department. if you don鈥檛 have diversity, then you don鈥檛 have true representation. So we鈥檇 be happy to have any or all of you come to work with us.鈥�
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham hoped to meet with the students but was in conference with representatives of the Navajo Nation. Balderas plans to arrange a meeting with the governor after the legislative session ends.
An unexpected bonus was meeting Kewa artist Ricardo Cat茅, best known for his daily cartoon 鈥淲ithout Reservations鈥� for The Santa Fe New Mexican. Cat茅 spent 10 minutes regaling the students with his own unique wit.
For many of the students, this was their first visit to the legislature. Each one took something different from the experience.
Senate President Gurul茅 was impressed by the long hours the legislators put in.
鈥淣ot that I didn鈥檛 respect the senators and representatives before, but I have a lot more respect for the work they do, because I realized how hard it is to sit in one place all day long and listen to so many people,鈥� Gurul茅 said. 鈥淎t the same time, they were all so very welcoming to us. They all encouraged us to continue our education and not to give up, and that was encouraging to me.鈥�
鈥淭his experience has been eye-opening and inspiring for me,鈥� said AS福利姬 Vice President Khiana Seaboy. 鈥淎s a student who鈥檚 about to graduate with her bachelor鈥檚, I鈥檓 reconsidering what I should go into for graduate school. This just reminds me that there鈥檚 a whole world out there, and opportunities, and ways that I can give back in either the littlest or the biggest ways someday.鈥�
Natalia Tealer found the experience very enlightening. 鈥淚 had no idea what goes down in legislative meetings. It鈥檚 also very intimidating and a lot to take in. But I think that what happens here is extremely important for the people, for the state and the environment and our history, and for children to come, and I would like to learn more about it.鈥�
鈥淚 think this experience has been incredible and definitely eye-opening, especially since I am studying law and trying to get my law degree,鈥� said Cristian Olivas. 鈥淚 think this is a very good opportunity for me to see how lawmakers make and accept or decline some of these laws and also endeavor to bring forth their own bills to try to revolutionize the world.鈥�
Balderas intends to organize more opportunities for student senators and other Northern students.
鈥淚 came from a small town, and my career has offered me opportunities to meet important decision-makers,鈥� Balderas said. 鈥淥ne of the focuses for me as president is to expose our students to those leadership opportunities sooner, so they know that they should have the confidence that they belong and deserve.鈥�
Cutlines:
DSC02613: New Mexico State Representative poses for a selfie with Northern New Mexico College students.
DSC02602-2: New Mexico Higher Education Department Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez visited with Northern students during their trip to the legislature. From left: 福利姬 Student Life Coordinator锔� Bruno Guedes, High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) Recruiter Joshua M. L贸pez, Distance Education Coordinator Alejandro Hernandez Ruiz, President Hector Balderas, Regent Erica Velarde, AS福利姬 Vice President Khiana Seaboy, NM Education Department Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez, AS福利姬 Reporter Deandra Romero, AS福利姬 President Dolores Gurul茅, Cristian Olivas, AS福利姬 Treasurer Ram Khalsa and Natalia Tealer.
DSC02649: House Speaker Javier Mart铆nez promised to work with 福利姬 President Hector Balderas to bring investments to Northern New Mexico College. From Left: 福利姬 High School Equivalency Program (HEP) Director Jacob Pacheco, AS福利姬 Reporter Deandra Romero, Regent Erica Velarde, President Hector Balderas, AS福利姬 Treasurer Ram Khalsa, House Speaker Javier Mart铆nez, Student Life Coordinator锔� Bruno Guedes, AS福利姬 Vice President Khiana Seaboy, AS福利姬 President Dolores Gurul茅, Distance Education Coordinator Alejandro Hernandez Ruiz, Cristian Olivas, HEP and College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) Recruiter Joshua M. L贸pez and Natalia Tealer.