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Happy 40th anniversary, UNM-Gallup

Fernando Cellicion of the Fernando Cellecion Dance Group of Zuni plays a flute during the 40th Anniversary Celebration at UNM-Gallup on Thursday morning. — © 2008 Gallup Independent / Brian Leddy

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff writer

GALLUP — Although it was called an anniversary celebration, UNM-Gallup threw itself a birthday party on Thursday.

The local branch of the University of New Mexico turned 40 years old this year, and UNM-Gallup officials hosted a celebration in the Gurley Hall Commons that focused on recognizing the efforts of the diverse group of citizens who worked to make the school a reality. Several hundred people attended the public ceremony, and a number of special guests — Gallup citizens, government officials, tribal leaders, and business men and women — were recognized for their contribution to the history of UNM-Gallup. In conjunction with the celebration, campus tours were offered and Martin Link’s UNM-Gallup historical exhibit was on display.

Local C.P.A. Brett Newberry, a former chair of the UNM-Gallup Board, acted as master of ceremonies. Much of his time was devoted to recognizing the founders of UNM-Gallup, both deceased and living; the many “friends” of the school; notable individuals in its history; and its past executive directors.

Dr. David Schmidly, president of UNM, and Dr. Marc Nigliazzo, UNM vice-president in charge of Rio Rancho operations and branch academic affairs, attended as representatives of main campus.

Schmidly, who said he was a college roommate to the son of Harvey Whitehill, one of UNM-Gallup’s founders, noted that UNM-Gallup has grown to the point of not only offering certificate programs and associate degrees but also offering several bachelor degree programs and even a few graduate level degrees. In addition, Schmidly said, UNM-Gallup has grown to have the largest enrollment of Native American students at a public university.

“You really are a jewel in the crown of the University of New Mexico,” he said.

Referring to all the accomplishments over the past 40 years, Nigliazzo marveled that the idea to establish the college in Gallup once began as just “a thought in someone’s mind.” Nigliazzo said UNM-Gallup was now a unique place that honored students’ traditions while providing them a bridge to the future.

Dr. Barry Cooney, UNM-Gallup’s interim executive director, prefaced his remarks with the dramatic ringing of a prayer bowl from Nepal. According to Cooney, Buddhist priests use such prayer bowls before long sessions of meditation to remind those listening of the interconnectedness of all people.

“In some way, some shape, or some form ... we are all connected,” Cooney said. “The University of New Mexico at Gallup is about connection,” he added.

Many of the following speakers talked about the early founders of UNM-Gallup and their connection to the school’s contemporary contributions to the local community. The late Clair Gurley’s important donation of 70 acres of land and the donation of Lions Hall by the Gallup Lions Club were cited by several speakers. The influence of media leaders like KGAK’s Jack Chapman and the Gallup Independent’s editor Eric McCrossen and publisher John Zollinger were also remembered.

Some of the early founders — Paul McCollum, Louis “Eddie” DePauli, Robert Lalicker, and Walter Wolf — were also at the ceremony to share their remarks.

In the early days, it was hard to convince everybody a community college was needed, DePauli recalled, and the idea “wasn’t met with a lot of enthusiasm.” “It didn’t have a very auspicious start,” he admitted. DePauli credited the foresight of the local citizenry who voted to support bond issues that provided the initial financing.

After sharing his memories of UNM-Gallup’s founding, Wolf, the self-described “cleanup batter” of the ceremony’s speakers, proclaimed that he was now looking forward to the school’s Golden Anniversary in 2018.