Other NM universities announcements

New Mexico State University astronomy Ph.D. student Aman Priyadarshi Kumar has been invited to speak at the 2026 TEDx Albuquerque (TEDxABQ) event this summer. TEDxABQ, an independently organized TED event, pulls together diverse thinkers to share ideas with the power to create change across the region.

The event begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 29 at the Albuquerque Rail Yards. This year's theme of "Reframe" invites audiences to shift their perspectives and challenge their assumptions.

"I am excited to represent NMSU, solar physics and the experience of being a first-generation student from India who came to the U.S. to study astronomy," he said. "More than anything, I am excited to help people feel that science is not distant or inaccessible. It can be human, personal and connected to everyday life."

NM FAST is hosting a free workshop designed to help New Mexico-based technology startups and small businesses understand the federal compliance requirements and safeguarding standards required for working with Department of Defense contractors. The workshop, "Basic Safeguarding Requirements for Defense Contractors," will be held on Tuesday, July 21, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Q Station, 3225 Central Ave. NE, Albuquerque, with a virtual option available via Zoom for participants joining from anywhere in the state. 

Led by Elythia McAnarney, a contracts manager with specialized expertise in CFCM and CPCM compliance, the session will cover foundational Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements, including FAR 52.204-21, DFARS 252.204-7012, and NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2. The workshop is designed for founders and business leaders exploring federal procurement pathways who need to understand the first steps toward compliance and the practical business implications of doing work with the U.S. Department of Defense. Zoom connection details will be provided to registered participants. 

Raymy Brown, a 1979, 1980 and 1982 New Mexico State University graduate, doesn't believe in sitting on the sidelines. He was an umpire at the Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in August 2025. The selection as a World Series umpire is the highest honor given to Little League umpires.

"I do what I do to serve my community and to serve as a role model and an example to the youth of my community," Brown said.

This summer, Brown will umpire the Little League Southwest Region Tournament, which includes New Mexico, Aug. 6-11 in Waco, Texas. The winner advances to the LLBWS.

New Mexico State University's Atomic Aggies saw a successful launch at the 2026 International Rocket Engineering Competition, the largest international rocketry competition in the world.

Every year, colleges from across the globe send their rocketry teams to compete in the event hosted by the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association. This year, more than 100 teams traveled to Saragosa, Texas from over 15 countries including Brazil, India, Italy and others to launch the rockets they worked on.

"It means a lot to be able to compete on such a global stage," said Justin Bonds, NMSU aerospace engineering student and project manager for the Atomic Aggies. "We get to see how our designs work and get the opportunity to meet and learn from teams from around the world. It was also extremely meaningful as we launched the first two-stage rocket the team has ever built."

New Mexico State University engineering students are preparing for careers in the growing clean energy workforce while helping local businesses uncover opportunities to save energy, reduce costs, and advance sustainability.

Through the College of Engineering and the Building Training and Assessment Center, students gain industry-recognized credentials through in-person and online micro-credential courses and practical experience, while partnering with New Mexico companies to improve energy efficiency. The efforts are part of an ongoing initiative supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy that began in October 2024.

In his debut novel, "Eyes on the Horizon," New Mexico State University alumnus Canyon Young pens a thrilling tale set in 19th-century New Mexico that follows a son who embarks on a dangerous journey to uncover the truth about his missing father.

Young, who graduated from NMSU in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in range science from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, self-published the novel in 2025 to unexpected fanfare. The book was a finalist for the Western Writers of America's 2026 Spur Awards, one of the highest honors in American literature.

The federal Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs have been reauthorized through September 30, 2031, providing long-term stability for America's largest source of non-dilutive research and development funding. 

The reauthorization ensures continued access to funding opportunities through 11 participating federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Energy and NASA, while introducing several policy changes that applicants should consider when preparing future proposals. 

At 75, David Hale has a simple goal: make it to 100 so he can keep playing golf with his son, Daniel Hale, a 2013 New Mexico State University graduate, for another 25 years. 

Through a charitable gift annuity that provides steady income now and future support for NMSU's Professional Golfers' Association Golf Management program, David Hale and his wife, Loraine Hale, are helping the next generation of Aggies share that same lifelong love of the game.