For Naoma “Faye” Gruwell ’74, returning to New Mexico State University for her Golden Aggies celebration was more than a trip — it was a homecoming 50 years in the making.
“I knew it was an important year,” she says, recalling how 2024 marked five decades since she graduated from NMSU. “It was a big commitment, but I thought, ‘Doggone it, it’s my 50th anniversary — I’m going!’”
She checked the NMSU Alumni website, connected with the Alumni Relations team, and signed up for every Homecoming event — from the Distinguished Alumni Awards dinner to the Golden Aggies Reunion and the tailgate and football game. “I came in on Thursday and stayed through Sunday, and I enjoyed every minute.”
Past meets present on the NMSU campus
A native of Lordsburg, New Mexico, Faye first encountered NMSU as a child while riding along with her father, a rancher who stopped by the College of Agriculture one summer to obtain information relating to his chicken business. “Driving through the campus left an impression on me,” she says. “It reminds me what a blessing it was to be able to go to school.”
A turning point came in high school when her chemistry teacher, Mr. Fowler, encouraged her to apply for a summer physics training program at NMSU. She was the only student from Lordsburg High School to show interest. Of the 72 students who applied statewide, just 32 were accepted — including Faye.
That summ
er changed her life: She toured the telescope near Cloudcroft, visited the Physical Science Lab on the NMSU campus, and even got a behind-the-scenes look at White Sands Missile Range. “It was fabulous,” she says. “Dr. Harold Daw, who chaired the Department of Physics, shared his passion for science, and his wife Mary even picked me up and took me to church.”
Two years later, Faye enrolled at NMSU in the College of Agriculture and Home Economics (now ACES), earning her B.S. in home economics in 1974. She later worked for NMSU’s Cooperative Extension Service for three years and eventually moved to Arizona to raise her family and fulfill a career in education — but she never forgot the place she describes as her “foundation.”
“I remember meeting Naoma Faye and being so impressed by her,” says Mayra Marquez, assistant vice president of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, NMSU Foundation. “Not only was she attending her 50-year reunion, but she was also taking part in all the fun events we planned during homecoming. Alum like her embody the Aggie spirit – passionate, driven and still very proud to be an NMSU alum!”
Honoring the past, inspiring the future
To mark her golden anniversary, Faye planned her return to Las Cruces down to the detail — booking an Airbnb, purchasing event tickets, and preparing for a full weekend of celebration. She spent time strolling through campus, reconnecting with ACES faculty, and revisiting her favorite spots.
“There’s a staircase behind the library that goes up four flights — I used to sit at the top and just take in the view,” she says. “There are more buildings now, but it was still a beautiful moment of reflection.”
She also made time to hear the Pride of New Mexico marching band. Faye played clarinet in the band from 1970 to 1972 and recalled the energy of the music and the joy of supporti
ng the team. Visiting the Family and Consumer Sciences department was another highlight. “I loved seeing how today’s students are integrating traditional and modern practices — like using wool from campus sheep in their textile work.”
Her favorite event? The Distinguished Alumni Awards dinner and ceremony. “It reminded me of what NMSU gave me. Hearing what those honorees have accomplished was so inspiring — it made me want to keep giving back to my own community.” She recalls the message from her own commencement speaker in 1974: “It is our job to uphold the integrity of New Mexico State.” She adds, “And I think they have.”
Aggie pride runs in the family
Now, Faye is encouraging her eldest son, Justin Jorgenson ’00, an engineer at Los Alamos National Laboratory, to return to campus for NMSU Homecoming Weekend, November 7–8 and join the Silver and Golden Aggie class reunion.
All 25- and 50-year alumni are invited to the Alumni Reunion on Saturday, November 8, for a day of celebration and Aggie pride. Enjoy a reserved viewing area by the judges’ booth for the Homecoming Parade at 9 a.m., then head to the Goal Line Club Tailgate at 11 a.m. for complimentary food and drinks before cheering on the Aggies from Club 27 skybox seats at the football game, which kicks off at 2 p.m. RSVP here to attend.
Homecoming festivities also include the Distinguished Alumni Awards Celebration Dinner on Friday, November 7, at the Las Cruces Convention Center. The College of ACES will host Ag Day on Saturday before the game (10 a.m.–2 p.m., Pan Am Center parking lot). Check here for details and tickets.
Would Faye recommend coming back for Homecoming? “Absolutely,” she says. “That’s where our roots are — that’s where we got our start.”
For more information on the 2025 Silver and Golden Aggies, contact Caelan Abeytia, Alumni Relations Officer, at 575-201-9023 or email him at caelan.abeyta@nmsufoundation.org.