The New Mexico State University Foundation Alumni Committee today announced the seven recipients of the prestigious Outstanding Graduate Award, representing each college of the university plus the Graduate School.
These Outstanding Graduate Award winners exemplify the best and brightest of the class of 2025 spring semester:
· Monet Hunt, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
· Jillian McBeth, College of Arts and Sciences
· Olin Pakkala, College of Business
· Haylee Viramontes, College of Engineering
· Cristian Estrada, College of Health, Education and Social Transformation
· Emilia Marmolejo, Graduate School, College of Engineering, Master’s
· Pin-Chen Lin, Graduate School, College of Health, Education and Social Transformation, Doctoral
Deans and nomination committees in each college select honorees based on their academic accomplishments, notable leadership abilities, and extracurricular commitments. Each student will be acknowledged during the NMSU Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremonies on May 9 and 10.
“These students have enjoyed wonderful faculty mentorship, activities, research opportunities—all that NMSU has to offer,” said Dr. Sylvia Y. Acosta, ’10, chief executive officer of the NMSU Foundation. “They have dedicated themselves to academics, service and leadership, and we can’t wait to see the great things they will accomplish in the world.”
The NMSU Foundation Alumni Committee’s Outstanding Graduate Award is a respected and enduring tradition at the university and a significant distinction for its recipients. This semester’s winners will be recognized at the Outstanding Graduates Luncheon on Friday, May 9, 2025, on the NMSU Foundation website at AlwaysAnAggie.org, and on the @NMSUAlumFriends social media pages.
NMSU, a Carnegie R1 university, is known for its outstanding academic programs, highly respected faculty and nationally recognized research. The university takes pride in its track record of consistently producing exceptional degree candidates, providing a high-quality education, and equipping students with the skills and confidence needed to navigate and positively shape the future.
About the NMSU Foundation
Established in 1959, the Foundation is a privately governed, non-profit corporation. The mission of the NMSU Foundation is to foster long-term relationships with alumni, supporters, and the community to secure, manage, steward, and protect a sustainable source of private resources that will enhance the ability of New Mexico State University to fulfill its land-grant mission.