The College of Arts and Sciences’ “A Starry Night” fundraiser, which began in 2013, initially supported the Dean’s fund for Excellence for the first few years but more recently has supported Aggie Jumpstart and the Sustaining Academic Progress program funded by the Elizabeth Ayres Pollard Endowment.
However, due to the health restrictions as a result of the worldwide pandemic, the college was forced to postpone the April 2020 ‘A Starry Night’ event and reschedule for the fall semester.
Through the annual gala, the college recognizes individuals who have achieved state, national, or international distinction through their accomplishments and leadership while supporting their community and New Mexico State University’s College of Arts and Sciences, while raising funds to support the college. This year’s fundraiser will support the Sustaining Academic Progress program.
“Over the years, funds raised through this event have provided students, faculty and staff with needed resources,” said Enrico Pontelli, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “However, during the pandemic with so many students losing their jobs, the Sustaining Academic Progress program is even more important to help with emergency financial assistance to allow undergraduate students to continue their higher education goals.”
The Sustaining Academic Progress program, supported by the Elizabeth Ayres Pollard Endowment, provides financial aid designed to help students in the College of Arts and Sciences who have demonstrated sustained or improved academic performance in meeting their degree requirements, but who have an outstanding balance with the university that prevents them from registering for classes.
“The fund helps these students pay down their outstanding balance, allowing them to enroll and to progress towards their degree in the next academic semester,” said Pontelli. “The program is open to any student who has a declared major in the College of Arts and Sciences, is in good standing with an overall GPA of 2.5 or above and has completed at least two semesters at the NMSU Las Cruces campus.”
Learn more about the Sustaining Academic Progress program and how to give online at http://nmsu.life/25.