2022 Winners
Max Baca – Distinguished Alumnus
Justin Montoya – Distinguished Young Alumnus
Carmelita Sanchez – Forever Cowboy Student Award
Rosemarie Montoya – Highlands Spirit Award
2021 Winners
Rita Jaramillo – Distinguished Alumna
Leon Bustos – Distinguished Young Alumnus
Briana Zollner – Forever Cowboy Student Award
Michelle Bencomo – Spirit Award
2020 Winners
LouElla Marr-Montoya – Distinguished Alumna
Isaac & Shawna Sandoval – Distinguished Young Alumni
Becca Sharp – Forever Cowboy Student Award
Sara Mathews – Spirit Award
2019 Winners
Hector Hernandez – Distinguished Alumnus
Julio P. Garcia – Distinguished Young Alumnus
Jake Covington – Forever Cowboy Student Award
Michael Shivers – Spirit Award
2018 Winners
Stephanie Gurule-Leyba – Distinguished Alumna
Joannes Paulus-Yimbesalu – Distinguished Young Alumnus
Steven Salinas – Forever Cowboy Student Award
Andrea Southworth – Spirit Award
Amber Wiese – Spirit Award
2017 Winners
Tomas Salazar – Distinguished Alumnus
Christopher Gutierrez – Distinguished Young Alumnus
Loretta Salazar – Distinguished Retired Faculty
Darlene Chavez – Distinguished Retired Staff
John (Jeb) Barlow Reid – Spirit Award
Luisa Pacheco – Forever Cowboy Student Award
2016 Winners
Roman Maes – Distinguished Alumnus
Joe Winkler – Distinguished Young Alumnus
Bob Mishler – Distinguished Retired Faculty
Susie Maestas – Distinguished Retired Staff
Leon Bustos – Forever Cowboy Student Award
Jennifer Lindline – Spirit Award
2015 Winners
Dr. Von Evans Jr. – Distinguished Alumnus
Vickie Oldman – John-Distinguished Alumna
Dr. Margaret Vázquez – Geffroy-Distinguished Professor Emeritus
2014 Winners
Shaun Sanchez – Distinguished Alumnus
Harry Leippe – Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Mike Melton – Spirit Award
2013 Winners
Dr. Dewayne Mathews – Distinguished Alumnus
Joseph E. Montoya – Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. Charles Leo Martinez – Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Dr. Sylvester Perez, BA ’72, MA ‘78 – Distinguished Alumnus
Elivra Struck-Torres – Distinguished Family Award
Albert & Jacquie Girard – Ivan Hilton Award
Sam & Ethel Ballen – Legacy Maker
Drs. Robert Bell & Stirling Puck – Legacy Maker
Ken & Sue Crimmin – Legacy Maker
Ivan J. Hilton – Legacy Maker
Illfeld Family – Legacy Maker
Mike & Patricia Koldyke – Legacy Maker
Levenson Family – Legacy Maker
Ray & Joyce Litherland – Legacy Maker
Los Alamos National Security – Legacy Maker
Frank & Kathleen Marchi – Legacy Maker
Emiteria Martinez-Robinson-Viles – Legacy Maker
Col. William Salman Family – Legacy Maker
Leveo & Patricia Sanchez – Legacy Maker
Lorraine Shula – Legacy Maker
Carmen Shein – Legacy Maker
Taichert Family – Legacy Maker
Drs. George & Sheryl Talbot – Legacy Maker
Beverly Washburn – Legacy Maker
John Wilson – Legacy Maker
Donna Keserich – Peters-Spirit Award
Christine & Salomon Wright – Spirit Award
2012 Winners
Felicia Ortiz, BBA ’01 – Distinguished Alumna
Dr. John Heflin, BA ’63 – Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. Alice S. Sandoval, BA ’68 – Distinguished Emeritus Professor
Charlie Sandoval – Ivan Hilton Award
Kerry Loewen – Ambassador Award
Les Montoya – Ambassador Award
Louella Marr-Montoya – Ambassador Award
Tom McDonald – Ambassador Award
Sharon Vander Meer – Ambassador Award
Dr. Robert Bell – Grand Marshal
2011 Winners
Robert Atencio, BA ’87 – Distinguished Alumnus
Judy Lockhart-DiGregorio, BA ’64 – Distinguished Alumna
Dr. Louis Guillette Jr., BA ’76 – Distinguished Alumnus
Ane Romero, BA ’04 – Distinguished Young Alumna
Dr. Gabino Rendon – Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Carlos & Josie Crespin – Distinguished Family
1981 Cowboy Football Team – Spirit Award
Frank Marchi, BA ’67 – Spirit Award
Coach Fred Bleil – Spirit Award
2010 Winners
Wilfred Billey, BA ‘52, MA ’64 – Distinguished Alumnus
Herman Garcia, BA ’75 – Distinguished Alumnus
Patricia Gallegos, MSW ’95 – Distinguished Alumna
Forrest Harris, BA ’60 – Distinguished Alumnus
Tom Veit, MS ’97 – Distinguished Alumnus
Aaron Juarros, BFA ’97 – Distinguished Young Alumnus
Robert Mishler – Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Robert Bell – Ivan Hilton Award
David Varrato, BA ’64 – Spirit Award
Delta Zeta & Kappa Theta – Spirit Award
2009 Winners
Dr. Melvyn E. Huckaby, BS ’58 – Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. Robert Amai – Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Margaret Rael Gonzales – Distinguished Family
Carmen Shein – Ivan Hilton Award
Association of Emeritus & Retired Faculty – Spirit Award
Dr. Charles Leo Martinez – Spirit Award
2008 Winners
Camille Skora Bohannan, BA ’68 – Distinguished Alumna
Dr. Kathleen Elaine Forrer, BA ’68 – Distinguished Alumna
Dr. Kathleen Holcomb, BA ’64 – Distinguished Alumna
Dr. John B. Mondragon, BA ‘57, MA ’58 – Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. D. Pauline Rindone, BA ’64 – Distinguished Alumna
F. William Trescott, BA ’56 – Distinguished Alumnus
Matie R. Viles – Ivan Hilton Award
Rita Gonzales & Gil Gallegos – Spirit Award
The Bank of Las Vegas – Spirit Award
2007 Winners
Margie Crespin-Seay-Maez, BA ‘60, MA ’62 – Distinguished Alumna
John Loehr, BA ’64 – Distinguished Alumnus
Judge Orlinda Lourdes-Naranjo, BA ’76 – Distinguished Alumna
Dr. Michael Nykios, BA ’58 – Distinguished Alumnus
Ken & Sue Crimmin – Ivan Hilton Award
Inez Gallegos-Lujan, BA ’92 – Spirit Award
Clark Kesler, BA ‘59, MA ’60 – Spirit Award
2006 Winners
Dr. Ted Baca, BA ‘64, MA ’67 – Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. Marin Bucco, BA ’52 – Distinguished Alumnus
Rebecca Vigil-Giron, BA ’91 – Distinguished Alumna
Darwin Ludi, BS ’68 – Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. James E. Rudolph, BA ‘56, MS ’57 – Distinguished Alumnus
Adam Trujillo, BA ’60 – Distinguished Alumnus
Ernest T. & Margaret A. (Revell) Quintana – Distinguished Family
Ted Maestas, BA ‘59, MA ’70 – Spirit Award
2005 Winners
Dr. Edward Baca, BA ’67 – Distinguished Alumnus
Larry Brooks, BS ’78 – Distinguished Alumnus
Honorable Jay Harris, BA ’66 – Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. Jerry Humpert, BA ‘66, MA ’70 – Distinguished Alumnus
Orlando & Sofia (Maes) Sanchez Family – Distinguished Family
Dr. Robert Bell – Ivan Hilton Award
Dorothy L. Maese-Warfield-Atkins – Spirit Award
2004 Winners
Dr. Gerald “Skip” Jubb, BA ’65 – Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. Sue Mauer-Mahan, BA ’65 – Distinguished Alumna
Lillian Lopez-Tafoya, BA ’56 – Distinguished Alumna
Jose Absolon & Maria Lobrada-Gallegos Family – Distinguished Family
Patricia Marie Gallegos- Gonzalez, BA ’64 – Spirit Award
Barbara Barnes Norrell, BA ’74 – Spirit Award
2003 Winners
Rudolph Adams, BA ’60 – Distinguished Alumnus
Tina Cordova, BS ‘81, MS ’83 – Distinguished Alumna
Phillip Gonzales, BA ‘39, MA ’46 – Distinguished Alumnus
Edward J. Groth, BA ‘57, MA ’61 – Distinguished Alumnus
Lisle Hosford Family – Distinguished Family
Linda Mitchel Davis – Ivan Hilton Award
Mel Root, BA ‘57, MA ’57 – Spirit Award
2002 Winners
Sherell Leslie Bottorff, BA ‘63, BA ’66 – Distinguished Alumna
Dr. Joseph W. McCaffrey, BA ‘60, MS ’61 – Distinguished Alumnus
Frank McCulloch, MA ’55 – Distinguished Alumnus
Shattuck Family – Distinguished Family
Ivan Ray & Joyce Litherland – Ivan Hilton Award
Jim Deaton, BA ’68 – Spirit Award
Romona Deaton, BA ‘67, MA ’68 – Spirit Award
2001 Winners
Eloy H. Gonzalez, BA ’72 – Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. Jesse W. Jones, MS ’56 – Distinguished Alumnus
Robert J. Torrez, BA ‘70, MA ’73 – Distinguished Alumnus
John Basil & Mabel Procter Family – Distinguished Family
Robert L. Levenson – Ivan Hilton Award
James A. Maes, BA ’69 – Spirit Award
2000 Winners
Dr. Charles Mitchell, BA ‘55, MA ’57 – Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. Patricio Quintana, BA ‘57, MA ’58 – Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. Genevieve Robinson, MA ’74 – Distinguished Alumna
Tony & Pauline Aragon Family – Distinguished Family
G. Doyle Daves Ph.D – Ivan Hilton Award
Ruth Mares, BA ’79 – Spirit Award
1999 Winners
Robert A. Jacobson, BS ‘72, MBA ’74 – Distinguished Alumnus
Honorable Don G. Svet, BS ’68 – Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. Emma Johanne Thomas-Smith, MS ’66 – Distinguished Alumna
Carlos N. & Lillie A. Lovato Family – Distinguished Family
Sam Ballen – Ivan Hilton Award
Dr. Barbara A. Perea-Casey, BA ‘72, MA ’73 – Spirit Award
1998 Winners
James J Cole, BA ’65 – Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. Sara M. Harris, BA ‘72, MA ’74 – Distinguished Alumna
Dr. Clarence Rodriguez, BS ’77 – Distinguished Alumnus
Carlos & Mary Rodriguez Family – Distinguished Family
Lee Calderwood – Ivan Hilton Award
James Mandarino, BA ’66 – Spirit Award
1997 Winners
Dr. Dennis McCabe, BA ‘65, MA ’69 – Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. Mary Louise McCabe, BA ‘65, MA ’68 – Distinguished Alumna
Vera Thompson Treadway, BA ‘60, MA ’63 – Distinguished Alumna
Jose Inez & Eva R. Lopez Family – Distinguished Family
Franken Family – Ivan Hilton Award
Louella Marr-Montoya, BA ‘73, MA ’75 – Spirit Award
1996 Winners
Frank Marchi, BA ‘67 – Distinguished Alumnus
Walter O’Neill, BA ’59 – Distinguished Alumnus
Rose & Michael Naranjo Family – Distinguished Family
Sunwest Banks – Ivan Hilton Award
Phillip J. Wolff – Spirit Award
1995 Winners
Dr. William Magnum, BA ’53 – Distinguished Alumnus
Salvo Family – Distinguished Family
Vickie & Vince Howell, BA ’69 – Ivan Hilton Award
Dr. Patrick Romero – Spirit Award
1994 Winners
Leverne Hanners, BA ’62 – Distinguished Alumna
Dr. Leroy Townsend, BA ‘55, MA ’57 – Distinguished Alumnus
Quintana-Tenorio Family – Distinguished Family
E.R. Dick Greene, MA ’72 – Ivan Hilton Award
Alfred “Chemo” Gallegos – Spirit Award
1993 Winners
S. Omar Barker (Posthumous), BA ’24 – Distinguished Alumnus
Mary Ludi, BA ‘40, MA ’56 – Distinguished Alumna
Marshall Plummer, BA ’74 – Distinguished Alumnus
Squire-Barker Family – Distinguished Family
NMHU Booster Club – Spirit Award
1992 Winners
Dr. Thomas Daves, BS ’60 – Distinguished Alumnus
B. Thomas Vigil, BA ’68 – Distinguished Alumnus
Matias A. Zamora – Distinguished Alumnus
Crisanta & Placido Padilla Family – Distinguished Family
Rose Ellen Martinez – Spirit Award
1991 Winners
Dr. Joseph Lopez, BS ’72 – Distinguished Alumnus
Arthur “Casey” Martinez, BA ’60 – Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. Manuel T. Pacheco, BA ’72 – Distinguished Alumnus
Consuelo A. Valdez, MA ’73 – Distinguished Alumnus
Manuel & Elizabeth Pacheco Family – Distinguished Family
Max Madrid Jr. – Ivan Hilton Award
Delano Garcia – Spirit Award
1990 Winners
Herbert Fackler, MA ’65 – Distinguished Alumnus
Benny E. Flores, BA ’63 – Distinguished Alumnus
Michael Franck, BA ’68 – Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. John Greenleaf, MA ’56 – Distinguished Alumnus
Phillip M. Ludi, BA ‘45, MA ’48 – Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. Alan Morgan, BA ‘69, MA ’71 – Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. Louis Pigno, MA ’62 – Distinguished Alumnus
Robert S. Amai Ph. D – Ivan Hilton Award
Edward J. Groth, BA ‘57, MA ’61 – Spirit Award
1989 Winners
Peter Priscilla Paiz-Fernandez, BA ’66 – Distinguished Alumnus
Stanley F. Frost, BA ’62 – Distinguished Alumnus
Pablo Mares, BA ’39 – Distinguished Alumnus
Neva Price Wilson – Ivan Hilton Award
Dewayne Mathews, BA ’80 – Spirit Award
1988 Winners
Jimmie C. Begay, BA ’72 – Distinguished Alumnus
Jack Kroehnke, BA ’53 – Distinguished Alumnus
Victoria D. De Sanchez, BA ’44 – Distinguished Alumna
Dr. Gustavus J. Simmons, BS ’55 – Distinguished Alumnus
Col. William Salman, BA ’66 – Ivan Hilton Award
William E. Garcia, BA ‘66 – Spirit Award
1985 Winners
Roger L. Dixon, BA ’70 – Distinguished Alumnus
1984 Winners
Aileen Garcia, BA ’65 – Distinguished Alumna
William E. Garcia, BA ’66 – Distinguished Alumnus
1983 Winners
Patrick J. Baca, BA ’50 – Distinguished Alumnus
Kate Frampton, BA 1898 – Distinguished Alumna
David Smoker, BA ’64 – Distinguished Alumnus
1982 Winners
Gilbert “Gillie” Lopez, BA ’49 – Distinguished Alumnus
Samuel F. Vigil, BA ‘56, MA ’75 – Distinguished Alumnus
1981 Winners
F. Eugene Purcell, BS ’56 – Distinguished Alumnus
Lionel Taylor, BA ’58 – Distinguished Alumnus
1980 Winners
Joe Angel – Distinguished Alumnus
Tonie Angel – Distinguished Alumnus
1979 Winners
Agnes Dill, BA ’37 – Distinguished Alumna
Joe Hardy, BA ’54 – Distinguished Alumnus
John Salvo, BA ‘54, MA ’70 – Distinguished Alumnus
1978 Winners
J. Placido Garcia, BA ’57 – Distinguished Alumnus
Virgil Henry, BA ’34 – Distinguished Alumnus
Leveo V. Sanchez, BA ’54 – Distinguished Alumnus
1977 Winners
Margaret Herrera, BA ’53 – Distinguished Alumna
Dr. Mari-Luci Jaramillo, BA ’55 – Distinguished Alumna
Alex Mercure, MA ’61 – Distinguished Alumnus
1976 Winners
Charles Cowan, AS ’61 – Distinguished Alumnus
Earl Nun, MA ’43 – Distinguished Alumnus
Ben Roybal, BA ’76 – Distinguished Alumnus
1975 Winners
Editha Bartley, BA ’54 – Distinguished Alumna
Eloy E. Martinez, BA ’56 – Distinguished Alumnus
Daisy Rice, BA ’48 – Distinguished Alumna
Joe L. Singleton, BA ’62 – Distinguished Alumnus
C.B. Trujillo, BA ’56, MA ’63 – Distinguished Alumnus
John A. Wilson, BA ’48 – Distinguished Alumnus