Latest news with #CentralNewMexicoCommunityCollege
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
CNM breaks ground on transportation technology center
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE) – Local students pursuing a future in skilled trades will soon have an easier pathway into a career. Thursday morning, Central New Mexico Community College and Rio Rancho Public Schools broke ground on a new state-of-the-art transportation technology center on the RioTech campus. Gilman Tunnels in Santa Fe National Forest re-open to the public Once the center is complete, CNM will move its automotive and electric vehicle technology programs to the campus. This comes after the first RioTech campus building opened last month, offering programs in welding, plumbing, carpentry, and more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘A good place to work': Westside ABQ lawmakers open offices, part of modernization push
Albuquerque-area lawmakers cut the ribbon Saturday to mark the official opening of their new legislative offices at CNM Westside, part of a broader modernization push. Lawmakers Sen. Harold Pope, center, along with Rep. Charlotte Little, second from left, and Rep. Joy Garratt, while share the office space. (Photo by Patrick Lohmann / Source NM) A trio of Albuquerque-area Democratic lawmakers opened an in-person office space in a community college campus Saturday, one of several recent office openings that the legislators hope will boost services for constituents and also build momentum for a professional, paid Legislature in the near future. Newly hired district legislative aides for Sen. Harold Pope, state Rep. Joy Garratt and state Rep. Charlotte Little will regularly work from a newly leased office space at Central New Mexico Community College's Westside campus. The office is in the 'WSII' building on the north side of campus. Thanks to a provision in the state budget two years ago, at least 20 House lawmakers have opened individual or shared office spaces since late last year in or near their districts, according to Pamela Armstrong, spokesperson for the office of House Speaker Javier Martinez (D-Albuquerque). More offices are expected to open soon, she said. The same provision allowed lawmakers to hire paid legislative aides. NM legislative recap Feb. 12: It's still too cold to harvest, but the session is heating up Garratt, whose District 29 covers from Albuquerque's West Side to Laguna Pueblo, told Source New Mexico at the Saturday ribbon-cutting that, outside of the obvious benefit of the office being 'a good place to work' where constituents can reach their representatives year-round, the new office could demonstrate to the public why a more professional, modern Legislature is needed. 'Step one is actually having a staff person. Step two is having a space other than Starbucks, Panera Bread and a local coffee shop. Step three, and this is something I've worked on for three sessions, is modernization, paid legislators,' she said. New Mexico's remains the only unpaid Legislature in the country, though lawmakers receive per diem payments during the session and for interim committee meetings. Lawmakers and good-government advocates say paying lawmakers would elicit better candidates and reduce the influence of lobbyists or other outside interests. 'I think if people see the effectiveness of being able to easily contact your state legislator, I think there would be greater public support,' Garratt said. 'If we do our jobs. They'll see it's beneficial. People don't know their state legislators. I got an angry phone call yesterday saying, 'Congressman Garratt, what are you going to do about the Trump budget?'' Lawmakers this year considered a joint resolution, which, if approved by voters, would create a commission that would determine and approve lawmaker salaries. But it never made it out of the Senate. An independent review of the legislation noted that a base salary of $50,000, for example, for 112 lawmakers would be cost taxpayers about $5.6 million annually.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Overcoming adversity: How this CNM student became the schools graduation speaker
May 4—While family members and friends of Central New Mexico Community College graduates filed into Tingley Coliseum on Saturday, in a small building just west of the auditorium, Marijke Ypma nervously mulled over the pages of the speech she was set to deliver just an hour later. Ypma was a clear choice to be the student speaker at a graduation event that coincided with CNM's 60th anniversary. She holds a 3.93 GPA, is a member of the honorary society Phi Theta Kappa, has made the dean's list for two semesters, and has bold aspirations for the future. But the path to speak at the largest community college in the state's graduation was full of adversity: childhood trauma from her parent's distressing divorce, a speech impediment, an autism diagnosis at age 11 and both her mother and her grandmother being diagnosed with cancer in recent years. Despite being accepted to multiple four-year universities, including the two largest in New Mexico — the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University — Ypma elected to attend CNM and ease into the post-secondary experience. "I wasn't sure I'd be able to handle a change or maybe properly communicate with my peers and professors. I would doubt myself, and thoughts would cross my mind: 'What if I'm alone again,' she said, speaking to the over 900 graduates and the thousands of attendees. "However, even through all of these challenges, CNM opened its doors to me." She would later walk the stage and receive her graduation certificates in American Sign Language and Early Childhood Development and is on track to receive her associate's degree next May. During her speech, Ypma said her journey at CNM began when she was 4 years old, recalling laying in her mother's lap while she studied. "I totally started bawling there because it was so true," Francine Cala, Ypma's mother, told the Journal following the ceremony. While Cala did not want to discuss the divorce from Ypma's father, she acknowledged its impact on her daughter. She also suspected from an early age that Ypma might be on the autism spectrum, noting that she often played by herself and struggled to make friends. "It's just amazing how much she has progressed. I'm just amazed, and then to see her on the stage, oh my God, I'm even getting teary-eyed now because that wasn't her. She's just blossomed into this beautiful person," Francine Cala said. She credited her mother, Ypma's grandmother, Maureen Cala, with teaching her to become more independent and comfortable in social settings by taking her on trips to the grocery store and giving her lists of items to pick up. "She never could have done that without the help from my mom, (she) really provided a lot of help for her because I was in school, and then I was working," Francine Cala said. Francine Cala herself received two associate degrees from CNM, which propelled her to work in her current role as a medical assistant at the UNM Cancer Center. But during Ypma's sophomore year of high school, Francine Cala was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer that eventually progressed to stage four. "It was a constant battle of having a fear of waiting," Ypma told the Journal. "I remember having to shave her head as I was managing my high school classes and everything, and then having to deal with just that emotional weight of, 'Will I have a mother tomorrow?'" Her mother's battle with cancer lasted until Ypma was at CNM, when she eventually reached remission, but then Maureen Cala was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. The chemo treatment kept her from being able to attend CNM's graduation, though she did watch a livestream. When she returned home from the graduation ceremony, Francine Cala said Ypma's grandmother told her she was amazed at the speech and how her granddaughter presented herself. After she receives her associate's degree, Ypma plans to continue her studies over 700 miles away in College Station, Texas, at one of the largest public universities in the country: Texas A&M. She hopes to get her Ph.D. in urban education to improve the country's education so that "factors such as poverty, race and living situations do not prevent success and access to quality education." But she acknowledged it would be hard to leave behind her family and new-found friends. "I'm sad about it because I've had so many great teachers, especially in the education (department), and I made friends for the first time that are meaningful and long-lasting, and it hurts having to go," Ypma said. "But I know that if I'm successful in the Ph.D., I'm able to bring change to New Mexico that would benefit us for generations."
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Overcoming adversity: How this CNM student became the schools graduation speaker
May 4—While family members and friends of Central New Mexico Community College graduates filed into Tingley Coliseum on Saturday, in a small building just west of the auditorium, Marijke Ypma nervously mulled over the pages of the speech she was set to deliver just an hour later. Ypma was a clear choice to be the student speaker at a graduation event that coincided with CNM's 60th anniversary. She holds a 3.93 GPA, is a member of the honorary society Phi Theta Kappa, has made the dean's list for two semesters, and has bold aspirations for the future. But the path to speak at the largest community college in the state's graduation was full of adversity: childhood trauma from her parent's distressing divorce, a speech impediment, an autism diagnosis at age 11 and both her mother and her grandmother being diagnosed with cancer in recent years. Despite being accepted to multiple four-year universities, including the two largest in New Mexico — the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University — Ypma elected to attend CNM and ease into the post-secondary experience. "I wasn't sure I'd be able to handle a change or maybe properly communicate with my peers and professors. I would doubt myself, and thoughts would cross my mind: 'What if I'm alone again,' she said, speaking to the over 900 graduates and the thousands of attendees. "However, even through all of these challenges, CNM opened its doors to me." She would later walk the stage and receive her graduation certificates in American Sign Language and Early Childhood Development and is on track to receive her associate's degree next May. During her speech, Ypma said her journey at CNM began when she was 4 years old, recalling laying in her mother's lap while she studied. "I totally started bawling there because it was so true," Francine Cala, Ypma's mother, told the Journal following the ceremony. While Cala did not want to discuss the divorce from Ypma's father, she acknowledged its impact on her daughter. She also suspected from an early age that Ypma might be on the autism spectrum, noting that she often played by herself and struggled to make friends. "It's just amazing how much she has progressed. I'm just amazed, and then to see her on the stage, oh my God, I'm even getting teary-eyed now because that wasn't her. She's just blossomed into this beautiful person," Francine Cala said. She credited her mother, Ypma's grandmother, Maureen Cala, with teaching her to become more independent and comfortable in social settings by taking her on trips to the grocery store and giving her lists of items to pick up. "She never could have done that without the help from my mom, (she) really provided a lot of help for her because I was in school, and then I was working," Francine Cala said. Francine Cala herself received two associate degrees from CNM, which propelled her to work in her current role as a medical assistant at the UNM Cancer Center. But during Ypma's sophomore year of high school, Francine Cala was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer that eventually progressed to stage four. "It was a constant battle of having a fear of waiting," Ypma told the Journal. "I remember having to shave her head as I was managing my high school classes and everything, and then having to deal with just that emotional weight of, 'Will I have a mother tomorrow?'" Her mother's battle with cancer lasted until Ypma was at CNM, when she eventually reached remission, but then Maureen Cala was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. The chemo treatment kept her from being able to attend CNM's graduation, though she did watch a livestream. When she returned home from the graduation ceremony, Francine Cala said Ypma's grandmother told her she was amazed at the speech and how her granddaughter presented herself. After she receives her associate's degree, Ypma plans to continue her studies over 700 miles away in College Station, Texas, at one of the largest public universities in the country: Texas A&M. She hopes to get her Ph.D. in urban education to improve the country's education so that "factors such as poverty, race and living situations do not prevent success and access to quality education." But she acknowledged it would be hard to leave behind her family and new-found friends. "I'm sad about it because I've had so many great teachers, especially in the education (department), and I made friends for the first time that are meaningful and long-lasting, and it hurts having to go," Ypma said. "But I know that if I'm successful in the Ph.D., I'm able to bring change to New Mexico that would benefit us for generations."
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
He once chased kites in Kabul. Now, he's chasing a dream in Downtown Albuquerque.
Apr. 26—Growing up, Ilham Uddin Hussaini used to chase kites with his friends in Afghanistan to escape the realities of a war he didn't really understand. Today, he's chasing a long-held dream of owning a business and providing for his family through a local restaurant that offers a taste of home. Afghan Kebab House, an eatery serving authentic Afghan cuisine in the heart of Downtown Albuquerque, opened earlier this month. Located near the corner of Gold and Third SW, the restaurant serves everything from kebabs to mantu (an Afghan dumpling) and qabuli palow, also known as kabuli pulao (a national Afghan dish featuring rice, caramelized raisins and carrots, and lamb or beef). "I always wanted to have something of my own and to be able to comfortably go home and provide," Hussaini said. "... I'm blessed, to be honest. I love it — every part of it." Hussaini, 26, was born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan, where his brother served as an interpreter and translator for U.S. troops. His brother came to the U.S. and established roots in New Mexico about four years before Hussaini, his parents and seven siblings made the move in 2016. Hussaini, who was 18 when he came to the U.S., completed high school in Afghanistan but had two options after moving to the U.S.: go through high school again or earn his GED. "I chose to go through high school, even though I was 18. When I graduated, I was 20 years old," said Hussaini. "It did help me to learn English and be able to communicate." The restaurant owner went on to obtain an associate degree in business from Central New Mexico Community College in December. Shortly after, Hussaini, inspired by a lack of authentic Afghan restaurants in Albuquerque, started looking for locations to open an eatery. "We do have a couple of places here, but they're more Persian style," Hussaini said. "I wanted to build something authentic with a proper Afghani style." Hussaini found the Downtown spot at 218 Gold SW in March, "instantly fell in love with the place" and signed a lease for three years. The roughly 2,600-square-foot space seats up to 50 people, Hussaini said, through table seating, stool seating and even floor seating for those who want to enjoy their meal Afghani style: crisscross with shoes off. The space is adorned with urban decor and art reflecting Afghan culture. One wall painting features buzkashi, a traditional Central Asian sport played by Hussaini's father, who died two years ago. Hussaini and a friend, Steven Perez, painted the tribute to his father. A kite also hangs in the space — a reminder of where Hussaini came from and the friends who lost parents in the war and joined him in kite-chasing their worries away. "Those little details, it really matters. People really appreciate it, especially in my Afghan community," Hussaini said. Jewelry made by Hussaini's family and women in Afghanistan line one of the restaurant's walls. Hussaini said Afghan Kebab House sends all the proceeds from its jewelry sales to those women, many of whom are widowed or cannot leave the house or conduct business under the rule of the Taliban, which recaptured Kabul after U.S. troops withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021. Hussaini said one $40 jewelry sale can feed a family in Afghanistan for two weeks. The dream, Hussaini said, is to roll out a more expansive menu as he hires more help and to open another location. In the meantime, Hussaini is undergoing what many new business owners know as the startup grind — a grueling but rewarding process. "As a kid, I was just kind of wanting to get rich to help my family and people around me," Hussaini said. "Now, I'm understanding it's not about being super rich. If have leftovers and I see a homeless person or somebody else, I can give them food, and that's how I can feel like I'm rich, and happy."
