89.9 FM Live From The University Of New Mexico
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

UNM Celebrates 125 Years

Natalia Jácquez

 

In 1889 the University of New Mexico's first students used to catch a horse and buggy from Old Town up the hill to where UNM's first building, Hodgin Hall, stood in Albuquerque.

At noon Friday in the  Student Union Building a birthday cake made up of cupcakes was served to students in honor of UNM's 125th birthday celebration.  

 

President Bob Frank began the birthday celebrations with the State of the University Address. Frank thanked the first families who donated land to build the university.

"That gift helped change a territory into a state and laid the groundwork for countless lives to be changed through education, medical care and research," Frank said. 

 

UNM currently has 37,000 students, over 3,500 faculty members and more than 20,000 employees according to Frank.

 

Shannon Groll is the executive director of Lobo Spirit, the student run group who organizes all the spirited events for UNM. "We had streamers, we had decorations, we had confetti shooters," she described.  "We had a cupcake cake in the shape of 125, party favors, hats, blow horns, we just threw a huge birthday party for UNM today."

 

At the UNM Center for the Arts there will be an exhibition of photos called 125 years of Architecture showing the evolution of the campus throughout the years. 

 

UNM's 125th anniversary celebrations will go on all year, including an anniversary theme during homecoming celebrations in the fall.