Laguna Development Corporation’s longtime President and CEO Jerry Smith has been selected to receive a 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award from the New Mexico State University Alumni Association. Smith, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree from NMSU’s College of Business, was among those honored during a dinner and awards ceremony at the Las Cruces campus on October 23rd. The recipients were also recognized during Homecoming 2015 festivities on October 24th.Laguna Development Corporation President and CEO Jerry Smith

Upon learning of his selection Smith said, “As a 1977 graduate I will always be an Aggie at heart. It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized by my alma mater with such a prestigious award. I recognize that my loving and supportive family, along with my mentors and colleagues, both past and present, have been instrumental in allowing me to be recognized in this way. I am truly blessed.”

For the past 57 years, the NMSU Alumni Association has presented accomplished alumni with the Distinguished Alumni award. The award carries on the tradition of excellence NMSU has upheld throughout the years and each Distinguished Alumni is selected based on personal accomplishment, professional achievement or charitable service.

This year’s distinguished alumni include:

College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences – Alfred Porter ’78
College of Arts & Sciences, Fine Arts – Nicole Lamartine ’97
College of Arts & Sciences, Humanities – Michael Milam ’62
College of Arts & Sciences, Social Sciences – Louis A. Vega ’91
College of Business – Jerry Smith ’77
College of Education – Steven Allen Sanchez ’04
College of Engineering – Carlos Gutierrez ’63
College of Health and Social Services – Sharon Huerta ’95
International and Border Programs – Jorge Luis Gardea-Torresdey ’86, ’88
(Graduate School/College of Arts & Sciences)