12/22 Education Digest

Afterschool program money short

New Mexico is one of 26 states that were not able to provide any new grants for afterschool programs in 2005, according to an Afterschool Alliance press release. The non-profit public awareness and advocacy organziation conducted research which shows the state received more than $9 million for afterschool program funding, all of which was needed to keep previously funded programs afloat, the release said.

The grant-making freeze, the press release said, is “a direct result of the federal government’s failure to realize the vision of No Child Left Behind,” which includes unfunded mandates.

For the full Afterschool Alliance report, visit http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/Impossible_choices.cfm.

ENMU closed for winter break

Eastern New Mexico University in Portales will be closed from 5 p.m. today through Jan. 2, for winter break, a ENMU press release said.

The campus will re-open at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 3, the release said. Currently enrolled students, after visiting with their adviser, can register for the spring semester by logging on to the campus web site at http://www.enmu.edu, the release said. Those not currently enrolled should contact the Admissions Office at 1-800-FOR-ENMU or 562-2178, according to the release.

The spring semester begins Jan. 17.

Ambassador program takes Clovis students

Four Clovis students were accepted into the People to People Student Ambassador Program, designed to offer students exposure to different cultures and countries. Each student must raise about $5,000 to participate. They accepted students are as follows:

• Martina Barela, eigth-grader at Yucca

• Rebecca Davis, seventh-grader at Gattis

• Megan Donovan, eighth-grader at Gattis

• Holli Watson, sixth-grader at Sandia Elementary

Education Digest is compiled by CNJ staff writer Marlena Hartz. She may be contacted at 763-6991, or by e-mail: [email protected]