Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Staff Writer
Several area non-profit organizations were awarded a cumulative $22,500 in grant money by Excel Energy last week to help support their programs.
The grant recipients included the following:
• Eastern New Mexico University Foundation’s minority education outreach program
• Clovis Community College’s arts outreach program
• Clovis Main Street’s public art installations
• Quay County Community Foundation’s arts outreach program
• Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails’ Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education program
“(The programs) go through an online grant review process,” said Xcel Energy Spokesperson Wes Reeves.
Grant applicants are selected based on the four categories of arts and culture, education, environment and economics and sustainability, Reeves said.
“We’re looking to build a better community,” he said. “We want our communities to be more vibrant places and these programs help make that possible.”
“Every year since the early 2000s, we’ve submitted a request to Xcel energy for their grant, and they have funded our AMP program (Alliance for Minority Participation),” said ENMU Foundation Executive Director Noelle Bartl.
“They gave us $7,000 this year for the grant,” Bartl said. “Cumulatively, Xcel Energy has donated $56,000 to the AMP program.”
Bartl said AMP “benefits minority students in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs.” She said the goal is also to increase graduation rates for these students and to provide opportunities for hands on experience with STEM studies.
Natalie Daggett, director of resource development for the community college, said the college’s arts outreach program is “a cultural art series” with live performing arts.
Daggett said the program has applied for six years and was rewarded each time.
Grant money is used to pay for artist performances and also to help keep ticket pricing low for the public, Daggett said.
“We really appreciate the long term commitment Xcel Energy has given to the AMP program,” Bartl said. “Many of our student are first generation college students with tremendous financial need, and this really opens up a career opportunity for them with hands on experience in STEM.”
“It’s grants like Xcel Energy that help continue the projects,” Daggett said. “Projects can sometimes come and go, but with continued support, dedication and commitment to arts and education, it really helps us carry through.”
