
About Sam Steel Society
The Sam Steel Council has been established in an effort to support the goals and objectives of the College of ACES and to oversee the operations of the Sam Steel Society, the College of ACES alumni organization.
The council's mission is to assist the College of ACES through recruitment, increasing internship and employment opportunities, public relations advocacy, cultivating political influence and seeking partnerships that support the College of ACES through private donations and gifts.
Letter From the President
Upon graduation from New Mexico State University College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES), seniors are inducted into the Sam Steel Society. They join our college's graduates who, for more than 125 years, have used their knowledge and skills to change the world.
The Society honors the memory of Sam Steel, who would have been the first graduate of our University had he not been murdered.
The Society is overseen by the Sam Steel Society Council whose mission is to support the goals and objectives of the College of ACES through achieving philanthropy goals; assisting with recruitment of students; promoting student, faculty, and alumni engagement; seeking alumni who provide internships and employment opportunities for our future alumni; and advocating on behalf of the University.
Long range, the Council plans to establish scholarships to assist students in need within the ACES family and hopes that you will consider partnering with us to achieve these goals.
Anthony Chavez
Sam Steel Society Council President

Council Members
The council is made up on no more than 17 members of the Sam Steel Society and one current ACES student. All former students of the College of ACES who received a degree are regular members of the Sam Steel Society and are eligible to serve on the council.
The Executive Committee leads the efforts of the Council and includes:
- Ryan Perry, President
- Jennifer Ryder Fox, President-Elect
- Crystal Diamond, Member-At-Large
- Julie Correa, Secretary
- Kelsi Cureton, Treasurer
Other members of the Sam Steel Society Council are:
- Jake Caldwell
- Anthony Chavez
- Kris Chavez
- Ashley Cline
- Kerrie Cox Romero
- Felicia Frost
- Chaddy Robinson
- Claudia Salopek
- A Student Representative

The council has implemented a giving level structure to help raise funds for Sam Steel activities and to assist in developing scholarships to be awarded in the future. With a gift of $25 or more, donors will receive invitations to the quarterly Sam Steel Society mixers across the state. A Sam Steel Giving Pin, which resembles the Sam Steel brand, has been created to give to all donors giving $100 or more to the Sam Steel Society Fund during the calendar year.
While gifts of any amount are welcome, donors will be given the bronze Sam Steel pin with a $100 gift. A $250 gift will allow them to receive a silver Sam Steel pin. With a $500 gift to the fund, a gold Sam Steel pin will be given.
To make a gift to the fund, donations may be made online. The council looks forward to meeting with Sam Steel Society members across the state and welcomes any input members may have.
For more information, contact Cindy Nicholson at 575-646-4665 or any member of the Council.
Annual Giving Levels

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Crimson Level ($1 - $99) - Invitation to all Sam Steel mixers for the year
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Bronze Level ($100 - $249) - Exclusive Bronze Sam Steel Brand Giving Pin; Invitation to all Sam Steel mixers for the year
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Silver Level ($250 - $499)- Exclusive Silver Sam Steel Brand Giving Pin; Invitation to all Sam Steel mixers for the year
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Gold Level ($500 - $999) - Exclusive Gold Sam Steel Brand Giving Pin; Invitation to all Sam Steel mixers for the year; listing on forthcoming College of ACES display (TBD)
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White Level ($1000 - $4999) - Exclusive Gold Sam Steel Brand Giving Pin; Invitation to all Sam Steel mixers for the year; listing on forthcoming College of ACES display (TBD); VIP Package for the NMSU Rodeo/Country Music Festival weekend in the Spring or other comparable event later in the year
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Diamond Level ($5000 - $9999) - Exclusive Gold Sam Steel Brand Giving Pin; Invitation to all Sam Steel mixers for the year; listing on forthcoming College of ACES display (TBD); VIP Package for the NMSU Rodeo/Country Music Festival weekend in the Spring or other comparable event later in the year; and Special Ag Day VIP Package in the Fall
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Platinum Level ($10000 and above) - Exclusive Gold Sam Steel Brand Giving Pin; Invitation to all Sam Steel mixers for the year; listing on forthcoming College of ACES display (TBD); VIP Package for the NMSU Rodeo/Country Music Festival weekend in the Spring or other comparable event later in the year; and Special Ag Day VIP Package in the Fall; one time Sam Steel Scholarship given in your name
* Subject to gifts made to Sam Steel Society Fund between January 1 - December 31
* All gifts are cumulative for the calendar year and any amount is welcome