Angelo Miramontes named May Student of the Month at UNM-Valencia

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Pictured from left: Dr. Celestyn Brozek, Dubra Karnes-Padilla, Angelo Miramontes and Dr. Claudia Barreto.

LOS LUNAS, NM (05/17/2011)(readMedia)-- Angelo Miramontes was not nominated by one but two instructors at UNM-Valencia for the May 2011 Student of the Month award.

Both Dr. Claudia Barreto, associate professor in biology, and Dubra Karnes-Padilla, manager of the Fitness and Wellness Education Center, urged the Student of the Month Committee to select Miramontes. They described him as a "congenial scholar" and noted that he motivates his fellow students to learn.

In one course that Dr. Barretto taught Miramontes, she noted, "Angelo showed sincere interest in all the presentations and demonstrated noteworthy poise in making our visitors feel welcomed. His enthusiasm was contagious and made the class climate enjoyable for the diverse students in the class."

Miramontes is a student employee at the fitness center, and Karnes-Padilla said that, "Angelo is an ideal ambassador for the FWEC. He is knowledgeable, professional and obliging."

When Miramontes was presented the Student of the Month Award at the Fitness Center, he was caught by surprise. Dr. Celestyn Brozek, chair of the Student of the Month Committee, had Miramontes in a chemistry class at the time of the presentation.

"I thought it was something for my chemistry lab that he wanted to talk to me about," Miramontes said. "I was surprised."

Miramontes is a member of the UNM-Valencia Class of 2011, and he is completing an associate's degree in general science this spring and will be transferring to main campus in the fall where he will pursue a bachelor's degree in exercise science.

But he is not the only member of his family who is a member of this year's graduating class. His mother, Angela, has been going to school part-time at UNM-Valencia while busy raising her son. She participated with her son in commencement ceremonies and received her associate's degree in business administration.

Miramontes said his mother will be continuing up at main campus as a full-time student in the Anderson Schools of Management at main campus as well next fall.

He was very appreciative of being nominated for the award and noted that getting involved with the Student Support Services/TRiO Program at UNM-Valencia benefitted him in his endeavors. But he particularly emphasized that Karnes-Padilla and Angelica Kozicki, who is also on the staff at the FWEC, "helped me focus on my goals. They helped me with career choices."

Miramontes went straight from high school to UNM-Valencia, and he believes that also helped him succeed because of the extra attention students receive from instructors. "The campus gets you in that mode to be in college," he said.

After completing his bachelor's Miramontes wants to pursue graduate school and eventually obtain a Ph.D. in exercise physiology. And after that?

"Maybe be a trainer or own a gym," he said. "Mom will have her business degree and she could help me manage the gym."