Date:
9/18/2006
Contact: Robert Vartabedian at 505.562.2312
Reporter: Brittany Nielsen
Portales, NM—Eastern New Mexico University and Sunland Peanuts have teamed up to produce scholarships for students. Jimmie Shearer of Sunland Peanuts and ENMU's Department of Communicative Arts and Sciences, Department of Art, and College of Business spent the better part of a year preparing the groundwork for the new scholarship program.
The ENMU "Peanut Project" is a student-run effort. With guidance from faculty members, students began the campaign, "Investing in Education: One Peanut at a Time." Sunland Peanuts has donated peanuts at cost for the fund-raising effort. Net profits will benefit ENMU scholarships that all students will be able to apply for.
The 'Peanut Project' is a collaborative effort providing students with not only hands-on experience, but scholarship opportunities. Students are required to work outside their disciplines for the campaign.
ENMU is one of very few universities in the nation to team up with a local business to fund scholarships. Instead of a paid professional staff, the project features students.
"This is a unique opportunity for students to gain experience working on an actual campaign," said Dr. Janet Roehl, professor of communication. "The campaign has brought students together from a variety of majors on one project. It is rewarding to see students in public relations work with art majors, and broadcast majors working with journalists."
Even though design work wrapped up at the end of the spring semester, a new team has picked up the project for the fall semester, working on sales and promotions. "It's an exciting time for students and Eastern," Roehl said.
The Peanut Project officially kicks off with a press conference at 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29 in front of the new ENMU Communication Center building.
For more information, call Robert Vartabedian, vice president for Academic Affairs at ENMU, at 505.562.2312, or e-mail Robert.vartabedian@enmu.edu.