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$120,000 Raised for Scholarships for Medical Student Veterans

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Major Al Calvillo
Keynote speaker Major Al Calvillo.

On Saturday, Oct. 26, Las Cruces and the surrounding community came together in support of veterans. Hosted on National Day of the Deployed, the Friends of Military Veterans Scholarship Banquet is organized annually in support of scholarships for medical student veterans or dependents of a veteran.

More than 350 people attended this year’s banquet at the Las Cruces Convention Center, raising approximately $120,000 for students attending the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM).

During the event, six BCOM students with military connections were recognized for their service and awarded scholarships from last year’s event proceeds. The 2019 Friends of Military Veterans Scholarship recipients are:

  • Second-year medical student Logan Foster; served in the U.S. army.
  • Third-year medical student Adam Haley; retired United States Marine Corp (USMC) gunnery sergeant
  • Third-year medical student Noman Manzoor; served in the U.S. Army from 2003-2007.
  • First-year medical student Duell Shaw; served in the U.S. Army.
  • Third-year medical student Carla Tayes; served in the U.S. Air Force from 2005 to 2009

In addition to recognizing students, the event included an inspiring keynote speech by Major Al Calvillo. Major Calvillo is uniquely qualified as a combat medic and physician assistant and is a member of both the United States Army Special Forces (Green Berets) and Army Ranger. He has served on multiple Combat Deployments and sensitive national security missions.

The banquet culminated with a raffle to win a 2020 Hyundai Kona. More than 150 raffle tickets were sold in support of student scholarships. Congratulations to Melissa Ramirez for winning the drawing and supporting veterans.

Watch a video recapping the scholarship banquet below:

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