University Library News Release
Date: January 12, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jeanette Smith, NMSU Library, (575) 646-7492, jcsmith@lib.nmsu.edu
Library Co-Sponsors Las Cruces Museum Scavenger Hunt
Visiting museums is rewarding for the cultural and educational reasons alone, but through February 2 you can be rewarded in other ways. Six Las Cruces museums are part of a scavenger hunt prepared by a task force of NMSU students, museum professionals and volunteers. The scavenger hunt is co-sponsored by the Las Cruces Sun-News and the NMSU Library.
The six museums participating in the hunt are the NMSU's University Museum, the Branigan Cultural Center, the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, the Las Cruces Museum of Art, the Las Cruces Museum of Natural History and the Las Cruces Railroad Museum. Forms are available at each of the museums and at sponsoring businesses around Las Cruces. Each museum will stamp the visitor's form. When all six locations have been visited, turn in your stamped entry form at one of the museums for a chance to win prizes valued from $10 to $100.
The drawing for prizes will take place on February 5, 2009, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Arts Celebration at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum. Winners will be notified by phone or email and need not be present to win.
Prizes donated by businesses and organizations include a $100 grand prize, $50 gas cards at Pic Quik of Las Cruces, free car wash passes at Pic Quik of Las Cruces, NMSU volleyball and basketball tickets, a free art class, a Starbucks gourmet coffee basket, a gift basket from the Eagle Ranch Gift Shop and gift certificates from the Beach Apparel Store, DG's University Deli & Coffee Shop, the Game Sports Bar and Grill, La Fuente Mexican Restaurant, Papa John's Pizza and Red Brick Pizza.
NMSU business students Cheryl Abeyta, Blair Braden and Gabriel Lucero worked in conjunction with museum staff and volunteers in a task force to determine projects that would help support local museums. Encouraging people to visit museums was a priority, and the students developed the idea of a scavenger hunt and solicited prizes from local businesses. The students are part of NMSU's small business consulting class Mgt 448/Mgt 548, which has been working under the direction of Professor David Boje and teaching assistant Joe Gladstone for the last semester to find creative and concrete ways to support the arts in Las Cruces.
Student Cheryl Abeyta said, "The scavenger hunt was created to bring awareness and interest to the local city and state museums. The museums have so much to offer, and everyone should take advantage of the great exhibits and information that can be found right outside our front doors. A big plus, the museums are for the most part free admission!"
Cheryl Fallstead, president of the Foundation for Las Cruces Museums and also part of the task force, says she was very impressed with the energy and drive the students showed in getting the project in place before the end of the semester. "We couldn't have asked for more from this dynamic group of creative-thinking students. The business acumen they showed in preparing this project speaks well for their success upon graduation from NMSU."
For more information, please contact Fallstead at (575) 521-3838.
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