Ermelinda Quintelas Double Remembrance
For a person who didn't think she wanted to attend college, Ermelinda Quintela has forged an amazing bond with New Mexico State University that goes beyond the four degrees she earned from the university.
It started when she was working for Western Commerce Bank in Carlsbad while she was still in high school. Don Kidd, president of the bank and the man she views as her mentor, approached her to see what her plans were for college. When she told him she didn't think college was for her, he began his sales pitch on the importance of education and preparing one's self for the future.
Soon she had a scholarship to attend NMSU Carlsbad where she was encouraged to "start with the basics." Success there led her to transfer to the main campus in Las Cruces and enroll in the college of business. Her first declared major was finance, but her advisors encouraged her to double major in accounting as well. She earned degrees in both areas in 1988.
Erma's career path has included several positions in the private sector. Along the way she earned her certified public accountant status in 1991 and a master's of accountancy from NMSU in 1993. She is now associate athletic director for business and finance at New Mexico State.
More than that, she is a champion of all things Aggie.
"I loved being in the classroom," she says. "I also love visiting with other alumni and hearing their stories about the impact NMSU had on their lives."
Of course one of the best places to meet these alumni is at athletic events, and Erma is a big fan of Aggie teams.
She also turned her loyalty into strong financial support. Through payroll deductions, she created an endowment honoring her mentor, Don Kidd, in the college of business and another one honoring her father, Ramon Quintela, whom she describes as "a doctor of mechanics."