NMSU staff, retirees leave a legacy with Cornerstone Endowment

To commemorate NMSU’s founding in 1888, the NMSU Foundation launched the Cornerstone Endowment, offering faculty, staff and retirees of NMSU and the Foundation a unique opportunity to leave a legacy benefiting students and the university. 

The Cornerstone Endowment was named after the Old Main cornerstone, carved from the Organ Mountains and found in front of Hadley Hall on the NMSU Las Cruces campus. It’s the only remaining relic from NMSU’s first administrative building. 

NMSU Foundation CEO Sylvia Y. Acosta ’10 created the Cornerstone Endowment to give NMSU employees and retirees a meaningful and financially manageable way to give back to the university they cherish. 

“Our faculty and staff are the heart of NMSU. They believe in the mission and vision of this institution and see firsthand the transformative power of a college degree in our students’ lives,” Acosta says.

Since its launch in April 2024, more than a dozen Cornerstone Endowments are in the works. Donors can tailor their impact by focusing on scholarships or programs in specific colleges or departments.

“The NMSU Foundation’s opening of the Cornerstone Endowment provided me with the opportunity to give back,” says Kristi Martin, vice president of strategic initiatives and relationships at Doña Ana Community College. “Witnessing firsthand the exceptional quality of our educational system and the talented people it produces, I feel truly honored to support both DACC and NMSU.”

The first awards from Cornerstone Endowments will be available during the 2025-2026 academic year. Contributions can be made through a one-time gift, pledge, or for current employees, payroll deduction, with the option to spread payments over up to five years, or 120 pay periods. All gifts have a 5% administrative fee.

To set up a Cornerstone Endowment, contact the NMSU Foundation at 575-646-1613 or email annualgiving@nmsufoundation.org.