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UNM-Gallup Art Student Collective members Kayliegh Begay (from left), Aiyana Chavez, Krista Setzer and Chris Aragon walk along the bank of the Duck Pond at The University of New Mexico campus in Albuquerque on Friday, April 7, 2023.

Demystifying the university experience

Categories: Students   Faculty   Staff   Community  

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UNM-Gallup Art Student Collective members get a taste of college life during tour or UNM Albuquerque campus

By Richard Reyes | Monday, April 14, 2023

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Officers of the Art Student Collective at �鶹��Ƶ-Gallup experienced a sample of university life during a recent tour of the UNM Albuquerque campus, including an extensive look at the Department of Art.

Art Student Collective President Kayliegh Begay, Vice President Krista Setzer, Treasurer Aiyana Chavez and Secretary Chris Aragon used money that they raised from selling Halloween candy grams in order to pay for the trip to UNM Albuquerque, which took place Friday, April 7, 2023.

“First, I was really nervous about going because it seems like a big place,” Setzer said of the trip. “But since it was like UNM here but bigger, it was pretty exciting. I’m not as worried about moving to a new place as much anymore because now that I know what it’s like there, it could feel like a home to me.”

Wilson noted how interesting it was to watch the students take awe in the size of the UNM Bookstore when they first arrived but then gradually become more comfortable over the duration of the trip.

“It was a lot of fun,” Aragon said. “I wouldn’t say it fully demystified the campus like Ms. Wilson mentioned earlier. I think doing that in a daytrip is kind of hard considering the scale of the campus, but it definitely helped place my mindset on how big most campuses are and the resources and things that are there for people to make it easier to transition into college. It seems like a huge leap going from a high school to a college, especially if you’re living in dorms with complete strangers, but it’s nice to know there are a lot of things to help you and a lot of people feel the same.”

Begay, Chavez and Aragon are McKinley Academy students while Setzer is a Middle College High School student. All of the students are 17 years old.

Both McKinley Academy and Middle College are dual-enrollment programs located on the UNM-Gallup campus. While students work toward their high school diploma, they take college courses at the same time and can earn an associate degree by the time they graduate.

Begay is a senior and will be graduating in May with an associate degree in general studies. She has been accepted to UNM Albuquerque, and she plans to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art studio.

“When visiting, you meet people and socialize, and they tell you how great of a campus it is, and then you realize you can make connections there as well,” Begay said. “Not only that, but the professors you talk to and faculty have amazing things to say. They really want to work with the students and how they’re going to succeed in life, which I liked.”

Setzer, Chavez and Aragon are juniors with another year at UNM-Gallup ahead of them. Setzer is working toward an associate degree in criminal justice; Chavez is working toward an associate in business with plans to pursue culinary arts; and Aragon is working toward an associate of applied science with plans to enter the veterinary technology program at San Juan College in Farmington.

While UNM may or may not be in all of the students’ futures, they found the experience to be eye-opening and comforting.

“I’d say it made me more excited about college because, honestly, I was thinking of joining the military,” Chavez said. “College didn’t scare me, but I didn’t think it was for me. … It made it more exciting actually being there and seeing it. I feel like if you do an online tour, you don’t get the same vibe. You don’t get to see people interacting. It’s just pictures, but I feel like if you go in person, it’s better. It’s more encouraging.”

There were several ducks, swans and turtles enjoying the pond as well.

“I’m just in love with animals in general, so a place like that is just a really fun and interesting place to be,” Aragon added.

After the trip, Wilson said she wants other UNM-Gallup students to know that the Art Student Collective is an opportunity that is available to them.

“The whole point of that is to create collegiality so y’all can become friends and become a support group for each other,” Wilson told the students. “So, when we’re practicing professional development — like how do you show and sell your artwork and engage with people when exchanging funds — when we do an enriching opportunity, it’s important you do it together.”

To learn more about the Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Division at UNM-Gallup, please visit
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To learn more about the UNM Department of Art in Albuquerque, please visit .