Mayor Louie Trujillo presents President Sam Minner with Buen Vecino award
February 23, 2022
On Monday, February 21, 2022, Las Vegas Mayor Louie Trujillo honored Highlands University President Sam Minner with the Buen Vecino award in ceremony at the train station.
Mayor Trujillo said he began giving out Buen Vecino awards when he was elected in 2020.
“The awards are given to people who have made contributions to our community,” said Trujillo. “It’s a pleasure working with President Minner. He is one of the most involved university presidents in our community that we’ve had in a long time.”
President Minner said that like many people who come into leadership positions from teaching, he has had to learn how to lead in a style that suits him. Minner describes himself as a “servant leader” and said this means acting in service of the students, faculty, and staff, as well as the surrounding community. He said he is honored to have received the Buen Vecino award recognizing his dedication to service.
“I have lived here have for some time now, but to be called a friend of the city as a newcomer is really special to me,” said Minner.
The Buen Vecino award began before the formation of the Vecinos Juntos, or Neighbors Together, partnership formed by the mayor and area schools, but Mayor Trujillo credits President Minner as an active member of the group and commended his participation in the group’s many service projects.
“We got together and decided to establish the organization for the betterment of the community,” said Minner. “As leaders of these schools, we committed to bringing together volunteers to help the city with various projects.”
Mayor Trujillo said that while New Mexico Highlands University has always been a big part of the Las Vegas Community, the university has made an even bigger impact on the community under Minner’s leadership.
“The Buen Vecino award is given to people who have made contributions to our community,” said Trujillo. “President Minner is so valuable to us.”
“I absolutely believe in serving people,” said Minner. “That’s the leadership model I’ve adhered to for a long time now.”