Teen Leadership Banquet scheduled for June 28 | Local News

The Leadership Roswell Alumni Association (LRAA) will hold its annual awards banquet on June 28 at 6 p.m. at the Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU-R) Instructional Technology Center (ITC), 25 W . Mathis St.

LRAA Banquet Committee Chairman Patrick Smith said the awards banquet had been celebrated for more than 20 years.

“The banquet aims to celebrate the achievements of the 2024 LRAA award recipients, who have given back to the community,” he said.

The association's 2024 individual award winners, selected by the LRAA Board of Directors, are: Rick Hale, Lifetime Achievement Award; Helen Wakefield, Outstanding Leader Award; Margaret Rodriguez, Commitment to Youth Award; and Hannah Kennon, Roswell Alumni Leadership Award.

Smith said the LRAA will present an organizational excellence award for the second time at this year's banquet. The winner for 2024 is ENMU-R.

“They are very generous and we are grateful to have them as an important partner,” Smith said.

Smith said the awards banquet is the largest annual revenue-raising event for the LRAA.

He said proceeds raised at the banquet support association activities such as an election season candidate forum for municipal, state and school board elections; the Teen Leadership Institute, where juniors and seniors from local high schools learn leadership skills, build confidence and hone their teamwork. It also supports LRAA scholarship programs and other community development activities.

According to a press release, the LRRA is made up of individuals who graduate each year from the Roswell Leadership class supported by the Roswell Chamber of Commerce. The association was established in 1996 with the aim of continuing to improve leadership skills, promoting those who step out of their comfort zone to become community leaders, providing leadership training to secondary school leaders of the region and to continue networking within the organization.

The public is invited to attend the banquet and the awards ceremony.

Reservations are required by June 17 and can be made by calling or texting Patrick Smith at 970-903-7533, or by contacting Smith by email at [email protected].