SOCORRO, N.M. – The annual 49ers Celebration – New Mexico Tech’s homecoming – features a weekend full of fun activities on campus and around town from Tuesday to Sunday, Oct. 16 to 21.

Click here for the complete schedule and registration information.

The week’s schedule includes movie night at the Loma on Tuesday, a performance by SIRO-A dance troupe on Wednesday at Macey Center, and comedy night featuring Carlos Mencia on Thursday. The celebration gets into full swing Friday (an academic holiday) with a full day of activities.

A major annual highlight of 49ers is the annual Paint the ‘M’ event on the morning of Friday, Oct. 19. This is the only time during the year that the general public is allowed on ‘M’ Mountain. Students are invited to carry 50-pound sacks of marble dust up the mountain to help give the ‘M’ its annual makeover. The first 20 students (or teams of students) to reach the ‘M’ with marble dust will earn $50. Alumni and NMT employees are also welcome to take part in the tradition that started in 1910.  The hike is about 2.5 miles and 2,000 feet of elevation change over rugged terrain. 

Dr. Van Romero, V.P. of Research and a graduate of NMT, said “Painting the ‘M’ is much like going to school at Tech – it’s difficult, but worth the effort. Every student should experience this at least once during their career here. It’s a great tradition.”

To jump straight to the registration page, click here.

Other highlights of the annual event include the alumni vs. students rugby match, live music all weekend, a block party on Campus Drive, and casino night. The festivities continue throughout the weekend, with student events, alumni gatherings and other activities around campus and Socorro.

New this year is “Chile Days” on Friday. The Office of Alumni Relations has planned ristra-making demonstrations, chile cook-offs, and a special talk by Dr. Frank Etscorn titled “The Heat of Chile.” People can find cookbooks, T-shirts, and more. Chef Griego of Chartwells will lead a quesadilla explosion as well.

Students, employees, and alumni are invited to take part in a scavenger hunt on campus starting Friday morning. The parade will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, with the theme of “Game On.” People are also invited to test their skills in a Mobile Video Game Truck that will be on campus Friday and Saturday afternoons.

For the second consecutive year, NMT is hosting the Heritage Mining Events Competition. Students will pit their skills against each other in single-stake drilling, gold panning, Swedish sawing, and jack-leg drilling.  

Sunday closes with farewell receptions for alumni during the morning. Also, the NMT Motorsports Club is staging a rally cross on their track near the mud bog pit west of campus.

– NMT –