SOCORRO, N.M. – Four hundred twenty-nine students, staff, alumni, and community members climbed “M” Mountain behind the New Mexico Tech campus today to re-coat it with marble dust to increase its visibility. The annual “M” Mountain run is a longstanding tradition and a premiere activity during the annual 49ers Celebration at New Mexico Tech. The four-day celebration of alumni achievements, student life, and Miners athletics includes a variety of activities for students, alumni, and the Socorro community to celebrate school spirit. 

The annual ritual of hiking 1,700 feet up Socorro Peak behind the university campus and painting the “M” started more than 100 years ago. The fastest hikers – those running up the mountain – finished the trek in less than an hour. At the top, hot dogs and hamburgers were provided by the Office for Student Life.

A reception for New Mexico Tech alumni the evening of Friday, Oct. 14, at the newly dedicated Raul and Shari Deju University House will feature four alumni awards: “Rising Star Award,” for an alum in their first 10 years after graduation; “Philanthropist of the Year”; “Techie of the Year”; and the “Ambassador Award,” which is given to a faculty member who works with alums.

The Socorro community will join New Mexico Tech students and staff for the annual 49ers Parade, which begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, at Sedillo Park, then winds its way down California Street to the Plaza near Socorro City Hall. More than 50 entries, including clubs and dorms, are expected to participate along with community organizations and local elected officials and candidates.

Other events during the four-day celebration include tours of the Magdalena Ridge Observatory (MRO) and the Very Large Array (VLA), a block party featuring games, food trucks, and music, alumni-student rugby match, and heritage mining events, such as gold panning and Swedish sawing. A schedule of activities and registration information for the 49ers Celebration is on the New Mexico Tech website at: https://www.nmt.edu/advancement/49ers.php