In 1970, Vice President of Student Affairs Cheo Torres marched with Cesar Chavez in the Rio Grande valley of Texas to promote the rights of farm workers.
At the time, Torres was volunteering as a teacher in south Texas.
Nearly 40 years later, Torres said he continues to donate his time, as a mentor to students and as a promoter of higher education.
"My father was one who gave a lot of his time, and I try to follow in his footsteps," he said. "And I try to follow in the footsteps of Cesar Chavez. He promoted culture. He promoted the dignity of people."
Torres was given the Cesar Chavez Si Se Puede award
Saturday for his commitment to the community and its people, said Chuy Martinez, co-founder of the Cesar Chavez Committee.
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"In Cheo's nomination, aside from his work with the University, he does a lot of outreach out in the community," he said.
Martinez said Torres has worked to improve the recruitment and retention of Hispanic students at UNM.
"It is very important not only because he is Hispanic, but because the University needs to have representatives in the community, and he fulfills that role by outreaching into the community," he said. "That is very important to us."
Torres was given the award partly because of his work to sustain traditional and cultural values within Hispanic communities and his ties to the Mexican government, Martinez said.
"He does a lot of work with traditional medicine or folk medicine, and that is something we don't want to lose in our community," Martinez said.
Torres was appointed to advise Mexican President Felipe Calderon on the issues that face Mexican immigrants in the U.S.
Torres has worked to meet the needs of students at all levels of the University, said Joseph Garcia, president of the Graduate and Professional Student Association.
"He cares about students a lot, and being the highest-ranking Latino on this campus and his being open and accessible to students shows that he is a good role model," he said. "I think he never forgets where he is from. He was a farm laborer, and he never forgets the connection he has to his humble beginnings."
Associated Students of UNM President Ashley Fate said not all students know who Torres is, but every student at UNM is affected by his work.
"Cheo is one of the students' biggest advocates, and he always has the students' interest in mind for every decision that he makes," she said.
Fate said Torres is a champion for students' needs and gives a realistic and honest consideration to issues proposed to his office.
"In the decisions that he makes, it is really apparent that he cares about students," she said. "In the programs that he lobbies for, the majority are student-focused and student-centered."
