Las Cruces – Doña Ana Community College will celebrate the accomplishments of the 2016 Class of Distinguished Alumni including Ashley Burkos, Andrew Paul Montoya, Mike C. Pérez, Greg D. Powe and Christy Lynn Trevino. The alumni were nominated
Burkos is the director of imaging at Gila Regional Medical Center in Silver City. A graduate of the DACC radiologic technology program, she attained her associate degree in 2007. Burkos then went to work at GRMC where she was promoted from staff radiographer to lead computed tomography technologist to director of imaging. She is charged with overseeing seven departments and 36 caregiving professionals. Burkos has earned a bachelor of science degree in radiologic technology and is seeking a masters degree in business administration. She aspires to remain in the healthcare industry and become part of a hospital administration team.
Montoya currently serves as the special education case manager at Centennial High School. After earning an associate of science degree in general studies, he went on to New Mexico State University and attained a bachelor of science in special education and another bachelor of science in secondary education with a concentration in social studies. At Centennial, Montoya developed a program for underrepresented and underserved students to create systems of support and leadership development to transition those students into post-secondary education to earn a college degree. He organized and led the Technology Committee to bring 21st century technology into the classroom.
Pérez is the project manager and CAD drafter for Architectural Resource Team (ART) in Phoenix. He received his associate of applied science degree in architectural technology from DACC in 2001 and was a member of the Dean’s List and a Crimson Scholar. Pérez has been with ART for the past fifteen years. His responsibilities have grown with the company to include leading his own project management team. He has been involved in projects for numerous businesses and organizations including Discount Tire Stores in eleven states, schools, car dealerships, city parks and light rail. Before studying at DACC, Pérez worked in several different fields including the copper industry at several mines in Grant County.
Powe is the facilities manager at the Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space at Spaceport America. He worked for 20 years at the White Sands Space Harbor providing astronaut training and landing opportunities for the space shuttle program. When the program ended he continued to work at White Sands until 2011. After being laid off, he realized new skills were required to be marketable. Through the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions he enrolled in classes at DACC. After successful completion he was hired at Spaceport America as a program manager. Shortly afterward he was hired by Virgin Galactic as the facilities manager at the Gateway to Space. He also assists the Las Cruces Public Schools Challenger Learning Center.
Trevino is a certified tumor registrar with the University of New Mexico, New Mexico Central Tumor Registry. She came to Las Cruces as a single mother looking for a new life. After being laid off from a position she realized that education could help. She entered the DACC health information technology program which teaches students the diverse administrative and technical skills necessary to process, analyze, and report health information. After graduating she was hired by UNM as a medical abstractor to collect cancer data for the Tumor Registry. She passed the Certified Tumor Registrar Examination in 2013. Her interest in cancer research is also personal as her father was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The event will take place at noon in the commons area of the DASR building on the East Mesa Campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd. on Saturday, October 1.