Seventeen students attended the Legion College in Roswell from March 14-17 to learn about national and department level programs and more.
The American Legion Department of New Mexico held its fourth annual Legion College in Roswell from March 14-17 with 17 students in attendance. The college was facilitated by past National Vice Commander and New Mexico Legion College Dean Paul Espinoza, along with 10 other American Legion instructors who include alumni of the department and National American Legion College, along with the department membership chairman.
“The fourth annual New Mexico Legion College was a great success,” Espinoza said. “Students who attend know what The American Legion is all about and what the four pillars are that we stand for. They also understand what we do internally throughout the department and throughout the nation as The American Legion.”
The New Mexico Legion College curriculum mimics that of National American Legion College with a focus on the four pillars, membership and programs. The students write two resolutions, learn how to run an effective post meeting, conduct a mock post meeting, learn mentorship and leadership skills, have homework, conduct team building exercises, take tests, and learn membership recruitment and retention success from the department’s membership chairman, who also spoke on the Legion’s Be the One suicide prevention program.
“You can ask any student alumni who has been through this class, and they love it,” Espinoza said. “We do surveys and after-action reports to hear what students thought about the courses. We get a lot of nine out of 10. So it’s very effective, very informative. New Mexico Legion College is a step for us to sending graduates to National American Legion College.”
New Mexico Legion College is held in a different location around the state each year. It’s normally hosted at a local Legion post but if one is not available, courses are held at a hotel. The cost is $300 per student. Students arrive on a Thursday, then classes are held Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to noon with graduation. Friday evening is a barbeque social, and Saturday is a banquet for the students.
Espinoza, a National American Legion College alumni and facilitator, started the Legion College five years ago after getting approval from the department’s Executive Board, adjutant and department commander at the time. His goal for students who attend New Mexico’s Legion College is to take knowledge gained back to their respective post and district and educate Legionnaires what Legion College is about to gain future students.
- Dispatch