wfn.org | Presbyterians gather for food, fun and fellowship at Menaul School

[PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org]

05-July-1996 
 
GA96106 
 
    Presbyterians gather for food, fun and fellowship at Menaul School 
 
ALBUQUERQUE - Thousands of  Presbyterians gathered at the historic Menaul 
School here July 4th for an evening of food, fun and fellowship. 
 
    Presented the opportunity to sample some of the best food in the 
Southwest ranging from Native American and New Mexican cuisine to "gringo" 
hamburgers and hot dogs, visitors scarfed it down to the delight of their 
generous hosts. 
 
    Between bites, they watched as various Pueblo and Northern New Mexico 
artists demonstrated their artwork. They also danced and swayed to a 
synthesis of musical merriment including a watermelon jug band, mariachis, 
Scottish bag pipers, Native American choirs, Mexican dancers, jazz and 
Dixieland musicians, sacred music and more. 
 
    By event's end, no one including Mae H. Shields of the Palisades 
Presbytery, seemed to care that there were no fireworks whizzing through 
the air to commemorate Independence Day. 
 
    "I'm just volunteering out here because I think it's a worthy cause and 
the things that they've been doing at the school for years have really been 
instrumental in this area," Shields said. "I've met a lot of students 
who've finished here and they seem to have done very well and are 
appreciative of the fact that the Presbyterian Church helped them out with 
their education." 
 
    Among those appreciative graduates is Edmundo E. Vasquez, former Menual 
School president from 1972-78. He said the school prides itself on 
graduating students who understand that success hinges upon their ability 
to live with, work with, and love people. 
 
    "We've worked hard to keep our school going over the years," said 
Vasquez, a class of 1949 graduate. "This school has made a tremendous 
difference in the lives of our Hispanic, Native American and black 
students." 
 
    Menaul School was founded in 1881 as a response to Presbyterian concern 
for education for Native New Mexican people, for whom access to education 
was almost nonexistent. The Rev. James Menaul, the school's founder, 
particularly wanted to train future teachers and pastors. 
 
    For 100 years, the school has continued in this tradition of providing 
high-quality education to racially and ethnically diverse youth by 
preparing them to serve in their communities and the world. The school 
blends the Anglo, Hispanic, and Native American cultures that dominate the 
region, while emphasizing the strong spiritual development of its students 
through Christian education. 
 
    "We still feel that Reformed theology, as represented by the 
Presbyterian Church is good for any society,"said Paul Baez, chair of the 
school's 14-member board of trustees. "More than 90 percent of Menaul 
graduates go to college, so we prepare a lot of future leaders out of our 
student population." 
 
 
Julian Shipp 

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