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Family Establishes Scholarship to Honor Memory of Raymond Plotkin

December 16, 2009

When the freshman from Houston, Texas came to UNM, he thought he had found a home. Raymond Plotkin started class in August 2009 as a freshman interested in Chemical and Nuclear Engineering. He enjoyed his roommates and living in a dorm as part of the Engineering Living Learning Community. On November 11, Raymond died suddenly from the H1N1 flu. Now his family is creating an endowment to sponsor scholarships for engineering students through the UNM Foundation.

His mother Elaine says, “Raymond fell in love with UNM. He really connected with his School of Engineering advisors and did very well in school. He made good friends and was having fun. Everything was falling into place for him and the future looked bright.” 

Plotkin’s family would like to share his enthusiasm for the university by building an endowment to sponsor scholarships for engineering students. The family made a generous donation to initiate the fund with the goal of awarding the first scholarship in Fall 2010. Elaine Plotkin says, “For those who would like to give a special gift to the University this holiday season, please consider contributing to this fund. It’s a way to keep Raymond’s memory alive and to help other students who have the same drive and optimism about the future that he did.” 

The family is also encouraging people to protect themselves against the H1N1 virus by getting vaccinated. Elaine Plotkin says, “People are getting complacent about H1N1. Please remember what happened to Raymond and get both the seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines as soon as you can.”

More information about the fund, please contact Susan Georgia, UNM School of Engineering Development Office at 505-277-0664; sgeorgia@unm.edu. Contributions can be sent to:

UNM Foundation/Raymond Plotkin Fund 
ATTN: Susan Georgia, Development Office
UNM School of Engineering
Centennial Engineering Center
MSCO1 1140
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-0001

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