Sen. Justin Morrill's Vision in the National Spotlight


L to R: Dr. Ed Harvey, Amy Kastanek, Dr. Michael Martin, Kat Farris, Andersen Thorp
Photo left to right: Dr. Ed Harvey Justin Morrill Scholars Director, Amy Kastanek JM Scholars Student Vice-President, Dr. Michael Martin, President New Mexico State University, Kat Farris, JM Scholar, and Andersen Thorp, President of the Friends of the Morrill Homestead.

The 2007 National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) distinguished "Justin Smith Morrill Memorial Award" was presented to Dr. Michael Martin, President of New Mexico State University. In his acceptance speech, Dr. Martin summarized the foundation of Sen. Morrill's 1862 Land-Grant College Act as "The need for a more social-just education system, threats of social unrest and instability, and concerns over constraints in economic development. In many ways the challenges and conditions of today parallel those which inspired the original Land-Grant innovation prior to 1862. We are here at this conference because Justin Smith Morrill, Abraham Lincoln, and others felt the strong inducement to innovate. They helped shape and implement one of the most profound educational innovations in recent human history."

Founded in 1887, NASULGC is the nation's oldest higher education association. Dedicated to supporting excellence in teaching, research and public service, NASULGC has been in the forefront of educational leadership nationally for more than 120 years. Its 216 members enroll more than 3.6 million students, award approximately a half-million degrees annually, and have an estimated 20 million alumni.