UNM-Taos celebrates Annual Illuminando Nuestros Caminos

Dec 12, 2025

UNM Taos campus at night with logo overlayed

UNM-Taos recently came together in the glow of nearly 500 farolitos for our 2nd Annual Illuminando Nuestros Caminos (Illuminating Our Paths) celebration—an evening dedicated to honoring community, culture, and tradition.

Students, staff, and community members joined in decorating each farolito with personal messages, cultural designs, and words of hope, creating a walkway of light that reflects our shared heritage and connection to place. The event featured a powerful performance by Las Comanche dancers, whose presence grounded the evening in tradition and community respect.

Our Culinary Arts students catered the event, offering warm food and hospitality and highlighting their skills, making the night even more special. The campus courtyard transformed into a space of reflection and celebration—a moment where light, art, and community came together to build tradition at UNM-Taos.

Illuminando Nuestros Caminos will continue to grow as an annual event—lighting the path forward for students, families, and the greater Taos community.

Recent News

The Editor’s Eye Focuses on the Light in Taos

Isaiah Galante describes himself as a filmmaker who “drifts everywhere,” but his lens always seems to pivot back to one specific coordinate: home. For Galante, the high desert isn’t just a location; it is a character in itself. “We live in the most beautiful place on...

A new hub for learning, culture, and discovery

On November 21, under the expansive skies of Northern New Mexico, UNM-Taos celebrated a major milestone with the groundbreaking of the Cielo Centro amphitheater on Klauer Campus—the first step in creating a transformative space for education, culture, and community...

Promoting higher ed in Tribal communities

Chenoa Velarde left an indelible mark on our campus during her tenure as an advisor for the Senior Student Program and Student Government Association. She also oversaw UNM-Taos’ cultural programming and DEI-related work on campus and in the community. Luckily for us,...

A TECC story: ‘It’s never too late to start again’

Since coming to UNM-Taos TECC, he has been selected as a New Mexico Adult Education Association Student Ambassador. He not only gained essential academic skills but also the tools and confidence to continue learning and growing.