NNMC Men’s & Women’s Basketball Teams Spending 10 Months In Los Alamos

Front row from left, Coach Ryan Cordova, DaeShawn Baker, Jermaine Wilkins, Larry Morinia, Demetria Clichee, Shania Harry, Rachelle Blackgoat, Shayna Porter, Monica Trujillo, Coach Mario Caetano. Back row from left, Seddrick Robinson, Joseph Brooks, Elijah Neumann, James Mulheron, AJ Peralta, LaKeshia Padilla, Francine Clark, Coach Tony Gallegos, PPM Property Manager Mike Lippiatt. Photo by Chris Clark/ladailypost.com

 

By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
 

Plateau Property Management and CAP investors in Los Alamos are housing the Northern New Mexico College men’s and women’s basketball teams at Ponderosa Pines Apartment Complex, 3000 Trinity Dr.

“We have 32 student athletes residing with us through May 31, 2016,” said Plateau Property Management Manager Mike Lippiatt said. “It is a student/athlete housing contract we have arranged with Northern New Mexico College.”

Lippiatt explained that this is the second year his company has housed some of the NNMC student/athletes and the first year they are housing all of them. The athletes come from throughout New Mexico, Arizona and elsewhere.

Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Mario Caetano is the new assistant athletic director for NNMC and he spoke this morning about the partnership with Plateau Property Management.

“I’m very excited that NNMC has the opportunity to partner up with Plateau Property Management and Los Alamos, to help us with student housing that’s really nice and affordable for our students. I’m also anxious to see the positive benefits this partnership brings to the community,” Caetano said.

Women’s Basketball Coach and Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Coach Tony Gallegos also spoke about the PPM partnership this morning.

“This partnership works perfect for our cross country team because of the great trail system we’ll be taking advantage of and using for training. And I want to reiterate Coach Caetano’s comment that we’re so happy to be working with Los Alamos and the Plateau folks, working together to provide safe, nice housing is a great benefit to our students,” Gallegos said.

NNMC Athletic Director and Men’s Basketball Coach Ryan Cordova said he is excited to be working with Lippiatt and the Plateau crew in providing great housing for his NNMC students.

“And I’m very happy that Los Alamos offers so many activities for our students; the movie theatre, library and aquatic center that are right next to the apartments; free outdoor concerts, hiking and winter skiing, it’s all great,” Cordova said. “And I’m excited about the history this town has to offer as a teaching tool for our students to learn from first-hand. It’s all a great privilege for us to be a part of.”

Lippiatt discussed the economic impact expected from this 10-month-long living arrangement with the athletes.

“This contract brings 32 NNMC students into our community for 10 months. They buy groceries, go to movies, fill up the cars, go to restaurants, swim, ski, play golf and more,” Lippiatt said. “The average college student spends approximately $300 per month above and beyond traditional college expenses. With 32 students residing in Los Alamos, this totals approximately $9,600 per month with the larger percentage of that being spent within Los Alamos County.”

With a 10-month student housing contract, Lippiatt estimates that Los Alamos will be getting a boost of nearly $100,000 to the economy between now and the end of May 2016.

“Not only is it exciting to have local collegiate athletes residing in our community, the economic shot in the arm that will be felt is most substantial,” he said. “We hope the community will join Plateau Property Management in welcoming our new residents as the 2015/2016 collegiate year kicks off.”

Jermaine Wilkins: “The apartments are really nice. The community’s atmosphere is nice too. It’s great living here.”

Shania Harry said this is her second year living in Los Alamos in one of Plateau Property’s apartments.

“These guys are great, the apartments are great and living here is chill,” she said.

Francine Clark also is participating in her second year living in Los Alamos in one of Plateau’s properties. 

“I like that it’s such a better environment than other places. It’s safe and nice and there’s lots to do; I just really like living up here,” Clark said.

Athlete Larry Morinia describes Los Alamos as “a really nice town.”

“I’ve already been shopping and eating at several places, and I like that there’s a lot of stuff to do so close to the apartments, especially all the free stuff since I’m broke,” he said.

Athlete Shayna Porter said, “This is a great environment. Everything looks nice and the people are friendly. I work at Sonic so the apartments are really close to work. And I like that the apartments are really close to the library especially.”

Editor’s note: Julie Smith of Plateau Property Management contributed to this story.

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