A Friend to All

Endowed scholarship continues Tom Cummings’ legacy of selflessly helping students

By Michelle G. McRuiz

Many people struggle with finding their purpose and direction in life. The possibilities may seem too vast or too limited. Thomas Sebastian Cummings did not wrestle with these questions; he simply lived. He made lifelong friends wherever he went, and he went everywhere. Tom gave freely of his time and money. He didn’t care about outward appearances or material things; the mind and heart mattered far more to him.

“Tom embraced the impermanence of life,” says James Gutierrez, a friend and former student. “If you were next to him, you were his friend. He savored life, and everything he did was in service to others.”

A life well lived

Tom passed away in March 2020 at age 90. Shortly afterward, a group of his family and friends established the Tom Cummings Scholarship to carry the flame of his eagerness to assist others and to acknowledge for his work at UNM. “It seemed like the appropriate, obvious thing to do,” says Tom’s niece, Mary Kopaskie.

Originally from Danvers, Massachusetts, Tom received two degrees from Harvard University: a bachelor’s degree in anthropology in 1952 and a master’s degree in teaching and a certificate of advanced study in 1967. His interests took him to the Southwest, and in the 1950s he helped found the Department of Anthropology at the University of Nebraska.

Tom was drafted into the U.S. Army Signal Corps and served in Japan for two years. While there, he immersed himself in Japanese language and culture, venturing beyond the barracks to make friends and explore the country. In the 1950s and 1960s, he taught English in Japan and Taiwan.

One of Tom’s most significant achievements was helping to establish the Ramah Navajo School in Pine Hill, New Mexico in the early 1970s. At that point, Native students had few educational choices. They could cross county lines to attend reservation schools 50 to 80 miles away, but the counties did not bus the children, which made it difficult for students to get to school. The other options were to attend a federal out-of-state Indian boarding school or drop out.

By invitation from the Ramah Navajo School Board, Tom developed curriculum and wrote grants to launch a high school centered around Navajo language and culture, unlike many other schools, which were Anglo-focused. Ramah Navajo High School was one of the first Indian-controlled schools in the country. Tom also contributed to various education, health care, and food programs on Navajo reservations.

At UNM and Kansas State University, Tom held several positions throughout the 1980s and 1990s, each with the same goal: To recruit, retain, and mentor Native American, Hispanic, and African American students – particularly in math, science, and engineering fields of study.

A generous heart

Tom was famous among his friends for his ability to see right into people’s hearts. He saw things that people might not have recognized about themselves yet. He challenged his students to take opportunities without worrying about outcomes. He taught them how to think and urged them to excel in whatever they did. He asked for their opinions and listened with care, and he gave them experiences they have never forgotten.

One example: At some point, Tom befriended the world-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma. When Ma came to town, Tom purchased front-row seats for some of his students and introduced them to the cellist afterward. He often paid for students to attend conferences and programs that would help launch their studies, fields of research, or careers. He never expected credit for his actions; he just gave freely to others.

When Simon Romero was a student at West Las Vegas High School, he applied and was accepted to Harvard. It wasn’t until after he became a student there and met Tom that he learned Tom had been instrumental in getting Simon accepted. Today, Simon is an international correspondent for The New York Times and is based in Mexico City.

Winnie Tang was one of Tom’s closest friends. The first time they met, she was his student at the Taipei American School. The second time, she was a student in New Hampshire, feeling out of place and alone.

“Tom invited me to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and took me to concerts and operas,” she recalls. “He supported me in my transition from a tropical island to New England.”

Their third connection happened during one of her summer breaks in college, after Tom had moved to New Mexico and was working at UNM. “He invited me to New Mexico, and I stayed with him during the summer, working on an economic development program,” Winnie says. “We travelled all around the reservations. He instilled in me a curiosity and a love of the Southwest.”

Looking forward … and back

Funds from the endowed scholarship have been awarded to three students so far. One of those students is Keyla Torres, who studies nursing at UNM. She’s considering becoming a nurse anesthetist after graduation. The scholarship has helped her pay for such necessities as textbooks and her first stethoscope. With this financial assistance, Keyla is better able to focus on her studies. “I have so many goals I want to achieve,” Keyla says.

Every year, on or around Tom’s November 1 birthday, friends and family gather for a virtual celebration and remembrance of Tom. They share anecdotes and appreciation for him and introduce the newest scholarship recipients, like Keyla.

Tom’s friends and family believe that he would have approved of their decision to create an endowed scholarship for UNM students. And they’re acting in a way that is so like Tom: Quietly, earnestly, and without fuss or desire for attention.

“We want to do for others what Tom did for us: To continue his life and legacy in the way that it should be,” says James, “and to create a community of Tom Cummings scholars.”