Once again, life has come full circle for 1995 Lake Arthur High School grad Jose Porras.

After high school, he attended New Mexico Military Institute on a football scholarship in 1996 as a punter/kicker, then became a dual sport student-athlete by pitching for the Bronco baseball team his sophomore year.

He graduated from NMMI in 1997, then continued his athletic career at Oklahoma Panhandle State University, again playing both football and baseball at the NCAA Division II school in Goodwell, Okla., while earning his bachelor's in social science.

Porras then went back to his high school alma mater to teach and coach. He served for 12 years in this capacity for the Lake Arthur Municipal School system.

After completing his master's degree in education from Eastern New Mexico University, Porras entered the realm of administration and took on the role of Lake Arthur’s principal and dean of academics.

During his 20-year career as a Panther, Porras was heavily involved in just about every aspect of scholastic and athletic activity, with 19 years as their athletic director, in addition to his other duties.

On July 1 he was named the new vice dean of academics/high school principal at NMMI, replacing George Brick.

For Porras, returning to NMMI is like a homecoming.

As a former cadet, Porras hopes to continue NMMI’s rich tradition and deep values that are built around the credo of duty, honor and achievement.

“One of the big things is tradition. That’s what I’ve always loved about NMMI,” Porras said. “It’s something I want to continue. This place has been in business for 129 years. There’s obviously something that has worked and continues to work.”

Sitting in his office, surrounded by protocol notebooks and stacks of paperwork, Porras has many challenges ahead as schools reopen during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Porras referred to his first few weeks as drinking water from a fire hydrant.

“There’s a lot I’m having to ingest. It’s like making that full circle, and I did the same thing with my high school alma mater,” Porras said. “Now it’s the college alma mater. It’s coming back home.

“This is part of who I am. You envision and then suddenly, you’re living that dream.”

Coming from a school district that had 105 kids in the entire system last year, Porras strongly believes that his time in Lake Arthur helped prepare him for this moment.

During his time as an administrator, Porras wasn’t just a hermit in his office. His usual day was highlighted by his visits to the elementary, middle and high school levels where he got the student body to become familiar and comfortable with him.

He hopes to do the same at NMMI by being hands on and heavily involved.

“You’re going to be challenged and that’s where you got to step up to the plate. I believe that my 20 years there at Lake Arthur prepared me,” he said. “My plan is to stay involved whether it’s high school or college.

“I want to be in the classroom not just to evaluate. I want the kids to know who I am and that I’m here for them.”

Of course, one major strength that Porras brings to the job is how he can easily relate to the cadets.

He not only knows the struggles of adjusting to the challenging environment that NMMI offers, but he can also help students discover their full potential.

Committed to the cadets, Porras is also in it for the long run.

“I know what they’re going through and what they’re gonna go through and what they’re going to accomplish when they leave here,” he said. “Whether its corps related, or athletics related, my plan is that I’m going to be here for a while.”

During these difficult times, NMMI has many protocols set forth to help make this school year as safe as possible.

From testing every cadet along with staff and faculty to investing in the latest technology to help detect coronavirus symptoms, the NMMI administration has been hard at work.

The overall goal is to eventually create a family unit where the campus won’t have to observe social distancing or enforce mask-wearing guidelines because of its safe environment.

With school starting on Aug. 17, there’s still plenty of work to do before NMMI can reach that goal, but for now it’s all about making the unknown a reality.

“Kids need school. People need that social interaction,” Porras said. “It’s something that we need regardless of the situation.

“Let’s take the preventative measures, but at the same time still provide the opportunity. We have several plans put in place, and we’re going to follow regulations.”