Cameron ‘Space Jam Cam’ Nolan Martinez. Courtesy photo
Living Designs Group Architects’ rendering of the proposed Cameron’s Place at Northern New Mexico College design. Courtesy photo
NNMC NEWS RELEASE
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, NNMC leaders and the Martinez family invite the community to celebrate a new space dedicated to hope, education and opportunity.
Northern New Mexico College (NNMC) invites the community to join in a historic milestone as it breaks ground on “Cameron’s Place at Northern New Mexico College,” a new outdoor amphitheater and reimagined Montoya Plaza that will serve as a gathering place for students, families and the surrounding community for generations to come.
The groundbreaking ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. Monday, August 10, 2026, at the Joseph M. Montoya Administration Building. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham will join NNMC President Hector Balderas, the Board of Regents and members of the Martinez family for the celebration. Breakfast will be provided, and all community members are encouraged to attend.
Cameron’s Place honors the life and legacy of Cameron “Space Jam Cam” Nolan Martinez, an Española Valley High School graduate, entrepreneur, basketball player and beloved son, brother, grandson and friend whose impact on the community continues to be felt years after his passing.
Although Cameron’s life was tragically cut short in 2018 at just 18 years old, those who knew him remember him not for how he died, but for how he lived. He believed in lifting others up, encouraging those around him and making his hometown a better place. Whether sharing a meal with someone in need, giving away a pair of shoes to a young athlete, helping a stranded motorist or simply making someone feel seen and valued, Cameron quietly served others without expecting anything in return.
“Even at a young age, Cameron cared deeply about helping people,” said his mother, Valerie Martinez. “Every year I hear new stories about acts of kindness that we never knew about. That was just who he was. He wanted to make our community proud, and more than anything, he wanted to leave people better than he found them.”
Following Cameron’s passing, the Martinez family established the Cameron Martinez Memorial to continue the work Cameron had already begun. Since 2019, the organization has awarded $43,000 in scholarships to Española Valley High School graduates pursuing college or trade school. The scholarship reflects Cameron’s belief that every student deserves an opportunity to chase their dreams, regardless of GPA or circumstance.
Inspired by one of Cameron’s final social media posts – “If you have a dream, do me a favor, and never stop chasing it.” – scholarship applicants are asked to reflect on their dreams and how they plan to pursue them.
Approximately 75 percent of scholarship recipients have continued their education at Northern New Mexico College, strengthening the connection between Cameron’s legacy and the institution that now bears his name through this new campus landmark.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham had the opportunity to know Cameron personally during her first gubernatorial campaign, when he appeared in a campaign advertisement highlighting the importance of education and opportunity for New Mexico’s youth. Following his passing, she honored Cameron on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, remembering his kindness, determination and commitment to serving others. She told House members, “I had the pleasure of getting to know Cameron in recent months and can personally attest to his warmth, work ethic and determination to bring positive change to the State of New Mexico. With a simple gesture like a hug, Cameron could make you feel like you were the most important person in his life. I was one of the people lucky enough to receive such a hug.”
In 2025, Lujan Grisham approached Balderas with the idea of finding a meaningful way to honor Cameron’s legacy. As Northern was already planning a major transformation of its campus entrance and outdoor learning spaces, the vision for Cameron’s Place naturally emerged.
“We were creating a vision for a campus that is welcoming, safe and truly belongs to our community,” said Balderas. “Cameron’s story represents resilience, service and hope. This space will remind every student who walks onto this campus that they belong here, that their dreams matter and that their future matters.”
The Governor committed $1 million through the Governor’s Capital Appropriation, helping launch a project that has since grown into a $4.28 million investment through additional General Obligation (GO) Bond funding.
Designed by Living Designs Group Architects, Cameron’s Place will feature a grassy outdoor amphitheater, performance stage, shaded gathering areas, improved landscaping, accessible walkways, enhanced campus entrances and renovated public spaces surrounding Montoya Plaza.
More than an outdoor classroom, the amphitheater is envisioned as a place where students gather to celebrate achievements, share stories, embrace culture, engage in meaningful conversations and build lasting connections.
“The proposal is about much more than building an amphitheater,” said NNMC Dual Credit Coordinator Edwina Romero. “It’s about creating a pathway – from high school to dual credit, to Northern and ultimately back into our communities as leaders. Cameron’s Place becomes the physical heart of that journey.”
The project includes a targeted interior remodel of the Montoya Administration Building, specifically focusing on the entrance vestibule and the office spaces located within that vestibule area. The groundbreaking marks the first phase of Northern New Mexico College’s long-term campus transformation, with future improvements planned throughout the campus over the coming years.
“This is going to be our first visionary project bringing our community and our academic community and our cultural community together with a space of their own that’s intentional for them, not all the roof repair and delayed maintenance we’ve been focused on. This is really going to be amazing,” Balderas said.
Balderas continued. “I set out as a personal challenge to create a safe and inviting space for all the community in Rio Arriba, and the legislature has really met that mandate, and they’re investing in that vision. Our region has a lot of challenges, but our people and community are so deserving of having a campus that looks as inviting as the large universities. I’m very honored and proud that the legislature and the governor are investing in our community.”
For the Martinez family, the dedication represents something deeply personal.
“We feel Cameron’s Place is an extension of who Cameron was,” Martinez said. “It allows a part of him to live on forever while creating a place where students and families can gather, learn, celebrate and find hope. There is no greater honor than knowing his legacy will continue inspiring future generations.”
Community members are invited to attend this special celebration as Northern New Mexico College honors a young man whose compassion, generosity and unwavering belief in others continue to inspire the Española Valley and beyond.