10 top moments of community connection in 2024

Benefiting area nonprofits, students and businesses with $3.1 million in grants 

Economic diversity, education and community giving got a big boost this year, thanks to the Community Commitment Plan, a $3.1 million grant from Triad National Security.

Three key long-term partners received a total of more than $1.5 million: the LANL Foundation for STEM education, scholarships and teacher support; the Regional Development Corporation to support economic diversity, including an internship program and awards to small businesses; and United Way of Northern New Mexico to support nonprofit collaboration and capacity-building, and tackle substance-abuse issues. The Triad investment was also used to match employees’ giving to nonprofits in Northern New Mexico. Additionally, more than $250,000 funded a range of grants and sponsorships to other organizations in the region. All funds support eligible nonprofits from the seven counties surrounding the Laboratory: Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Miguel, Santa Fe and Taos.

Spreading joy with holiday giving campaign for charities, scholarships and toys 

The Laboratory’s participation in the Northern New Mexico Toy Drive (established by Los Alamos-based EXIT Realty Advantage NM) may be the most visible part of the Holiday Giving Campaign thanks to 136 employees volunteering to organize teams to sort and deliver 2,693 gifts (pictured above). However, the full campaign stretches even further, with $2.2 million in donations to nonprofits, $376,458 to the Los Alamos Employees’ Scholarship Fund and an additional $30,157 to buy even more toys. The monetary contributions to the Toy Drive will be used to purchase toys that, together with those already donated, will be given to around 50 agencies for children and teens. 

Expanding child care options in Northern New Mexico

Lack of available, affordable child care is a crisis for parents nationwide, but at Los Alamos National Laboratory, the mission depends on it. This year, the Laboratory, together with Bilingual Montessori School — a local small business — and Triad partner University of California, cut the ribbon for the new Bilingual Montessori School of Los Alamos, now fully open and caring for 150 children ages 0-5. The Laboratory also developed an early-childhood teacher-training program with UNM-Los Alamos to train more child care workers in the region, increasing the capacity of childcare centers across Northern New Mexico. For information, contact Bilingual Montessori School. There are still some slots available.

Sharing hiking trails on Laboratory property with easy-to-use online map

The Laboratory manages about 25 publicly accessible trails, which span around 36 miles, on Laboratory property, including Anniversary Trail (above). The land on which the Laboratory sits has been home to many — from Pueblo societies to Hispanic homesteaders to the scientists, engineers and others who worked on the urgent Manhattan Project in the 1940s. In recognition of this history, the Lab strives to make portions of the land it acquired for historical wartime efforts as accessible as safely possible. To help the public find and enjoy the trails, it developed this interactive map.

Stepping up to end food insecurity

Employees from Los Alamos National Laboratory joined forces with The Food Depot to combat food insecurity across Northern New Mexico, donating $70,738 as well as 7,509 pounds of food. That works out to 289,000 meals for people facing food insecurity in the counties of Colfax, Harding, Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos and Union. “Record housing and health care costs are driving many New Mexicans to balance their budgets by relying on food assistance, stretching the capacity of area soup kitchens, food banks and partner agencies. That’s why this drive matters so much,” said Sherry Hooper, executive director of The Food Depot.

Training local students for high-paying jobs in cybersecurity

The Laboratory, the National Nuclear Security Administration and Northern New Mexico College are joining forces to develop a new cybersecurity training center. The partners anticipate that courses will be offered at the new center beginning fall 2025 for four-year degrees as well as professional development. The national median salaries for jobs such as forensic analysts and information security engineers are in the range of $98,000 per year, and there is high demand for jobs like these nationwide. “Training students for relevant careers ensures robust enrollment for the college and allows the Lab to hire local talent for in-demand jobs,” Laboratory Director Thom Mason said.

Stretching exemplary environmental stewardship beyond Lab property

Things with wings don’t stay in one place. That’s why the Laboratory’s environmental stewardship efforts managing the declining pinyon jay (above), the Mexican spotted owl, a variety of bats and a host of pollinators across its 40-square-mile property is a win across Northern New Mexico. Lab property also adjoins Santa Fe National Forest and Bandelier National Monument. Biologists at the Lab have been collecting birdsong audio files from the jays, whose pinyon gathering and caching habits fortify the area’s pinyon-juniper forest.

Paving career pathways for New Mexico students

Laboratory scientists and engineers mentored students from across New Mexico at the 2024 Summer Physics Camp for Young Women, a free, two-week experience for middle and high school students hosted in Santa Fe. With the help of more than 140 volunteers from Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories, the camp gave students a chance to understand how STEM improves the world through hands-on activities, demonstrations, tours, talks and a multiday engineering project.

Growing small business through micro-grants 

Sage Botanical (SaBo, for short) of Santa Fe is just one small business of 58 in Northern New Mexico benefiting from the Regional Development Corporation’s 2024 Micro-Grant Fund. The fund, which is supported by Laboratory operator Triad National Security, provides an infusion of capital to help businesses diversify, sustain or grow revenue, leverage other investments and put systems in place that lead to growth and create job opportunities. Each grant is up to $3,000.

Empowering New Mexico students with scholarships 

Each year, the Los Alamos Employee Scholarship Fund supports area students (like Arial Maldonado of Escalante High School in Los Ojos, above) pursuing both two- and four-year degrees. In 2024, 128 students received more than $884,000 in scholarships supporting bachelor’s degrees. Additionally, 128 students received scholarships totaling $117,000 supporting associate degrees, certificates and other credentials in the trades. Scholarships are administered via the LANL Foundation in Española. Applications for four-year degree scholarships are open now through Jan. 21. Apply here. 

Bonus moment!

You can never have too much of a good thing – so here’s #11.

Supplying 1,500 students with back-to-school tools thanks to Laboratory employees

In August, Lab employees donated $36,791 for school supplies, filling 1,500 backpacks of basics, and delivered them to 16 districts in the seven-county region surrounding the Laboratory. "This initiative plays a pivotal role in fostering a sense of belonging among our students and reinforces their understanding that they are valued and supported within our community," said Mel Vigil, community schools coordinator at Carlos Vigil Middle School in Española.