In other news

LANL Foundation accepting scholarship applications

Northern New Mexico area students have until January 17, 2017 to apply for a Los Alamos Employees' Scholarship Fund scholarship. Students in Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Taos counties pursuing higher education in all fields of study are eligible to submit an application. 

The scholarships support Northern New Mexico students pursuing undergraduate degrees in fields that will serve the region. Awards are based on academic performance (academic rigor, G.P.A., and standardized test scores), leadership potential (extracurricular and community service activities), critical thinking skills, and career goals (relevant to LANL or local community needs). Financial need, diversity, and regional representation are integral components of the selection process.

The scholarship program is managed for the Laboratory by the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation and funded through donations by Lab employees and retirees and Los Alamos National Security, LLC. Since 1999, the Los Alamos Employees' Scholarship Fund has awarded $5.5 million to more than 1,100 students.

New Mexico Education Summit 1.0

Hundreds of local business leaders, legislators, and education stakeholders attended the New Mexico Education Summit 1.0 in Albuquerque on November 14 to discuss the current state of education in New Mexico, determine challenges, and develop strategies for individuals, organizations, and institutions to improve the current situation. The summit was a collaborative effort organized by the New Mexico Business Roundtable, a group that works to improve education systems and practices in the state.

Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation presented a breakout session called STEM: Building the Network. The session aimed to identify science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) needs from a workforce development perspective and to encourage the creation of a STEM coalition in New Mexico.

“From my position as the co-chair of the Math and Science Advisory Council, there needs to be a mechanism to advance good ideas and best practices into policy, and this mechanism should have the support of a broad group of stakeholders from across New Mexico, including business and industry,” says Zachary Leonard with the Lab’s Math and Science Academy. As a presenter at the summit, Leonard described significant milestones in New Mexico STEM education during the past 20 years.

“New Mexico has many organizations engaged in great STEM education work, but much of it is programmatic and many of the organizations operate in silos,” Leonard explains. “There is no collective organization that is intended to advance policy. A statewide STEM coalition would also help ensure fewer policy swings with the change of political administrations. Several states around the country have created STEM coalitions, and there are a few effective models to learn from.”

Kathy Keith, Director of the Community Partnerships Office, spoke on the STEM session panel about the Lab’s workforce needs, the economic development landscape in New Mexico, and the importance of partnerships. 

Laboratory employees donate turkeys

During the Laboratory’s recent holiday food drive, 475 frozen turkeys were collected on the annual Bring a (Frozen) Turkey to Work Day on November 22.

The Lab partners with the Food Depot in Santa Fe, which in turn partners with 145 other agencies throughout Northern New Mexico to help people in the area with meals, especially during Thanksgiving week.

Laboratory employees and contractor Cray Computer donated the frozen turkeys, which were packaged with nonperishable food items also donated by Laboratory employees.

“Employee contributions of turkeys and food make the Thanksgiving holiday brighter for Northern New Mexico families,” says Mike Martinez of the Community Partnerships Office. “Together, we are making a difference.”

Lab employee Johnnie Martinez places a frozen turkey in a collection box during the Bring a (Frozen) Turkey to Work Day.