A look back at 2016

As we say goodbye to 2016, we have many reasons to celebrate what we have been able to achieve together in Northern New Mexico. Here are a few of the many good reasons to cheer this year:

New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) hired its first Endowed Chair for Computer Science. LANS, LLC contributed to the endowment along with the NMHU Foundation and the State of New Mexico. We know that these positions are critical for our universities to attract the best and brightest faculty, especially in competitive fields such as computer science. 

Northern New Mexico College will have its first LANS Endowed Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Scholarship. The scholarship also comes with an internship opportunity at the Laboratory so the recipients have real-world work experience coupled with their education.    

The Española Valley RoboRave Team claimed the national title and advanced to the international competition in Japan. Congratulations to the hardworking members of Team Intergalactic and to the YMCA’s Española Teen Center for coaching. We were proud sponsors of the Northern New Mexico RoboRave Rally and Science showdown in conjunction with Northern New Mexico College and hope that it will continue to inspire future generations of robot enthusiasts in our communities.  

Flow Science, a Santa Fe-based technology company, wrote a check repaying the Venture Acceleration Fund (VAF). In a letter accompanying his check, company President Thomas Jensen said: “In order to benefit other regional businesses that might be in a position to expand their research and development efforts via VAF, we are sending you the enclosed check.” The VAF was started by Los Alamos National Laboratory in 2006 as a way to grow local business and help them to create new jobs for the region.  Today LANS, LLC along with Los Alamos County, the City of Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership all contribute to the fund, which is managed by the Regional Development Corporation. With help from the VAF, Flow Science now employs 65 people worldwide but remains headquartered in Northern New Mexico.  

2016 was a record-breaking year for contributions to the Los Alamos Employees Scholarship Fund. Almost $400,000 was contributed by Los Alamos employees, contractors and visiting scientists. LANS, LLC contributed $250,000, and individual community donors contributed $15,000. One hundred-thirty-five scholarships were awarded to students from a seven-county area in Northern New Mexico thanks to the hard work of our partners at the LANL Foundation.  

We are so pleased that the Governing Board of LANS LLC, has announced that it will contribute $2.5 million to support education, economic development and community non-profits in 2017. Coupled with the time, talent, and resources of Los Alamos National Laboratory employees, and our partnerships throughout the region, we anticipate having more good news to share about building strong and lasting programs and seeing our economy grow, and creating opportunities for career advancement.   

—Kathy Keith
Director, Community Partnerships Office at Los Alamos National Laboratory