An Albuquerque Academy Community Newsletter
Contents
Senior Projects | Path Upgrade Begins After Commencement | Academy Receives Two Enchantment Awards | Charger Challenge a Big Success | New Chargers Welcomed at Picnic | All-School Awards Ceremony | Academy Hosts Transgender Cultural Fluency Training Session | Thank You to Our Volunteers | Quinn Ennis ’22 Named Presidential Scholar | Two Students Selected for Daniels Scholarships | Adrienne Harris ’99 to be Commencement Speaker | Alumni Awards | Chicago and D.C. Alumni Trips | Students Present Research at Stanford | Student-Athletes to Play Sports in College | Eight Students Earn Latin Honors | Classical Guitar Students Perform in Austin | State Champs and Competitors | Dance Teacher’s Work Selected for Festival | Students Earn Climate Innovation Awards | Photo Gallery
Class of 2022 is Back from Senior Projects
Every year, Academy seniors look forward to Senior Projects in their final weeks, when they get to choose between a full-time internship, or part-time in conjunction with a school sponsored seminar, or an Ex Ed trip. The goal of Senior Projects is to have students learn about a profession, business, subject, art form, or some other passion in a real-world setting. Considered a rite of passage, seniors participate for four weeks, then return to campus to share their experiences with their classmates and the community.
Here is what some of our seniors had to say about their senior projects – why they chose their subjects, why their activities are important or meaningful to them, what surprised them, and what they learned.
“I have been interested in medicine over the past couple of years, and I wanted to take this opportunity and explore my interest more through shadowing nurses,” says Isabel Orem ’22. “This project has been meaningful to me because I have an opportunity that most kids don’t get to have at my age, and I have already learned so much in such a short time.”
Jocelyn Li ’22 wrote a book about art that showcases her drawings. “I decided on this project because it gives me a lot of time to draw every day that I didn't have before. It's important because I've never really used any platform to talk about my process or anything and now I'm writing about it.”
Aidan Fitzgerald ’22 explored his interest in metalworking through an internship with a blacksmith.
Josh Cook ’22 volunteered at Explora because he “wanted to work on the exhibits to get some hands-on engineering and coding work.”
Naima Pyarali ’22 worked with Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) to understand the development of neurons in larvae to adult brains. “This lab has been a great addition to the work I did in school through the Academy's fly lab. Senior projects give a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something I would never have the time or resources to do in the future.”
“I was determined to find a way to progress in Spanish,” says Brennan Ghattas ’22. “Essentially, I wanted to go on an immersion/exchange trip.” She got to live with a Mexican family and take all sorts of language, dance, cooking, and painting classes.
Ariah Romero ’22 went back to her family roots in curanderismo in Northern New Mexico to learn about different medicinal herbal practices and history. She explored the use of various medicinal herbal plants through an internship at Old Town Herbal. “I’ve learned how to use a lot of different types of herbs for different types of issues, the differences between tinctures, infusions, decoctions, and most of all, how to apply herbal medicine in my everyday life.”
Path Upgrade Begins After Commencement
The Board of Trustees has approved a project funded by a draw on the endowment to renovate the path and the East Campus quad. Work has been done on the planning stages of this project for the better part of a year in the hope that by March 2023 (in time for GrandDays), all members of our community will enjoy a safe, beautiful, wheelchair-accessible pathway and quad that maintain their iconic shape, feel, and function, while conserving 1.2 million gallons of water a year. It is anticipated that the work on the quad will begin immediately after graduation and be completed in time for the start of school. The work on the path itself will begin after convocation; in the meantime, alternate walkways will be available.
A significant amount of the planning process has been spent on determining the best way to care for and protect the Eastern Cottonwoods that line the path. Additionally, substantial research has been done to identify regionally appropriate, low water-use native plants, shrubs, and trees to replace these giants as they reach the end of their natural lifespan over the next decade or so. The plan to xeriscape portions of the East Campus quad will maintain grassy areas for recreation and outdoor lunch while creating shaded and xeriscaped outdoor classroom spaces.
Other decisions and details related to this project have been made just as deliberately – a herringbone brick pattern that is more stable and will reduce trip hazards, path seating that directs water flow into basins with pollinator gardens and discourages root growth under the new path, and some areas of turf replaced by wood mulch or xeriscaping. By making the best decisions now, we will soon be able to enjoy a campus enhancement that benefits every member of our community for generations to come.
Academy Receives Two Enchantment Awards
Brooke Caperton '23 and Performing Arts faculty member Laurie Thomas took home honors from the Enchantment Awards on Saturday, May 7 at Popejoy Hall. Both were recognized for their work with Bright Star, the 2022 Academy spring musical.
Ms. Thomas received the 2022 Best Direction Award, and Brooke was named Best Actress. As New Mexico’s Best Actress, she will participate in the National High School Theatre Awards bootcamp in June and will compete at that awards program in New York City, performing at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre on June 27.
Albuquerque Academy was also represented at the Enchantment Awards by nominees Caroline Lutz ’23 and Kira Small ’22. More than 50 students from 12 schools were involved in this year’s event.
Charger Challenge was a Big Success Thanks to Our Community
We are excited to announce that our 48-hour Charger Challenge in late April, which included our traditional spring day of giving and the Academy’s first Topgolf Tournament, brought roughly 375 gifts totaling nearly $130,000 in support of the Academy Fund!
Beginning with the On the Path to Participation event, the Charger Challenge weekend got off to a nice start with refreshments, golf challenges, and signs to show participants’ appreciation for the Academy.
The Topgolf Tournament followed, with its open-air layout and individual bay seating, making it the ideal way to bring our community back together for a night of fundraising and celebration. Nearly 150 players and spectators filled the top tier of bays with a sea of red and black, lively conversation, and friendly competition.
We are incredibly grateful to our generous bay sponsors, tournament and raffle prize donors, faculty and staff ticket sponsors, our phenomenal team of parent and employee volunteers, Notah Begay III ’90 for kicking off the event and inspiring additional support for the Academy Fund, and our community for coming out in big numbers to support the event.
Thank you again for supporting the 2022 Charger Challenge! If you missed the events and would like to participate with your 2021-22 gift for the Academy Fund, please do so here.
All-School Awards Ceremony Held in the Evening
What used to be separate assemblies for students has evolved into one all-school awards event held in the evening for the recipients and their families. The awards presented each year include departmental awards, military honors, academic recognition, and memorial awards, many of which have been established by generous donors as endowed funds with gifts of $35,000 or more. These permanent funds provide significant support for departments and programs, as well as financial assistance for Academy students.
Head of School Julianne Puente said she felt privileged and honored to participate in a ceremony that acknowledged the achievements of the Academy's extraordinary students. "The ceremony is meant not just to celebrate the achievements of our students, but also to affirm our Academy values of wisdom, conviction, and compassion."
New Chargers Welcomed at Picnic
The Academy welcomed 174 incoming students at our New Charger Picnic on May 1. As the new students and their families arrived, they were greeted with music from the steel drum band, Academy picnic blankets, and Charger pride packs. They kept busy in bounce houses, had lunch from food trucks serving a variety of choices, and heard welcome remarks from 6-7 Division Head Chris Dineen and Student Senate President Elizabeth Gutierrez ’22. Staff, faculty, and the AAPA were on hand to assist with questions and meet new families.
Academy Hosts Transgender Cultural Fluency Training Session
Adrien Lawyer, executive director and co-founder of the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico (TGRCNM), spoke to about 75 parents and family members who wanted an opportunity to learn about gender diversity, how to support transgender and nonbinary people in our lives, and how to further our school mission as "we commit to creating a caring, inclusive, and just community."
The training lay the foundation for participants to gain a better understanding of what it means to be transgender or nonbinary, clarify common misconceptions, become familiar with the challenges these communities face, and learn ways to be a strong and engaged advocate.
A Huge Thank You to Our Volunteers
In early May, we treated our volunteers to breakfast to thank them for their dedication and assistance throughout the school year. Our volunteers help sustain our school through a variety of generous gifts of time and resources for the things that matter to our community. From staffing the library and bookstore to volunteering as a team parent or holding a position on a Multicultural Parent Council, Alumni Council, Board of Trustees, or the AAPA, we are grateful for the countless ways they support the Academy.
Quinn Ennis ’22 Named Presidential Scholar
The Class of 2022’s Quinn Ennis has been named one of 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars by the Department of Education. The 161 high school seniors are selected based on their accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career and technical education fields.
Quinn will attend Yale University where he will major in physics. During his time at the Academy, he has been involved in Science Bowl, Science Olympiad, the chess team, community service, and the student newspaper. He is also a 2022 Bryan Cameron Impact Scholar and in August 2021 launched EFFECTS, a non-profit that aims to bring inquiry-based science education to underserved elementary school students in Albuquerque. EFFECTS currently serves more than 100 students at three schools.
Two Students Selected for Daniels Scholarships
Lucas Lanting ’22 and Caleb Lasher ’22 earned Daniels Scholarships based on strength of character, leadership potential, and a commitment to serving the community. The students will receive up to $100,000 over four years toward an undergraduate degree, depending on family need. The scholarships can be used at any accredited non-profit college or university anywhere in the country.
Adrienne Harris '99 to be Commencement Speaker
We look forward to welcoming Adrienne Harris, Class of 1999 and superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services, as our alumni speaker at commencement. Adrienne is deeply committed to financial health and well-being and has worked in such areas as student loans, payday lending, and mortgage insurance.
Alumni Receive Awards
The Young Alumni Award - Dustin Martin '07
The Young Alumni Award is presented annually to one recipient, 35 years of age or younger. This year’s Young Alumni Award goes to Dustin Martin from the Class of 2007 for exemplifying great leadership through personal accomplishments and service to others. Dustin engages with numerous Native American organizations and is a catalyst in supporting the physical, mental, and spiritual welfare of native communities.
The Distinguished Alumni Award - Mayor Kate Gallego '00
The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes a member of the alumni community for making significant contributions to society. This year’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipient is Kate Gallego from the Class of 2000 for her dedicated leadership, vision, and service to her community. Mayor Gallego is the second elected female mayor in Phoenix history and one of the youngest big-city mayors in the United States. She is a strong advocate for sustainability and has been an enduring chaperone in guiding her constituents through the pandemic.
Visits with Chicago and D.C. Alumni
Students Present Research at Stanford University
Members of the Advanced Research in Molecular Genetics class traveled to Stanford University to present their research at an interscholastic conference. Students shared their experiences and the unique transgenic Drosophila lines they created this year with other student scientists located in the San Francisco Bay area.
Seniors to Play Sports in College
- Kane Demers, Track, Bowdoin College
- Joaquin Deprez, Track and Cross Country, Dartmouth College
- Nico Fulgenzi, Football, Willamette University
- Alex Gaeto, Baseball, Samford University
- Jocelyn Garcia, Track and Field, Seattle University
- Brennan Ghattas, Jump Rope, Miami University
- Clark Hager, Football, Catholic University
- Tay Hwang, Golf, Cal State San Bernardino
- Devan Johnson, Baseball, University of Chicago
- Lauren Jorgensen, Equestrian, Baylor University
- Caleb Lasher, Baseball, Beloit College
- Reagan Madonia, Basketball, Milwaukee School of Engineering
- Mark McIntosh, Football (Student Assistant), Mississippi State University
- Henry Mitchell, Baseball, U.S. Naval Academy
- Coralie Norenberg, Swimming, UC Santa Cruz
- Neil Parasher, Golf, Stanford University
- Emma Patton, Track and Cross Country, Occidental College
- Elizabeth Pederson, Volleyball, St. Olaf College
- Dominic Siegele, Baseball, Whitman College
Eight Students Earn Latin Honors
Congratulations to these students for receiving National Latin Exam Awards. You can read more about it in our news story.
Level I: Natalie Perkins ’23 - Gold Medal, Bella Dominguez ’23 - Gold Medal, Addison Fulton ’22 - Gold Medal, Jessie Levandoski ’23 - Honorable Mention
Level II: Marly Fisher ’23 - Gold Medal, Jullian Chanda ’22 - Silver Medal
Level III: Amanda Carey ’22 - Gold Medal
Level V/VI: Emma Brown ’22 - Silver Medal
Classical Guitar Students Perform in Austin
Six students – Theo Gallant ’25, Isabelle Hammond ’23, Julia Kelly ’24, Sydney Marks ’24, Taryn Ortiz ’25, and Quinn Ross ’25 – traveled to Austin, TX to perform in a guitar orchestra hosted by the Austin Classical Guitar Society. They got to share the stage with internationally acclaimed musicians Jorge Caballero and the Miró String Quartet.
Congratulations to Our State Champs and Competitors
Baseball
Chargers baseball had another outstanding season that took them all the way to the state finals.
DECA
Academy’s DECA team drove New Mexico’s success at DECA’s International Conference and Competition in Atlanta. See the news story for details.
Esports
Academy’s Esports League of Legend team are the NMAA 4A State Champs! For more information, see the news story on our website.
Golf
Charger boys and girls golf brought home blue trophies again this year – a double repeat!
Mock Trial
After earning a spot to represent the state of New Mexico, the Academy Mock Trial team finished seventh in the nation. Reeya Patel '22 was honored as Outstanding Attorney. Read more in the news story.
Softball
Chargers had a winning season of 17-10, making it to the first round of state.
Tennis
Charger’s boys and girls swept the Class 4A state tennis titles.
Track and Field
Albuquerque Academy’s boys and girls took 2nd place at state.
Dance Teacher’s Work Selected for Festival
Rosalinda Rojas's thesis dance film, (RE) MEMBERING FORWARD, and research were presented as part of the AfroMundo Festival's Shared Roots: A Celebration of Afro-Latinx Culture at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in April.
(RE) MEMBERING FORWARD, shot on location on the ancestral land of her family in Puerto Rico, explores her journey of discovering cultural memory, coexisting aesthetics, and Afro-Indigenous mixed-race identity. Hoping to develop her film into a documentary tracing her experiences in West Africa and Southern Spain where her ancestral heritage roots are deep, Ms. Rojas is also applying for a Fulbright Scholarship.
Having already earned a master’s degree in dance education from the University of Northern Colorado, Ms. Rojas is scheduled to receive an M.F.A. in dance from Montclair State University in 2022 and has started the application process to the UNM Latin American Studies Ph.D. program and Columbia University Dance Education programs.
This work will help bring a new viewpoint to Ms. Rojas’s Global Dance Perspectives class, which focuses on storytelling through movement, dance, and applied technology. Students will engage in personalized investigative research and identify how the power of storytelling provides a space for self-discovery, cultural affinity, and authentic belonging, much like the path that she is pursuing outside of the classroom.
Two Students Earn Climate Innovation Awards
A video by Ada Ovitt ’25 and Leela Young ’24 picked up the award for "Most Effective/Efficient Concept — Community Gardens" at the Climate Innovations Challenge Virtual Student Showcase. The students competed against students from five other states and Kenya.
