The Española School Foundation presented donations totaling $3,000 to three educational programs at the Española Schools District‘s March 3 Board meeting.
Former superintendent Bobbie Gutierrez said she took some ideas to the Foundation earlier in the year, for supplies and materials needed for some elective classes at Española Valley High School.
A $500 donation is going toward Cafe Scientifiqué New Mexico, a teen program operating at various locations, including Española, Rio Rancho, Albuquerque and Taos.
The purpose of the organization is to help teens explore science and technology. The donated funds go specifically to Los Alamos-based Science Education Solutions Inc., which sponsors a robotics team comprised of students from various District schools.
Michelle Hall, president of Science Education Solutions Inc., which runs the Cafe Scientifiqué program, said the donation will go toward buying a robotics kit and for registration of students in the robotics team to participate in the international RoboRave competition in Albuquerque, May 5 through 7.
The competition takes place at the Albuquerque Convention Center, with registration ranging from $50 to $200, depending on when teams register.
Hall said a group of Española students, part of the Cafe Scientifiqué program, were originally interested in starting the team.
“We’re hoping to grow this every year and get more students to participate,” Hall said.
Janelle Vigil-Maestas of the Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Community Programs Office, organized the March 5 regional RoboRave Rally at Northern New Mexico College.
“This competition has been one of our most successful initiatives,” she said. “It really pulls the community together, everyone comes out to support it.”
Savannah Trujillo is the adult leader for the Española chapter of Cafe Scientifiqué and the robotics team. She said four students from the area, two from Dixon attending Taos Academy, and two from McCurdy Charter High School, are involved with the team. The four boys will attend the competition.
“We are very grateful for the support we have received from this grant and look forward to competing in this competition,” she said. “I think any positive outlet is great for kids in our area. It’s even better that this program provides science and technology-related activities. I love working with youth and providing opportunities any time I can.”
A $1,500 donation was made to the Culinary Academy program at Española Valley High School, while a check for $1,000 was presented by the Foundation to the High School’s Fine Arts Program.
Gutierrez said additional funds were sought since career technical programs are more expensive to operate because of consumable materials.
“Art programs are also expensive to operate,” she said. “We fund these programs with basic supplies and materials and the additional funding will allow some additional experiences and projects for our students.”
Carole Rutten, institutional program manager for education in the Community Programs Office at Los Alamos National Laboratory, said she considers the academic programs a huge success.
The Foundation exists to provide support for academic programs, especially in science and technology.
“The purpose of the Foundation is to support teachers,” she said. “And to help them to provide the resources they need to keep kids in school and excited about learning.”
Marcy Davis, head of Española Valley High School’s Culinary Academy, is one beneficiary of the Foundation’s support. The donated funds will help purchase supplies and equipment for the program.
Rutten said Celia Harlow, Fine Arts teacher at the High School, is donating some of her own equipment to supplement instruction.
The funds donated by the Foundation will also go toward purchases of supplies needed for her arts program.
“They get to tap into so many different skill sets,” she said. “So whether they stay here in Española, or they go somewhere else, we want to make sure our students are ready and well prepared to get these jobs of the future.”