Los Alamos Middle School teacher Ali Semanision, second from left, and community member Morrie Pongratz along with his wife Cheryl (not pictured) received the 2024 NMSBA Excellence in Student Achievement awards during last month’s School Board meeting. Making the presentations were School Board member Lauren Coupland, left, and School Board Secretary Sondra Wyman. Courtesy/LAPS
The LAPS School Board received 52 nominations for the 2024 NMSBA Excellence in Student Achievement Award. Nominees included staff members and community members. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) Board honored Los Alamos Middle School teacher Ali Semanision and community leaders Morrie and Cheyl Pongrat with the 2024 New Mexico School Boards Association (NMSBA) Excellence in Student Achievement Award.
The awards were presented during the School Board meeting held in late April at Chamisa Elementary School.
The New Mexico School Boards Association (NMSBA) Excellence in Student Achievement Awards are presented to individuals selected by local boards of education throughout New Mexico who have played an important role in improving student achievement in their local school district.
Sixty-three school boards participated in this year’s program and 168 award recipients were selected. Recipients are honored at local school board meetings throughout New Mexico.
This year, the Los Alamos Public Schools Board received 52 nominations for the Excellence in Student Achievement Award. School Board Secretary Sondra Wyman and board member Lauren Cooupland comprised the selection committee and said the nominees this year were all excellent candidates. Several candidates received numerous nominations.
Ali Semanision teaches math at Los Alamos Middle School. Her nomination stated, “Ali has been a safe space for neuro-diverse students in our schools, adjusting classroom policies, learning new teaching strategies, and sharing her expertise with her colleagues. She is known as someone who kids and parents can turn to when a situation isn’t working. She adopts kiddos who are not her own to help them where they need help, whether that is coaxing them out of a car in the morning, giving them a much- needed hug when everything is going wrong, or tutoring them during her lunch.”
Morrie and Cheryl Pongratz received many nominations for this year’s award.
“I believe Morrie and Cheryl Pongratz should receive the Excellence in Student Achievement Award because of the significant impact of their service to education in Los Alamos over many, many decades,” wrote one. Another wrote, “For many years Cheryl and Morrie have dedicated themselves to working for our schools. They are very supportive of education and our schools!”
“Morrie Pongratz is well known in the community and the schools,” said another nominator. “He can be seen at many of our high school events and greets everyone with a smile and a friendly hello. Students say hello to him in the halls and have friendly conversations when he comes to have lunch with the Key Club or work with other groups in the school. His warmth and caring personality make all who talk to him feel valued and appreciated. He always helps out with whatever is asked of him oftentimes volunteering to help before he can even be asked. He is such an asset to the high school and our staff and students and has done much to help students succeed. I know he does the same for other schools in the district and think he is truly deserving of this award.”
Nominees for the 2024 award included LAPS staff members and community members. They each received a certificate during the presentation. Along with Semanision and Morrie and Cheryl Pongratz, this year’s nominees include Eva Abeyta, Michelle Bane, Eric Beckstead, Lucy Belian, Jeremy Bleich, Brigid Brug, Sherri Bublitz, Venita Chavez, Robyn Collum, Adam Davis, Isabel Duque, Kimberly Engelking, Bianca Enriquez, William Finn, Colleen Goddard, Holli Gonzalez, Jacqueline Griego, Enrique Guillen, Janet Guthrie-Granja, Linda Harlow, Brett Hawkins, Caron Inglis, Alyssa Johnston, Jenny Lambson, Grace Lopez, Angela Martinez, Sheila McClees, Jenny McCumber, Nicole McGrane, Julia Montgomery, Maria Musgrave, Jennifer Naes, Lynn Ovaska, Megan Rains, Miel Rim, Teresa Ritter, Jessica Rodarte, Michelle Rosette, Alonzo Sanchez, Hayley Schake, Meagan Selis, Angela Sullivan, Michelle Sullivan, Nicole Sutherland, Michaela Tarbox, Naomi Unger, Craig Washnok, Valerie Waterbury, and the LAHS Swimming and Diving team.
