Los Alamos resident Stan Kosiewicz and his wife, Amy Anderson, center, stand with the 2025 recipients of the Kristin Kosiewicz Substance Abuse Awareness Scholarship, from left, Samuel Carmer, Malaika Philip, Sophie Bathrick-Price and JoyMei Lincoln. Kosiewicz established the scholarship in memory of his daughter, Kristin, who died in 2021 from an accidental fentanyl overdose. Photo by Jessica Booton

1993 Los Alamos High School graduate Kristin Kosiewicz. Courtesy photo

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Kristin Kosiewicz, a 1993 Los Alamos High School graduate, was only 46 when she passed away in 2021 from an accidental fentanyl overdose that was used to treat pain from fibromyalgia. In response to this tragedy, her father and Los Alamos resident, Stan Kosiewicz established the Kristin Kosiewicz Substance Abuse Awareness Scholarship to celebrate his daughter’s memory and shine attention on substance abuse.

The scholarship has been awarded for the past four years. 2026 will be the fifth and final time it will be awarded. Stan’s wife, Amy Anderson, explained he decided to stop the scholarship so he could fully heal from Kristin’s death.

The scholarship is awarded through the Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) Foundation. Anderson and Stan thank LAPS Foundation Executive Director Jenny McCumber for her tireless efforts, which contributed to making this scholarship possible and so successful.

The deadline to submit for this year’s scholarship is Feb. 27. Applicants are required to be graduating seniors, and they must submit a 300–600-word essay about the impacts of substance abuse as well as a letter of recommendation. This year, three scholarships, each totaling $3,000, will be given. Stan thanks friends and relatives who made generous donations to the scholarship fund.

McCumber said as of Jan. 13 there haven’t been any applications submitted for the scholarship yet.
Anderson said she and Stan reach out to the high school English teachers to promote the scholarship.

Los Alamos High School teacher Margo Batha told the Los Alamos Daily Post how significant this scholarship is to students.

“The Kristen Kosiewicz scholarship has made a real impact for our students,” she said. “The existence of the scholarship raises awareness of the issues surrounding drug abuse and gateway drugs. For seniors, the essay offers them an opportunity to reflect on the dangers of drug abuse and the impact of drug abuse on families and communities as they prepare to leave home and enter adulthood. The amount of money that students receive is significant and a real help to students and families. Stan’s and Amy’s generosity has made a real difference in the lives of our students.”

JoyMei Lincoln is one of these students. The 2025 Los Alamos High School graduate earned the scholarship that totaled $2,000 last year.

“I initially chose to apply to this scholarship as I had seen firsthand the effects of substance abuse,” she said. “I knew how dangerous Fentanyl was and how it had taken the lives of many people, including some from Los Alamos. By applying to this scholarship, I was able to express an emphasis towards outreach and prevention. I am very grateful to have been a past recipient of this scholarship and the time and care the Kosiewiczes have put into it. Their resolve in serving their community and willingness to listen to strategies for boosting awareness and prevention of opioid overdoses is truly inspiring.”

This appreciation to spread awareness about substance abuse goes both ways. Stan and Anderson expressed their admiration toward what students were doing about this issue.

Stan recalled in November 2023 the Los Alamos High School Key Club students hosted an event called “How to Save a Life” at SALA as part of its Fentanyl Harm Reduction Project.

He said, “…that really, I think, helped to increase awareness. They did a great job.”

Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation helped support the event, which included a talk from the Los Alamos Fire Department as well as distributing Narcan, a nasal spray opioid overdose treatment.

McCumber noted the students came up with the idea of hosting the event.

“It’s always great when ideas for things come from students,” she said.

With the scholarship, Anderson said they work to contact every student who applies for it.

She said they are usually successful at communicating with the scholarship applicants 2/3 of the time. One thing Stan tries to emphasize is that they are now ambassadors for preventing substance abuse and encourages them to use the knowledge they gained on the subject.

“We tell them … your ideas for what you think would help with education about substance abuse gets passed on to the superintendent,” Anderson said. “We let them know what (they) are saying makes a difference.”

McCumber said this is noteworthy because “it makes everybody feel special, like they were noticed.”

Stan agreed saying, “It gives the students an opportunity to express themselves and we tell them you are being heard.”

LAPS Superintendent Jennifer Guy said, “I am grateful for the Kristin Kosiewicz Scholarship because it acknowledges the honesty and resilience of the students who apply and empowers our students to speak up about substance abuse and mental health. Through this scholarship, the Kosiewicz family have helped ensure that these critical issues remain at the forefront of our community dialogue. This scholarship helps our students turn challenges into advocacy. Kristin Kosiewicz’s family is incredibly inspiring and I appreciate the care they have for our students and our community.”

The scholarship has made a real impact on several students’ lives. Anderson said two of the four scholarship winners last year are now pursuing a career in psychology and counseling.

For Stan, that is the most significant part, “… that my daughter’s death may have made a difference to save another young person’s life,” he said. “Several people have said to me, you have made something good out of something very painful.”

To learn more about the scholarship, and request an application, visit https://lapsfoundation.com/kristin-kosiewicz-memorial-scholarship/.

For seniors who would like to apply for the scholarship, visit https://lapsfoundation.com/kristin-kosiewicz-annual-memorial-scholarship/ or mail the application to the Kristin Kosiewicz Substance Abuse Awareness Scholarship, LAPS Foundation, 1010 Central Ave., Los Alamos, NM 87544.

Los Alamos resident Stan Kosiewicz and his wife, Amy Anderson, far right, stand with the 2022 recipients of the Kristin Kosiewicz Substance Abuse Awareness Scholarship, which were  from left, Camille Romero and Brianna Nieto. This was the first year the scholarship was awarded. Photo by Jessica Booton