The Los Alamos High School Class of 1969 is awarding its 2021 $3,000 scholarship to Logan Black, a graduating senior at LAHS so he can pursue his teacher education degree. Courtesy photo
LAHS News:
Logan Black, a 2021 graduating senior at Los Alamos High School, has made the most of his academic experience as a student leader, a student voice on the LAPS School Board, a state and national qualifier in student competitions and as a volunteer in the community.
Black served as president of the school’s Distributive Education Club preparing emerging student leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. He served as vice president of National History Day offering students the opportunity to select, study and present historical projects such as performances, films, research papers, exhibits or websites.
He also served as a student liaison for the Los Alamos Public Schools Board the past two years and provided input on several construction projects affecting students and participated in the Safe Start task force discussions and decisions impacting faculty, staff and students during the pandemic.
“During the two years I served as a student member of the school board, I was able to help provide my community with another voice and have been able to learn so much about how Los Alamos functions outside of what I normally see,” Black said.
He served as a student intern for the Los Alamos Schools Credit Union helping manage finances, file paperwork and general office work, as a summer YMCA camp counselor for second graders and as an assistant for his father’s small business.
Two of Black’s notable academic achievements came in 2019 when he was among the 11 students from LAHS and two students from LAMS who advanced from the National History Day’s regional competition to the state finals and this year when he was among the six LAHS students who qualified for the International DECA Competition. He finished second place at the state competition for sports and entertainment marketing.
During his spare time, he worked part-time at a pizza restaurant and was active in other extra curricular activities including ballroom club dancing, student council, Olions theatre events, and also participated in competitive swimming and cross-country sporting events.
After Black graduates from LAHS this semester, he is planning to continue his higher education this fall at either St. Cloud State University in Minnesota or New Mexico State University in Las Cruces with the help of a $3,000 J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee (JROMC) scholarship funded and sponsored by the LAHS Class of 1969.
The scholarship was established in the fall 0f 2019 in partnership with JROMC during the LAHS Class of 1969’s 50th year reunion to provide financial support for graduating seniors wanting to earn a degree in teacher education.
The J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee helped the LAHS Class of 1969 administer their fund and to select the recipient for their 2020 and 2021 scholarships.
The first LAHS Class of 1969 scholarship was awarded last spring to Ellie Oldham, who is attending Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
This year, the JROMC scholarship program received a total of 33 applications for their seven scholarship awards. After an initial review of the applications, 15 finalists were selected for individual interviews conducted by a team of a five-volunteer panel representing the entire committee.
“The selection for each scholarship was very competitive,” Christine Phillips said, the chairwoman of the JROMC scholarship program. “The final selections were made difficult by the exceptionally high quality caliber of all the student applicants,” she added.
“I am honored to have been selected as the recipient of the LAHS Class of 1969 scholarship for 2021,” Black said. “It is rewarding to know that this financial support is coming from former LAHS students and I want to thank everybody who helped make scholarship this possible, it means so much to me.”
“On behalf of the LAHS Class of 1969, I want congratulate Logan Black for his high school academic achievements, community service and leadership,” Abel Chavez said, the co-chairman of the LAHS Class of 1969 scholarship fundraising effort. “Logan truly exemplifies the type of student who is worthy of an academic scholarship for his passion, drive and dedication to teach and inspire students.”
“We also look forward to supporting Logan with any encouragement and support he may need to succeed and to fulfill his dream of teaching,” he added.
Black is the son of Cindy and Justin Black of Los Alamos. Both parents are educators with the Los Alamos Public Schools.
