LANLF News:

Fourteen Northern New Mexicans have received $1,000 Returning Student/Regional College scholarships from the Los Alamos National Laboratory Employees’ Scholarship Fund.

These awards help students returning to a formal education for certification or a two-year degree at an accredited regional college. Many of the students receiving these awards are pursuing new careers.

Funding comes from donations by LANL employees and a matching amount from Los Alamos National Security, LLC. The scholarships are administered by the LANL Foundation.

Awards go to:

• Catrina Garcia, Santa Fe, to pursue an Associate of Science degree in nursing from Santa Fe Community College.
• Jessica Garcia, Española, who is a Licensed Practical Nurse, to pursue a nursing degree at Northern New Mexico College.
• Ross Griego, Chimayo, who is returning to school after military service and 20 years working with a nonprofit, to pursue an Associate of Arts degree from Northern.
• Leigh Ann Grow, Los Alamos, is a special education aide in the Los Alamos schools and is pursuing a teaching certificate at SFCC. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in chemistry from the University of Idaho.
• Melissa Herrera, Española, is pursuing an Associate of Arts degree at Northern with a goal of earning a doctorate in clinical psychology with a focus on substance abuse counseling.
• Kathleen Kosman, Santa Fe, is pursuing an Associate of Arts degree at SFCC to lead to a career in the arts. She previously earned a Bachelor’s in Secondary English Education and a Master’s in English Literature from Buffalo State University.
• Enrique Montoya, Serafina, is pursuing an Associate of Science degree in nursing from Luna Community College,
• William Nackers, Los Alamos, is a Los Alamos County firefighter with an Associate’s Degree in fire science and is attending the University of New Mexico-Los Alamos. He plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in emergency medicine.
• Russell Owens, Santa Fe, is pursuing an Associate of Arts degree at SFCC and plans to transfer to UNM to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in evolutionary anthropology.
• Laurene Pepersack, Santa Fe, is pursuing a teaching certificate at SFCC. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md.
• Vickie Sands, Las Vegas, is pursuing an Associate of Arts degree from Luna Community College to become a licensed practical nurse and certified Associate in Allied Health Care. She is a certified EMT.
• Misty Stacy, Jemez Springs, is pursuing an Associate of Arts degree at UNM-Los Alamos in pre-business administration, with a goal of earning a Bachelor of Arts in accounting and becoming a certified public accountant.
• Angela Udemezue, Santa Fe, is attending SFCC to earn an Associate of Science degree with a goal of becoming a Registered Nurse. She is a certified nursing assistant.
• Vanessa Ward, Santa Fe, is attending SFCC to earn an Associate of Science degree in pre-engineering.

Since 2011, 63 Northern New Mexicans have been supported through these scholarships. Awards go to students from Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Taos, Mora and Sandoval counties.