LAPS FOUNDATION News:

Eleven outstanding students have been awarded a Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation Scholarship. Each student demonstrates a balance of academic excellence, extracurricular participation and community service throughout their high school careers. Winners chose an Educator of Distinction; this is an educational professional who has had a positive impact on the student’s time in the Los Alamos Public Schools. 

Mary Brug with teacher Margo Batha. Photo by Don Taylor

Mary Brug will attend the University of New Mexico to study Psychology and American Sign Language Interpretation; she is the daughter of William and Bridgid Brug. She selected Margo Batha as her Educator of Distinction. Brug said of Batha, “Knowing Mrs. Batha during my high school career has changed me as an individual. I have grown in my understanding of how to debate and not argue about issues that matter to me. Working with Mrs. Batha for four years showed me that being a coach or a teacher means truly caring about each of your students.”

Rebecca Cai and teacher Joy Handsberry. Photo by Don Taylor

Rebecca Cai will attend Columbia University to study Human Rights and Economics; she is the daughter of Michael Cai and Helen Cui. She selected Joy Handsberry as her Educator of Distinction. Cai said of Handsberry, “She is an extremely effective teacher, treating every lesson with vigor and enthusiasm. She admires the students who work extra-hard to receive B’s and C’s, because she understands how difficult effort can be without superlative award. Above all else, she taught us by her example that every lifetime can be maximized, and every personality celebrated.”

Teacher Margo Batha and Deanna Gutierrez. Photo by Don Taylor

Deanna Gutierrez will attend Harvard University to study Political Science; she is the daughter of Joaquin and Melinda Gutierrez. Gutierrez selected Margo Batha as her Educator of Distinction. She said of Batha, “Mrs. Batha not only challenged me in a classroom setting, but helped cultivate my individual growth. She was able to channel my longing for explanation into intellectual curiosity. She continuously went beyond her classroom duties, ensuring that my wellbeing as an individual was not ignored.”

Teacher Michelle Holland and Maxwell Hermann. Photo by Don Taylor

Maxwell Herrmann will attend Montana State University to study Nursing; he is the son of Hans and Ryn Herrmann. He selected Michelle Holland as his Educator of Distinction. Herrmann said of Holland, “Mrs. Holland structures her class in such a way to allow for freedom of the mind. No longer were we memorizing facts. We were discussing them. For once, I was in a class where opinion mattered. In Humanities, it felt as though I was finally free from the confines of a syllabus. Mrs. Holland and Humanities gave me exactly what I was expecting–more from high school.”

Teacher Catherine Puranananda and Emily Hopkins. Photo by Don Taylor

Emily Hopkins will attend the University of New Mexico to study Engineering; she is the daughter of John and Jennifer Hopkins. She selected Catherine Puranananda as her Educator of Distinction. Hopkins said of Puranananda, “Ms. P set an expectation for a level of dedication that goes unmatched. There was a perfect balance between academic rigor and general life support in her classroom. She made a strong effort to understand my scatterbrained thoughts and gave me a sense of direction while giving me the tools to move forward into my future.”

Teacher Lori Thompson and Makaela Jones. Photo by Don Taylor

Makaela Jones will attend New Mexico State University to student Biology/Pre-Medicine; she is the daughter of Darren and Michelle Jones. Jones selected Lori Thompson as her Educator of Distinction. She said of Thompson, “Mrs. Thompson had a way of engaging students by providing us with fun and entertaining educational activities to do during class. She has also always pushed me to reach my potential and has helped me with work from other classes, my senior paper, scholarships, essays, and even a personal matter.”

Teacher Lynn Ovaska and JoAnna O’Neill. Photo by Don Taylor

JoAnna O’Neill will attend Western Washington University to study Biology/Pre-Medicine; she is the daughter of Michael and Maire O’Neill. She selected Lynn Ovaska as her Educator of Distinction. O’Neill said of Ovaska, “Mrs. Ovaska uses innovative teaching methods and brings enthusiasm into the classroom in a way that promotes participation and critical thinking. Apart from being an outstanding teacher, she also provides her students with someone to look up to, as well as a safe place to go to when they need help.”

Teacher Rose Martin and John Rees. Photo by Don Taylor

John Rees will attend Stanford University to study Bioengineering; he is the son of Dan Rees and Amy Regan. Rees chose Rose Martin, his Pinon Elementary School GATE teacher, as his Educator of Distinction. John said of Martin, “Through this experiential learning, Mrs. Martin taught me what all teachers seek to impart on their students: learning is fun. She tackled difficult subjects without pausing to wonder if we were too young to understand. She challenged us to be creative for the purpose of solving problems and let us apply our learning in ways that deepened our understanding.”

Rachel Reynolds and teacher Mick Matusak. Photo by Don Taylor

Rachel Reynolds will attend the University of North Texas and is undecided about her field of study; she is the daughter of Robin Reynolds and Laura Day. Reynolds selected Mick Matusak as her Educator of Distinction. She said of Matusak, “He was able to teach in a way that related well to the life a high school student by intertwining stories that drew us in and created an environment that teens could feel comfortable in. When we struggled or needed someone to really listen, with no hesitation, Mick would sit and be that person for us. He manages to teach a hard and time consuming class, yet many students look forward to and genuinely enjoy the course.”

Camille Rousculp and teacher Donna Shaefer. Photo by Don Taylor

Camille Rousculp will attend the University of California at Los Angeles and is undecided about her field of study; she is the daughter of Christopher and Susannah Rousculp.  Rousculp selected Donna Shaefer, her 4^th grade teacher at Mountain Elementary, as her Educator of Distinction. She said of Shaefer, “Ms. Shaefer felt we were old enough to take charge of our own learning. She was the first teacher who felt like a friend as well as a teacher, and became the first teacher with whom I felt comfortable when I spoke. When I look back on my experience in her class, I see that I would not be the student or the person I am today without Ms. Shaefer as my fourth grade teacher.”

Teacher Kathy Boerigter and Rachel Wallstrom. Photo by Don Taylor

Rachel Wallstrom was selected by the scholarship committee as its most meritorious recipient and awarded the Rynd Award. This award was named after Ed and Betty Rynd, a couple with a passion for community service and our schools. Wallstrom will attend Stanford University and is undecided about her field of study; she is the daughter of Tim and Leslie Wallstrom. She selected Kathy Boerigter as her Educator of Distinction. Wallstrom said of Boerigter, “Mrs. Boerigter encourages her students to ask questions and creates an engaging class atmosphere. She makes learning chemistry fun by focusing on the meaning and consequences behind each idea as opposed to forcing tedious fact memorization. She has not only inspired me in the classroom, but has also supported my involvement in various summer programs and extracurricular learning opportunities.”