LAHS Assistant Superintendent Carter Payne reminds students to send a thank you to the individuals and organizations who made the 2023 Honors Convocation evening possible. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee Scholarships: LAHS Alumni Christine Hazard Phillips, left, and Abel Chavez, right, present J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee Scholarships to the students. Among this group of students are the recipients of the Class of 1969 and 1970 scholarships. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Public Schools (LAHS) Assistant Superintendent Carter Payne welcomed students, family members, teachers and presenters to the LAHS Class of 2023 Honors Convocation Thursday evening at Duane Smith Auditorium.
“I’m honored and excited to have been asked to be the emcee for tonight’s ceremony,” he said. “We have the opportunity tonight to celebrate and recognize over 50 LAHS seniors who have been selected for local scholarships. Our students are very grateful for the financial assistance these scholarships and awards provide as they leave Los Alamos High School and embark on a new adventure, whether that be college, trade school, the military or the workforce.”
Payne also recognized the “dedicated staff” who lead the high school, and who were helping with the evening’s program and asked them to stand as he called their name:
- Renee Dunwoody, Principal;
- Susanne Montoya, Assistant Principal;
- Mike Johnson, Principal of Topper Freshman Academy;
- Ann Stewart, Athletic Director; and
- Jacqueline Nolen, Program Coordinator.
He also recognized, and the audience applauded, Superintendent Jennifer Guy and members of the School Board including Melanie Colgan, Christine Bernstein, Antonio Jaurigue, Ellen Specter and Sondra Wyman.
“Also, thank you to Ryan Daly and his technical crew, National Honor Society Students, and other staff who have pitched in to help with tonight’s program,” Payne said. “And thank you to the scholarship and award presenters who you will hear from shortly. Without all of you, tonight’s program would not happen.”
He also took time to recognize the teachers and parents for their support of the students and thanked the many community organizations that would be presenting awards and scholarships.
Our community is very generous,” Payne said. “Go through tonight’s program, take note that a number of the scholarships awarded this evening are ‘Memorial’ scholarships. This is a wonderful way to preserve the memory of a loved one. So once again, thank you so much to our local organizations.”
Many students in attendance also received other scholarships and awards, both academic and athletic, to their respective colleges and universities and were asked to stand and be recognized.
“Congratulations to our members of the Class of 2023. We as parents, family members, friends, staff members, school administrators and community members are proud of you and your accomplishments and wish you well in the future,” Payne said. “And remember to send a thank you to the individuals and organizations who made this evening possible. Let them know that you appreciate their support in your future. We thank you for coming this evening, and look forward to celebrating your graduation on May 27.”
Members of the National Honor Society served refreshments in the lobby following the ceremony.
LAPS Foundation Community Service Scholarships: LAPS Foundation Executive Director Jenny McCumber, left, and Board President Judy Bjarkie McKenzie, second from left, present Community Service Scholarships to the students. Each scholarship recipient had an opportunity to highlight a teacher who made an impact in their lives during the ceremony. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
Pat Edmonds and Sue Graves Memorial Scholarship: Judy Magelsson, left, and Norma Tech present the Pat Edmonds and Sue Graves Memorial Scholarship to senior Gwendolyn Pickett. This scholarship has been given to a student each year for the past 51 years. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
LANL Foundation and Los Alamos Employees Fund Scholarships. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
Presidential Scholar Semifinalists
Acknowledgement of Presidential Scholar Semi-Finalists
Presenter: Carter Payne
Brian L. Han and Yunseo Kim have been selected among 628 semifinalists to advance to the final round of the 2023 US Presidential Scholars competition.
Aspen Elementary School PTO Scholarship
~ Presented prior to ceremony ~
Recipients: Hailey McDowell, Zorah Fullip, Isabella McTeague
Barranca Mesa Elementary School PTO Scholarship
-Presenter: Carter Payne
– Recipient: Aiden Richardson
Chamisa Elementary School PTO Scholarship
~ Will be presented at a school assembly later in the year-
Recipient: Naveen Velappan
Mountain Elementary School PTA Scholarship
- Presented by Carter
Recipients: Mariah Stephens and Megan Martinez
Piñon Elementary School PTO Scholarship
~ Presented by Carter ~
Recipients: Maia Cannon and Keturah Sherril
Aaron S. Goldman Memorial Scholarship
Presenter: Dr. Blake Wood
Recipients: Sophie Chadwick, Kayli Lincoln, Madelyn Crotzer, Haliey McDowell, Emma Montoya, Naomi Starkenberg
I (Carter) will present the Coca-Cola Scholarship
Recipients: Mariah Stephens, Owen Sapp, Aria Mair
Eastern Star Scholarship – will let us know next week
Awarded Previously
Recipient: Brigit Kielter
Explorer Post 20 Scholarship
~ Presented by Bob Carlos ~
Recipient: Ian Swift and Rebecca Moss
Friends of Los Alamos County Libraries Scholarship
Presenter: Jennifer McCumber
Recipients: Ava Pietryga, Leah Rushton, Mikaela Brown, Yunseo Kim
June and Harry Ettinger Memorial Scholarship
Presenters: Jennifer McCumber
Recipient: Maya Price
Hastings Smith Memorial Scholarship
~ Recipients to be announced at a later date ~
Hospital Auxiliary of LAMC Scholarship
Presenter: Patricia Ensberg
Recipients: Zorah Fullip, Clancy Powers, Mikaela Brown, Isaac Gao
Irene Boone Memorial Scholarship
Presenters: Jennifer McCumber
Recipients: Aria Mair, Isabella McTeague
Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee Scholarships
Presenters: Christine Hazard Phillips
- The J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Scholarship.
Recipient: Yeanwoo Park
- Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Scholarship in Memory of Nancy Laubach Freed
Recipient: Isaac Gao
- The J. Robert Oppenheimer Scholarship in Memory of Nicholas C. Metropolis.
Recipient: Sonja Ebey
- The J. Robert Oppenheimer Scholarship in memory of Rosalie Heller
Recipient: Violet Henderson
- The J. Robert Oppenheimer Scholarship, funded by the NM Consortium
Recipient: Adeline Feng
- The J. Robert Oppenheimer Scholarship awards a scholarship for outstanding achievement.
Recipient: Quinton Geller
- The Robert Oppenheimer Scholarship, funded by the Class of 1970, is awarded for excellence in the arts or sciences.
- Presented by Abel Chavez
- Recipient: Madelyn Crotzer
- The J. Robert Oppenheimer Scholarship in memory of Richard C. Swenson, privately funded, is awarded to one student with outstanding academic achievements and who demonstrates exceptional promise in physics or mathematical sciences.
Recipient: Ming-Yuan Lo
Jim Sims Memorial Engineering Scholarship
Presenters: Jennifer McCumber & Morris Pongratz
Recipients: Carter Watkins and Rebecca Rocha
Karen McLaughlin Memorial Scholarship
Presented by Tom McLaughlin~
Recipient: Kimberly Prada
Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos Scholarships
Presenter: Betsy Hemphill
- Kiwanis Club Scholarship
Recipients: Adeline Feng, Quinton Geller, Brian Han, Madelyn Crotzer, Sare Beste Zeytun
- Lee & Lou Pierotti Honorary Memorial Scholarship
Recipient: MIng-Yuan Lo
- Kiwanis Vocational Scholarship
Recipient: Chantelle Bibeaut
- Jeannette O. Wallace Memorial Scholarship
Recipient: Yunseo Kim
Kristen Kosiewicz Memorial Scholarship
Presenters: Morris Pongratz & Jennifer McCumber
Recipient: Norah Gartz and Logan Perez
Larry Baca Memorial Scholarship
Presenter: Morris Pongratz & Jennifer McCumber
Recipient: Nyla Lee
LAHS Alumni Scholarship
Presenter: Viki Liparoto
Recipient: Mariah Stephens
Los Alamos Garden Club Scholarship
~ Alahana Weller and Helen Carpenter ~
Recipients: Solenne Thelliez
Los Alamos Golf Association Scholarships
~ Presenter: Mechelle Taylor~
Recipients: Nolen Bell and Isabella McTeigue
Los Alamos Light Opera Scholarship
~ Presented prior to ceremony ~
Recipient: Elise Ovaska
Los Alamos Little Theatre Scholarship in memory of Warren Houghteling
~ Presenter Craig Taylor~
Recipient: Elise Ovaska
Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation Community Service Scholarships
Presenters: Jennifer McCumber & Morris Pongratz
Recipients: Yunseo Kim, Mikaela, Brown, Madelyn Crotzer, Adeline Feng, Quinton Geller, Violet Henderson, Isabella McTeigue, Elise Ovaska, Yeanwoo Park, Kimberly Prada, Ming-Yuan Lo
Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation Vocational/Technical Scholarships
Presenters: Jennifer McCumber & Morris Pongratz
Recipient: Julian Baros and Chanetlle Bibeault
Los Alamos Symphony Orchestra Scholarship
- Presented prior to ceremony-
Recipients: Yeanwoo Park, Violet Henderson, Rebecca Roacha
Mikey Aslam Memorial Scholarship
Presenter: Tariq Aslam and Bernadette Lauritzen
Recipient: Maia Cannon and Isaac Gao
Masonic Scholarship
~ Presented prior to ceremony ~
Recipient: Elise Ovaska
Music-Filled Life Scholarship
-Will be presented at the Spring Concert of the Los Alamos Community Winds-
Recipients: Dominic Dowdy and Rebecca Rocha
Pat Edmonds and Sue Graves Memorial Scholarship
Presenter: Norma Tech and Judy Magelsson
Recipient: Gwendolyn Pickett
Phi Beta Kappa of Los Alamos Scholarship
~ Presented prior to ceremony ~
Recipients: Yunseo Kim and Sonja Ebey
Ross and Lola Ramsey Memorial Scholarship
Presenters: Jennifer McCumber & Morris Pongratz
Recipient: Elise Ovaska
Rotary Great Expectation Award for Solid B Students
Presenter: Linda Bullock and Alison Pannell
Recipients: Timur Tyulin
Rotary Service Award
Presenter: Oliver Morris
Recipients: Yunseo Kim, Katherine Werner, Yenwoo Park, Marian Stradling, Keturah Sherril
Ruth J. Sherman Memorial Scholarship
Presented prior to ceremony
Recipient: Elise Ovaska
Sophia Feldman Memorial Scholarship
Presenters: Jennifer McCumber & Morris Pongratz
Recipients: Philippa Fung, Yunseo Kim, Logan Perez
Wally Walters Memorial Scholarship
Presenter: Blake Wood
Recipients: Zorah Fullip and Beck Ellis
Zia Credit Union Merit Scholarship
Presenters: Jennifer Aylmer and Laura Loy
Recipient: Julian Baros
Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation and Los Alamos Employees Fund Scholarships
Presenter: Rekha Pillai
Recipients: Madelyn Crotzer, Nadezda Draganic, Adeline Feng, Quintin Geller, Violet Henderson, Teresa Austin, Yunseo Kim
Bryan Fearey & Maureen Connolly Scholarship for Science and Arts
Presenter- Rekha Pillai
Recipient: Alexander Livescu
John & Marti Browne Leadership Scholarship
Presenter: Rekha Pillai
Recipients: Yeanwoo Park, Karl Sinkula
Fradkin Memorial Scholarship
Presenter: Rekha Pillai
Recipient: Karl Sinkula
Northern New Mexico American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Scholarship
Presenter: Rekha Pillai
Recipient: Leonid Svyatsky
Senator Pete Domenici Scholarship
Presenter: Rekha Pillai
Recipient: Brian Han
P.E.O. Star Scholarship
Presenter: Debra Wagner
Recipient: Mia Casados
