The Path April 2024

GrandDays, Grand Memories

Grandparents and grandfriends filled the campus for two memorable days of exploration, connection, and fun in early April. Brisk temperatures and blustery winds did not dampen the spirit on campus. The Academy welcomed over 800 grands who got to participate in a range of activities including classroom visits, lunch in the dining halls, student performances, a photo booth, and a solar eclipse during 6-7 GrandDays. Guests enjoyed refreshments throughout the day and had the opportunity to explore the Simms Library Art Gallery, Common Grounds Cafe, and Charger Bookstore.

The day concluded with a brief address by Head of School Julianne Puente and student performances in Simms Auditorium, showcasing music and dance groups and providing a memorable finale to GrandDays.

It was wonderful to see so many visitors exploring campus and participating in classes. GrandDays celebrated family and education, fostering connections between Charger students and their family. The event underscores the Academy's commitment to community engagement and meaningful experiences.

Spring Day of Giving a Success

A Message of Gratitude from Director of Advancement Joe Weiss

Thank you, Albuquerque Academy community! The week of April 8 was truly remarkable here on campus. We kicked off with a heartwarming embrace of over 800 grandparents and grand friends during our cherished GrandDays celebrations on Monday and Tuesday. Then, on Wednesday, April 10, we rallied together for our annual Spring Day of Giving.

I'm thrilled to share that our collective efforts yielded an impressive total of $261,941, generously contributed through 669 gifts. These donations directly bolster our Academy Fund, a vital resource that sustains the school's core initiatives. From faculty support and professional development to tuition assistance, academic departments, and a myriad of enriching programs — including crucial student wellness and academic support — every dollar raised plays a pivotal role in enhancing the Academy experience for our students. Moreover, amidst our fundraising success, we proudly commemorated 50 years of welcoming and empowering girls and women at Albuquerque Academy. We welcomed community members from across the globe to join us for a Legacy in Motion virtual conversation about our history, what has changed (and what hasn't) since 1955, and our current school culture designed to enhance transparency and understanding. If you weren’t able to attend, I encourage you to watch the recording here.

None of this would be possible without your unwavering commitment to our cause, and your passion for making a difference in the lives of others. Every golf cart driver, every email sent, every cookie handed out, and every dollar raised is a testament to your dedication and generosity. Together, we've reaffirmed our commitment to delivering a transformative education for New Mexico families. Thank you!

See the news story for the results of our gift incentives and class challenges.

As I mark my one-year milestone as director of advancement for Albuquerque Academy, I reflect on our department's mission of propelling the school forward with two main goals. First, our focus remains on fundraising and development, aiming to bridge the gap between tuition and the actual cost of an Academy education. Your donations are not just financial contributions; they are investments in the future, safeguarding the endowment and excellence of our institution for generations to come. Second, we're dedicated to fostering vibrant alumni engagement. We strive to create an inclusive environment where alumni feel valued and inspired to give back through their time, expertise, and philanthropy.

Throughout the past year, I've listened attentively to your questions and feedback, and I remain eager to hear more. Your insights are invaluable as we continue to build relationships and refine our strategies. For example, it is clear that constituents expect a commitment to academic excellence through an admission and tuition assistance practice that allows the school to attract and support New Mexico students with the highest levels of character, talent, and motivation. I look forward to sharing the findings of my endeavors in our upcoming impact report. If you have any comments, suggestions, or insights to share, please reach out to me at advancement@aa.edu.

Our collaborative efforts are vital not only for the benefit of our students, faculty, and alumni but also for the broader Albuquerque community. Let's join forces to fortify and elevate our shared mission. Together, we can make a lasting impact!

HOSA Team Earns 12 Medals at State

More than 20 Academy students competed in 16 events at the HOSA State Conference, bringing home 12 medals across nine events.

Students spend the school year choosing the health-profession areas they want to learn about and competing with others from around the state. These competitions are completed in a variety of styles, ranging from students producing posters, delivering speeches, taking written tests, and demonstrating medical skills in front of judges who are health professionals.

Read the news story to learn who participated.

Summer Levanta Classes for Adults: Register Now

Indulge your creativity this summer with an exciting lineup of adult classes from Levanta Institute! Really Bad Guitar Orchestra welcomes guitar enthusiasts who want to explore ensemble playing in a supportive, no-judgment environment – perfect for those who've completed the beginner or intermediate guitar courses or are confident in fingerstyle playing. Or immerse yourself in the art of Impressionism with Impressionist Inspirations: A Journey Through Oil Painting, an eight-session course delving into color mastery and brush techniques, complete with quality supplies for each participant. We’re also offering Summer Steel Band, an exploration of the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. Beginners are encouraged to join in the fun, which culminates in a lively public performance.

Register today for Summer Levanta Classes for adults.

A Legacy of Advocacy

To celebrate 50 years of educating girls at Albuquerque Academy, Alumni Council member Ted Alcorn '01 is telling the stories of women alumni.

By Ted Alcorn ’01

Lena Moffitt ’01, who directs one of the country’s leading environmentalist organizations, traces the roots of her advocacy to a box of yellowing newspaper clippings.

She discovered them a couple of years ago – letters to the editor from throughout her childhood that her parents had published in The Albuquerque Journal. A school teacher and a construction worker by profession, her mom and dad were also natural activists in their personal lives, and the letters attested to their perpetual campaigning for fairness and justice; they chided lawmakers for allowing companies to pollute the state’s water, called for increased funding for girls’ soccer teams, defended public school students’ right to dye their hair.

“That made a huge impression on me,” said Lena. “The power of one person to make a difference, if they use their voice – and particularly if they can inspire more people to join them in that effort.”

Lena came late to the Academy, in ninth grade. Her classmates had already bonded in middle school, and she was awed by the arts and athletic facilities, but the new environment didn’t intimidate her. "I was probably a little bit more headstrong than I should have been," she laughed.

Looking back now, there were clear turning points. One was Karen Beamish’s environmental science class, where Lena first learned about climate change. “She taught us the fundamentals of the science and the crisis that was coming,” including locally in the Jemez Mountains, which were ravaged by wildfires that year. “She connected the dots for me in a way that changed the entire trajectory of my life,” Lena said.

The school’s experiential education program also marked her deeply. Exploring the Philmont Scout Ranch and winter camping in the Gila Wilderness, she fell in love with the outdoors. And toughing out the cold and miles of trail beneath a heavy backpack, she learned she had “the personal wherewithal to do hard things.”

After earning a degree in environmental biology, Lena got an assistantship at a lab as a stepping stone toward a doctorate. The scientists were studying Zapus princeps, the Western jumping mouse, to inform zoning decisions in Denver that might put the city’s growth on a collision course with the animal’s habitat. “[The mice] were either going to be preserved or wiped off the face of the map by what a few city council members decided,” Lena recalled.

Lena doesn’t describe herself as a patient person – “I like to move really quickly” – but she also saw how the city’s leaders were sure to act before her research was complete. “I could write a thesis on the genetic differentiation between these two populations of mice, which would take seven years, and we might find meaningful results – but in the meantime, the entire population could be gone.” What she really wanted to do, she realized, was to talk with those decision-makers, to organize their constituents, and to fight for a better world she knew was possible: she wanted to be an advocate.

Fifteen years, a graduate degree, and a half-dozen jobs later, that’s exactly what she does. As head of the multimillion-dollar organization Evergreen Action, she helps elected officials with the nuts and bolts of their climate policies so they can pass legislation that actually delivers on their vision.

Over that time, the environmental movement has grown along with her. “We are in a place that, 10 years ago, I could have only dreamed about,” Lena said, crediting environmental justice campaigners and youth climate activists such as Greta Thunberg and the Sunrise Movement with helping bring millions of people into the movement.

She takes heart in the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which promotes clean energy, though cautions it was just a first step. “We have a very narrow window of opportunity to avoid the worst of the climate crisis and the next few years are absolutely critical to ensure that we bend that arc of emissions toward preserving a livable planet.”

Her three-year-old daughter Charlie is already taking after her, particularly in her strongly held opinions. For Lena, motherhood has reinforced the stakes of her work and provided an opportunity to pass down lessons her mom conferred on her. “Some of my kids' first experiences with me have also been at rallies and protests and going down to the White House and showing them how to use their voices,” she said.

“Nothing would make me prouder as a mom than if my kids also became advocates.”

Latin Scholars Recognized for National Exam

All eight Academy Latin students were recognized for their achievements on the National Latin Exam. Kashvi Rai ’28 earned gold with a perfect score on the introductory exam. Only a fraction of a percent of exam takers earn a perfect score.

Audrey Finkelstein ’27 and Anna Hastings ’26 earned gold/summa cum laude on the Latin I exam. A gold medal is awarded to the top five percent nationwide. Arjun Mitchell ’25 earned silver/maxima cum laude, Alex Lesher ’24 earned magna cum laude, and Carter Bailon ’25, Ana Edwards ’26, and Luke Laskey ’24 received cum laude recognition on the Latin I exam.

Kashvi and Audrey study Latin through their own initiative and receive no Academy credit for their work.

“We meet once a week,” says faculty member Hugh Himwich, “Audrey, who is also studying Ancient Greek with me, for an hour on Zoom every Sunday even through the summer months, and Kashvi for an hour after school on most Fridays throughout the school year. Though I give them no quizzes, tests, required assignments, or grades, their achievement is nevertheless validated by their exceptional scores on the National Latin Exam.”

Senior to Represent New Mexico at National Youth Science Camp

Leela Young ’24 has been selected to represent New Mexico at the 2024 National Youth Science (NYS) Camp. Hosted in Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, NYS Camp is a residential science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) summer program designed to honor and challenge some of the nation’s rising STEAM leaders. Leela was selected through a competitive application process. Two students from each state, Washington D.C., and several countries are invited to attend the program during Summer 2024.

Three Chargers Take Top Grade Honors at State Math Contest

Iris Huang ’30, Arjun Grandhe ’27, and Akilan Sankaran ’24 were the top scorers in their grades at the 2024 UNM-PNM State Math Contest. Congratulations to these talented math students and several others for their outstanding performances.

Read the news story for more.