An Albuquerque Academy Community Newsletter
Contents
Student Scientists Help Indigenous Costa Ricans Access Clean Water | Addie Nayback ’25 Wins Best Actor at Enchantment Awards, Heads to Broadway | SwimAmerica Lessons at Albuquerque Academy | Meet the 2025 Athletics Hall of Famers | Congratulations to Our Spring Teams | Hands-On Summer Fun for Adults | A Community of Curiosity: How Norah Doss ’08 Found Her Way Back to the Academy | Your Voice Matters — Help Us Win Best Private School Again | Fly Lab Students Present at Stanford | Podcast: Academy Athletics | Community Allies Drive Academy’s Learning and Community Advancement | Awards Ceremony Celebrates Excellence and Character | Vibrant Library Display Explores Asian Arts and Culture | Celebrating Our Volunteers | Take a Peek at 6th-Grade Overnights | DECA Earns Top Scores at International Conference | More Academy Headlines | Upcoming Events | Photo Gallery
Student Scientists Help Indigenous Costa Ricans Access Clean Water
When 22 Albuquerque Academy students traveled to Costa Rica during spring break, it was far from being a vacation. The advanced life science students lived with the Bribri, an Indigenous people in eastern Costa Rica and northern Panama, where they made meaningful contributions and took home important life lessons.
Having experienced E. coli outbreaks due to having cattle cross their land, the Bribri need to establish a new well site, which requires approval from the local water authority. Such a process generally entails an extensive study; working with the Academy is a more cost-effective way to achieve their goals. Our student scientists sampled water from various sites in the community, such as individual homes and the community kitchen, for E. coli and are writing up their findings in a report for the Bribri; they also trained their hosts to test for E. coli and other coliform bacteria.
The students also sampled water from two rivers bordering the Bribri and a section of the ocean located near an industrialized area — samples they’re currently testing in classroom labs for the presence of microplastics.
“The night we presented our research to the Bribri was so heartfelt and special to see their community come together to hear good news about their water sources,” said Corrine Dracup ’26. “Just watching the looks on all of their faces and all the smiles they had while looking at the test results. It really highlighted the impact that we were making while being on this trip and the way we were giving back to the community that was hosting us.”
The Bribri grow much of their food, medicine, and materials used for housing, so the Academy students also helped the community support their agroforestry system by including sustainable forestry practices, such as low-impact farming and crop rotation.
“It was a challenging trip in some ways,” said science teacher Miranda Fleig, including an extra five-mile hike with all of their belongings at the end of a very long day of travel because the river was too low to canoe to their final destination. As guests in the Bribri village, they slept in open huts under mosquito nets and often shared cold showers with giant grasshoppers and spiders.
“Going into this experience, I assumed I was going to feel sorry for the Bribri because they didn’t have things I initially viewed as luxuries,” said Addison Scrivner ’26. “I left with a newfound sense of perspective that luxuries aren’t always a nice car and a nice house, but the kindness and hospitality shown to you. I left not feeling sorry for the Bribri but knowing that happiness exists in all people and places, even when typical luxuries aren’t present.”
The trip was work, but it was also holistic. While mornings meant physical labor like trail maintenance and tree planting, after a lunch break, the students had lessons in culture, religion, and language. Evenings were for committee meetings and community building.
“One experience that really stuck out to me was getting my hair cut with the Bribri,” said Zac Fernandez ’25. “It was so impactful because it wasn’t a planned event on the schedule, but something that we made happen. I made friends on the trip with people from school, and we then made friends with the Bribri. We worked through language barriers to learn about each other and eventually ended up scheduling a haircut. It was just such a surreal experience of getting a haircut in the middle of the jungle, in a hut under a headlamp with someone I had just met.”
The trip was run through Latin American Service Expeditions, a sustainability organization that came to the attention of the science department during the 2023-24 school year. Miranda and fellow science department member Andres Lucero participated in related professional development last summer, and then they, along with science faculty member Joelle Shaw, began planning for spring break. With one trip under their belts, they are looking to get more teachers on board to make it a more cross-curricular experience.
Addie Nayback ’25 Wins Best Actor at Enchantment Awards, Heads to Broadway
Albuquerque Academy’s theatre program continued its tradition of excellence at this year’s New Mexico High School Musical Theatre Awards — known locally as the Enchantment Awards — earning top honors for Best Actor and Best Director.
Senior Addie Nayback was named Best Actor for his role in THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY, while David Sinkus received Best Director.
As part of this honor, Addie will head to New York City in June to represent New Mexico and compete at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as the Jimmy Awards. He will join other top high school performers from around the country for a week-long Broadway experience that includes intensive training in singing, dancing, and acting, culminating in a performance at the Minskoff Theatre.
Addie was one of five Academy students nominated for individual honors at this year’s Enchantment Awards, held recently at UNM’s Popejoy Hall. His performance was part of a larger celebration of THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY, which was selected as one of only five productions in the state invited to perform at the ceremony.
In addition to Addie’s recognition, other Academy nominees included:
- Best Actress: Nori Little ’25
- Best Actor: Loïc Lewis-Kraitsik ’25
- Best Supporting Actress: Adelyn Haas ’27
- Best Supporting Actor: Hayden Wagner ’27
These students dedicated significant time to rehearsals alongside the four other nominated ensembles and dozens of individual performers from across the state. The Academy ensemble delivered strong performances — both as a group and in their solo and small-group appearances. The recognition came down to the students’ dedication and hard work, said Director David Sinkus. “They were truly the reason we took home a show award.”
SwimAmerica Lessons at Albuquerque Academy
Your child can learn to swim this summer at Albuquerque Academy! Our swim lessons, open to ages 4-18, follow the SwimAmerica curriculum, so progression is skills-based, allowing each student to work at their own pace. Instructors and supervisors are certified in Red Cross lifeguarding and CPR, and our instructor-swimmer ratio is 1:5.
Summer lessons are five days a week, June 9 to July 18, running in conjunction with our Think Summer program. Experienced swimmers interested in competitive swimming can try out the next level with our summer pre-team or competitive swim camp.
Meet the 2025 Athletics Hall of Famers
Congratulations to Our Spring Teams
Baseball
Academy baseball had another stellar season, winning districts and advancing to the state quarterfinals.
DECA
Forty Academy students competed at the International Career Development Conference in Orlando, participating in events focused on business, marketing, and finance. Twenty-eight students earned DECA’s Award of Excellence for their high scores, highlighting the strength and momentum of the school’s growing DECA program.
Golf
Albuquerque Academy’s golf teams teed up a clean sweep at the 4A state championships, with both the girls and boys bringing home first-place titles.
The girls continued their state winning streak with a commanding 37-shot win over Kirtland Central (673–710), locking in their fifth straight state championship. On the boys' side, Academy went back-to-back, holding off Artesia by 11 strokes (623–634) to secure the state win.
Read more here: Albuquerque Academy sweeps at metro girls golf and Albuquerque Academy sweeps.
Robotics
Congratulations to our Charger Robotics team — 7th graders Elena Schwarz, Sahana Paruchuri, Oceanna Li, and Max Berger — for taking the overall first prize at the AFRL Robotics Expo!
Softball
Albuquerque Academy clinched the 6-4A district title with a win over Bernalillo and advanced to the first round of state. Read about the district title.
Tennis
In addition to being district champs, Chargers boys and girls swept the Class 4A state tennis titles — with the boys winning a legendary 22 times in a row and the girls six consecutive times. And congratulations to boys singles state champ Austin Curtis ’25 and girls doubles state champs Amelia Bosch ’26 and Shay Villegas ’25.
Read more here: An eclectic group of individual state singles champions and Academy boys win 22nd-straight title.
Track and Field
Albuquerque Academy’s boys and girls had an outstanding season. The boys brought home the blue trophy winning the Class 4A state championship while the girls were the state runners up, along with earning several individual and relay team medals. Grace Erinle ’27 compiled 30.5 points — the most of any athlete at the meet. Both teams were districts champs, and the girls also claimed the metro title.
Read all the track and field news from this season: Academy girls (close), Cleveland boys (not close) take Harper titles, Record-breaking day by familiar faces at the Harper, Prep Track & Field: Cleveland javelin thrower, Academy long jumper wow at Metros, Cleveland boys, Academy girls continue track and field dominance at metros, and Streaks grow and records shatter at state track and field championships.
Hands-On Summer Fun for Adults
This summer at Levanta, adults are invited to explore new skills, cultures, and creative outlets in a welcoming, hands-on environment. Whether you're simmering curry from around the world, laying down a Latin rhythm, printing your own custom T-shirt, or strumming alongside fellow guitarists, each class offers a chance to learn by doing — and to enjoy the process. With a mix of culinary, musical, and visual arts offerings, these courses are designed for beginners and enthusiasts alike.
Summer 2025 Adult Classes at Levanta
- Curry Cultures — 5 Sessions
- Latin American Percussion — 6 Sessions
- Silkscreen 101 — 6 Sessions
- Really Bad Guitar Orchestra — 6 Sessions
A Community of Curiosity
How Norah Doss ’08 Found Her Way Back to the Academy
To shine a light on the transformative power of tuition assistance, Alumni Council member Ted Alcorn ’01 is telling the stories of alumni who were grateful recipients during their Academy years.
By Ted Alcorn ’01
When Norah Doss caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror in the Albuquerque Academy’s lower-school bathroom, her reflection seemed to be telling her she was out of place.
She couldn’t make eye contact with herself because the mirror was angled downward to accommodate the stature of a typical student. Norah, who was six feet tall on her first day of seventh grade, was anything but typical.
But Norah was no longer a seventh grader. Decades had passed since she’d last used this sink, and now she was on campus interviewing for a teaching job. She stared at herself in the mirror, flooded with memories.
Similar encounters with the past have since become routine for Norah, who got the position and joined the ranks of more than two dozen alumni who have returned to the school as faculty.
But the Academy had been familiar to her even upon arriving as a student, because her dad, Brent Doss, taught Spanish there for many years. “When I say I grew up on the campus, I literally mean I grew up here,” she says.
In some ways Norah didn’t fit the mold, and not just by towering over her classmates. Her mother was also a teacher, so their family lived on a tight budget. They cooked meals from scratch, Norah recalled, and had to save up when they needed new clothes.
Her parents could only afford to enroll her and her older brother at the Academy because it offered reduced tuition to the children of faculty. “The tuition remission was the key,” she said.
She didn’t click with the school’s emphasis on academics, either: she was a voracious reader but she struggled in some classes and failed math. “I just didn't feel that competitive urge that a lot of Academy students do, and I think my priorities were elsewhere,” she said.
What drew her attention was the performing arts and the communities they fostered. She made costumes and did make-up for theatrical productions, and spent hours hanging out behind the auditorium with other like-minded thespians. She joined the speech and debate team. And she sang in every ensemble she could, including early morning chamber groups, an ensemble for girls, and, each year from grades six to 12, the choir.
Singing taught her vital lessons, including teamwork and discipline. “If you don't know your part, then you're letting down the people next to you,” Norah explained. “You have to literally listen to those around you, and you have to be very present.”
Here, inspired by the choirmaster Marilyn Bernard’s unrelentingly high standards, Norah strived for excellence. “She has made me cry more than any other human being, including any boyfriend I've ever had,” Norah said of the beloved instructor.
Norah’s home life was fraught — her dad struggled with dependency on alcohol — so long days at the Academy were in some ways an escape. But she didn’t lack support. Her mom, progressively deaf since a childhood case of scarlet fever and mainly reliant on lip-reading, could not hear her daughter sing. But she attended every concert, every musical, every play. “She was always there,” Norah said.
What Norah found at the Academy — and, after earning college and graduate degrees, what drew her back — is a community of curiosity. “I want to learn all of the time,” she says. Now an upper school English teacher, she is proud to defy stereotypes about who belongs at the school, by background or interest.
And every day on campus, she coexists with her past. Walking behind the theater, she passes photos of herself from a years-ago student production. She still attends speech and debate practices, now as a coach. And standing in the stream of time, the student she was and the teacher she is today, she can be both.
“I don't want to separate who I am.”
Your Voice Matters — Help Us Win Best Private School Again!
A huge thank you to the Charger community for the show of support as Albuquerque Academy was named Best Private School in the Albuquerque the Magazine 2024 Best of the City readers poll. While there are countless ways to measure our school’s success, word of mouth is critical to the future of the Academy. The opinions of those who know the school best — students and alumni, parents and employees — make a tremendous impact. Vote for us in 2025 in these categories to help us maintain our top ranking:
Kids
- Best Private School — Albuquerque Academy
- Best Camp (New!) — Think Summer at Albuquerque Academy
- Best Youth Athletic Program — Charger Aquatics
Community
- Best Community Center — Levanta Institute for Music and Creativity
- Best Nonprofit Organization — Levanta Institute for Music and Creativity
Services
- Best Adult Education Classes — Levanta Institute for Music and Creativity
Fly Lab Students Present at Stanford
Students from the Fly Lab recently traveled to Stanford University to present their genetic research at an interscholastic conference alongside peers from Harvard-Westlake School, Marin Academy, and Lowell High School. Representing Albuquerque Academy with poise and clarity, our students shared their work using CRISPR in Drosophila to convert Gal4 Driver lines into LexA Driver lines.
This year’s research journey came with considerable challenges. The lab protocol was intricate and demanding, and the team experienced a major setback when a late-night incubator malfunction destroyed many of their newly created fly lines. Despite these obstacles, the students showed impressive resolve and commitment to the scientific process.
In fact, one of the most valuable lessons regarding the importance of failure came from the Stanford scientists themselves, who were most interested in hearing the Academy’s analysis of the failed line conversions.
Take a look at the trip from the perspective of several Fly Lab students.
Elizabeth Hiller ’25 was struck by the welcoming nature of the research community.
Dr. Park and Dr. Kockel didn’t care about our level of experience; they just wanted us to appreciate what they were doing and help us be prepared for the future.”
Claire Lim ’26 appreciated the opportunity to learn from other schools and scientists.
The experience of talking to different people and them explaining a completely different way of working with our experiment was the best part of this trip for me.”
Miles Kammler ’25 found that working hands-on in the lab set their experience apart.
You can learn a lot in a classroom about the theory of a subject, but it takes resources to work on its applications.”
Evie Soule ’26 deepened her understanding of what research can look like beyond the classroom.
Over the course of this class, I’ve learned more than I have in many of my other classes, and I have grown a deeper appreciation for research.”
Jessica Zhao ’25 was drawn to the hands-on nature of the course and the chance to connect with new ideas.
I was interested in the lab work that takes up most of our time, which is unique from all the other classes at the school. I thought it would challenge me more and give good experience for the future.”
Aidan Koudelka ’26 developed new pursuits.
Fly Lab was a super fun class that was definitely a struggle but was completely worth it... I’m super excited to continue learning about flies (because yes, that is a hobby now).”
Townes Richardson ’25 gained confidence through presenting and engaging with peers.
I was able to learn the skills to be able to present a poster and answer questions regarding it, a really useful skill and something that will help me in my future endeavors in science.”
Podcast: Academy Athletics
Academy student-athletes won a school record 10 state championships during the 2024-25 school year — in boys and girls cross country, boys and girls golf, boys and girls swim and dive, boys and girls tennis, boys soccer, and boys track and field! In this episode of What I Learned in School, Julianne Puente and Christine Lenhart explore why sports are more than just games — touching on how they shape student character, build community, and enhance the educational experience.
Plus, don’t miss our Teacher Feature with the performing arts department’s Alexis Scott, who shares behind-the-scenes stories and explains why drama kids always get the job done.
Community Allies Drive Academy’s Learning and Community Advancement
Our heartfelt appreciation goes to our corporate partners whose commitment to Albuquerque Academy signals their alliance in advancing the institution, the City of Albuquerque, and the state of New Mexico. Their support has enabled vital connections, meaningful relationships, and a learning environment that consistently produces the leaders and changemakers of tomorrow.
Learn more about the Academy’s Corporate Partnership Program here.
Awards Ceremony Celebrates Excellence and Character
At this year’s All-School Awards ceremony, Albuquerque Academy celebrated students whose effort, integrity, and achievement stood out in a community already full of talented, driven, and curious individuals. Head of School Julianne Puente reminded guests that while the Academy’s many prizes and awards are one way to show that students’ work is “valued and seen by your teachers and peers,” the most impressive thing about award winners is that recognition was never their motivation. “Your intrinsic discipline, drive, and motivation would have yielded the same set of outcomes whether this prize night existed or not,” she said.
The evening honored not only academic, artistic, and athletic achievement, but also character, service, and leadership, affirming the school’s core values of wisdom, conviction, and compassion. Many of the awards presented were endowed by generous donors over the decades, and those donors in attendance helped present their awards.
Left: The Robert S. & Peter B. Barney Memorial Award
Vibrant Library Display Explores Asian Arts and Culture
The Asian American Parent Council has installed a library exhibit that honors Asian arts and culture. The display tells a larger story through individual narratives from across the Asian diaspora, spotlighting traditional legends and mythologies from countries, including China, Japan, Korea, India, Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Hawaii.
Colorful panels introduce students to stories such as The Ramayana from India, Momotarō: The Peach Boy from Japan, and The Immortal Dragon and the Fairy Goddess from Vietnam. Each tale shares a window into cultural values, beliefs, and creativity — highlighting themes of transformation, love, wisdom, courage, and identity. This vibrant and thoughtfully curated display invites viewers to reflect on the diversity and richness of Asian heritage through the power of storytelling.
Celebrating Our Volunteers
Nearly 50 parent and community volunteers gathered at a special appreciation breakfast on the patio at Common Grounds Café. The morning offered a chance to reflect on the countless ways volunteers have supported Albuquerque Academy this year — whether shelving books in the library, assisting in the bookstore, cheering on our teams as parent coordinators, contributing to councils and committees, or helping bring campus events to life.
Associate Head of School Stephanie Lipkowitz, who is retiring at the end of this school year after 36 years at the Academy, shared heartfelt remarks during the event. “Gathering today to celebrate and thank this extraordinary group — our volunteers — is particularly meaningful to me,” she said.
She reflected on the spirit of generosity that sustains the Academy and emphasized the essential role of volunteerism in the school’s success. “This institution operates as a family, and your dedicated volunteering is part of the firepower needed to run this school,” she said. Stephanie also shared a note from her son, a Class of 2017 graduate and current faculty member, who recently told her, “The AAPA is AMAZING” — a sentiment sparked by the support he received from parent volunteers while directing the fall play for younger students.
The breakfast was a small gesture of thanks for the time, energy, and care volunteers have given to our school. Their efforts have helped strengthen our community and enhance the Academy experience for students, faculty, and families alike. We’re deeply grateful for all our volunteers do.
Take a Peek at 6th-Grade Overnights
Check out some photos from the 6th-grade overnights! These adventures gave students a chance to connect with each other, explore the outdoors, and build lasting memories — their first of many Ex Ed overnight experiences.
More Academy Headlines
- Eight Language Students Honored by Alliance Française d’Albuquerque
- Junior Wins Scholarship at National Science Competition
- Academy Latin Scholars Earn Top Marks on National Exam
- Three Students Take Research to International Science Fair
- Albuquerque Athlete Earns College Scholarship to Play Flag Football
Upcoming Events
Commencement | Saturday, May 24 | 9:15 a.m. | More details
Charger Football Reunion | Saturday, August 9 | 10 a.m. | Richard A. Harper Memorial Field | Alumni Flag Football Game Followed by Food | Register here.
First Day of School and Convocation | August 14 | Details to come.
Game Under the Lights | Saturday, September 6 | 7 p.m.
Alumni Weekend and Reunions | Friday and Saturday, September 19-20 | Registration opens in June.