Dear Albuquerque Academy community,
I am proud to introduce the 2024-25 Albuquerque Academy Impact Report, a celebration of the extraordinary generosity and momentum that continues to shape the future of our school. This year’s results are nothing short of remarkable, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to this success.
In total, we raised $5.2 million in cash, pledges, and in-kind support — a 15% increase over last year. Additionally, we received more donations and estate pledges in the past two years than we did in the previous six years combined! This signals continued growth in both the strength and depth of our philanthropic culture. For the first time in the school’s history, we have received seven-figure commitments from three different families in a single year. This expanding show of support demonstrates our community's commitment to our bold mission. These gifts have a direct impact on our students, teachers, programs, and campus, ensuring that Albuquerque Academy endures for generations to come.
We are especially proud that this success reflects growing engagement across our community — alumni, parents, parents of alumni, grandparents, faculty, staff, and friends — each playing a part in the Academy’s continued excellence. Philanthropy is a growing and critical part of who we are, and it is inspiring to witness this evolution.
As I have discussed previously, tuition and endowment income alone cannot sustain the exceptional education we offer. We continue to rely on philanthropy to close the approximately $6,000 gap between full tuition and the actual cost of an Academy education for each student. With your support, we can meet that challenge.
I am pleased to share that we maintained a balanced budget of $36 million, remained disciplined in our 5% endowment draw, and made meaningful progress on key priorities: reducing debt, raising faculty and staff salaries, and providing need-based tuition assistance to 26% of our student body (not including the $6,000 educational subsidy for each student described above). Albuquerque Academy continues to gain financial strength— and that’s because of you.
In its second year, our strategic plan — Academy in Motion — continued to drive our efforts to LEAD, ENGAGE, INVEST, and GROW. We’ve seen measurable improvements in alumni engagement, unrestricted giving, estate planning, and partnerships with the local business community. We’re energized by this momentum and even more excited about the work ahead.
As we begin our 70th year, the school is focusing its monthly podcast on the history of our institution, discussing important school issues and celebrating the success of students, faculty, and alumni. I encourage you to listen and comment.
Thank you for believing in our mission and for helping us continue to move the Academy forward — together.
With deep appreciation,
Julianne Puente, Head of School
Philanthropy Fuels Possibility
Each year, unrestricted giving through the Academy Fund plays a critical role in supporting the people and programs that make our school exceptional — from salaries for our talented faculty to tuition assistance for families that make the Academy accessible and affordable, and from curriculum innovation to campus upkeep. These are the behind-the-scenes essentials that keep our mission in motion every single day.
Of our $2 million annual fundraising goal, $1.25 million must be unrestricted to meet essential operating needs. Our four major annual appeals are necessary in helping us reach both our total and our unrestricted goals:
- Giving TuesdAAy (after Thanksgiving)
- End-of-calendar-year giving
- Spring Day of Giving
- End-of-fiscal-year push
These giving days are energizing and impactful — but together they typically generate only about half of what’s needed to sustain the school. That’s why consistent support throughout the year is so important. When you give to the Academy Fund — at any time, in any amount — you help strengthen our financial model, reduce pressure on tuition and the endowment, and demonstrate to outside funders (like corporate granting agencies and foundations) that our community is deeply invested in the school’s future.
Giving Days are not only about finances. This year, Giving TuesdAAy celebrated family, and community members were encouraged to tell their Academy Family story. During our Spring Day of Giving, we celebrated 50 years of Experiential Education and Bear Canyon, cornerstones of Albuquerque Academy.
Unrestricted giving is the most powerful gift. It’s what keeps the Academy nimble, sustainable, and strong.
Celebrating Extraordinary Gifts
This year also marked a milestone in alumni philanthropy, with extraordinary seven-figure commitments that underscore the enduring impact of an Academy education, including two anonymous donations — a $1 million unrestricted Academy Fund gift by a 2000s alum and their family, and a $1.2 million estate gift from a 1990s graduate inspired by the arts. We also received two gifts honoring former faculty members. One was in the amount of $1 million from the Garcia family in honor of Darell Gage and Vince Cordova, and the other was from the Sansonetti/Batty family in honor of John Truitt. These contributions are fueling innovation and honoring the teachers who shaped their lives. The generosity of these alumni families not only strengthens our present but also sets the stage for generations of future Chargers.
Carlos Garcia ’96 explains why his family decided to “bring water back to the well” with a seven-figure family gift. This speech was made during the Darell Gage Tennis Courts Dedication event in Spring 2025.
Additional new funds this year:
- Coach K. Carroll Charger Football Fund
- Horsley Tuition Assistance Fund
- Stephanie Lipkowitz Outstanding Teaching Fund
- Mazer Family Tuition Assistance Fund
- Todd R. Webster ’96 Fund for the Performing Arts
Why We Fundraise
Philanthropy is essential to sustaining our mission and making it accessible to students from all backgrounds. While tuition and endowment income provide a strong foundation, they do not cover the full cost of an Academy education. Each year, there is a gap of roughly $6,000 per student between what families pay for the full tuition rate and the true cost of delivering the exceptional Academy experience.
Rather than closing this gap by raising tuition further, which would make an Academy education less attainable, particularly for middle-class families, or by overdrawing our endowment, which must be preserved for future generations, we rely on annual giving to sustain excellence and accessibility today.
Your gifts make it possible for us to:
- Keep tuition more affordable by minimizing annual tuition increases, ensuring that the Academy reflects the diversity and richness of our community.
- Provide meaningful tuition assistance, enabling 1 in 4 students to attend, regardless of their financial circumstances.
- Support faculty and staff salaries, enhancing our ability to recruit and retain the very best educators.
- Protect the endowment by maintaining a disciplined 5% draw, allowing it to continue growing and supporting the Academy for decades to come.
In short, fundraising is not about “extra” — it is about keeping the Academy’s model sustainable, equitable, and strong. In fact, the Academy has been able to decrease the tuition gap while adding value to students and faculty through expanded curriculum, pay increases for faculty, and facility improvements. This has been accomplished through fiscal responsibility combined with strong student enrollment.
In The Path newsletter, Academy alum Ted Alcorn ’01 told the stories of Academy alumni who received tuition assistance: Jim Meketa '65 | Mark Tafoya '89 | Chamiza Pacheco de Alas '96 | Ranalda Tsosie '96 | Mark Dimas '98 | Ian Bourland '00 | Ava Dellaira '02 | Norah Doss '08 | Abi Hunter '15. The Academy, through its generous tuition assistance, launched these alumni and many others into meaningful careers and futures.
See how tuition assistance continues to impact families.
Understanding the Endowment
Albuquerque Academy’s endowment is one of our greatest strengths. With a current value of nearly $100 million, it provides a stable source of income that helps fund tuition assistance, faculty salaries, and academic programs year after year. Think of the endowment as a savings account for the school’s future — money that is invested and generates returns, which we use carefully to support today’s students, while providing for tomorrow’s Chargers.
Each year, the Academy draws about 5% of the endowment’s average value to help fund operations. This disciplined approach ensures that the endowment can continue to grow and serve future generations, rather than being spent down too quickly.
It is important to note that the endowment cannot — and should not — cover all of our expenses. If we relied too heavily on it, we would risk weakening the Academy’s long-term financial health. That’s why annual giving is so vital — it reduces pressure on the endowment, keeps tuition more affordable, and provides flexible dollars that can be used immediately for emerging needs and opportunities for students to have transformative academic experiences. Some recent examples include our state-of-the-art Fly Lab, where students conduct original genetic research and then present that research at Stanford University, and our newly designed course, Acting for the Camera, which offers our aspiring thespians experiences in film.
In short, the endowment is our foundation, and philanthropy is what keeps the Academy nimble, sustainable, and strong — both today and for decades to come.
2024-25 School Highlights
The 2024-25 school year was an extraordinary one for Albuquerque Academy, filled with achievements across academics, arts, athletics, and student life. Our students and faculty continued to set the bar high, and the entire Charger community has much to celebrate.
In athletics, our Chargers captured 10 state championships, showcasing depth and talent across multiple sports; the program was named #13 in the nation by MaxPreps for the 2024-25 school year. In the classroom and beyond, students distinguished themselves in speech and debate, DECA business competitions, and robotics programming, earning recognition at the state and national levels. Academy students also excelled in the arts, bringing home awards for visual arts, music, and performance.
This was also a year of innovation. The Academy introduced new classes designed to meet the evolving needs of students, including psychology, applied web engineering, science of food, and game design. To help bring these stories to life, Head of School Julianne Puente launched a new podcast, featuring a special episode that highlights the fresh courses shaping the Academy's curriculum.
The Academy’s rigorous and robust curriculum allows our students to differentiate themselves in a competitive college environment, and their accomplishments speak for themselves through the distinguished institutions they attend. With individualized guidance from our expert College Guidance Office, upperclassmen receive the support they need to navigate an increasingly complex higher education landscape with confidence and clarity.
Alumni Weekend continued to flourish in 2024 as our hallmark alumni engagement event, welcoming more than 700 alumni and guests back to campus. Highlights included class reunions, the Hall of Fame, and the Alumni Awards Dinner, where we celebrated the year’s distinguished award recipients — alumni whose achievements exemplify the Academy’s enduring values of leadership, service, and community.
Remembering Cynthia Steiner
A Steady Hand and a Thoughtful Heart
Cynthia Brown Steiner’s legacy at Albuquerque Academy is woven into some of the school’s most formative and transitional years. As chair of the Board of Trustees in the mid-1990s, she led during a complicated leadership shift, navigating the departure of a planned president and the subsequent appointment of a new head of school. Her steady presence helped guide the school through an uncertain moment, always keeping students and faculty at the center of decision-making.
“Her leadership style was very inclusive,” remembers fellow board member Nancy VanDevender. “She wanted everybody to speak their mind, and she was extremely friendly. I don’t know anybody who didn’t like her because she was so friendly and forthcoming.”
Named an honorary trustee in recognition of her 15 years of service, Cynthia continues to be remembered as a woman of integrity, humor, and vision. Her children, both Academy graduates, have carried that same spirit forward — Michael Ulku-Steiner ’88 as a career educator and now Head of School at Durham Academy in North Carolina and Amy Halloran-Steiner ’90 as a licensed clinical social worker whose nature-based approaches echo her early experiences in the Bear Canyon program. “Good schools become great schools when people invest beyond their own generation,” Michael said. “That’s exactly what she did.”
Cynthia was also a vital force behind the Academy’s early work in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Inspired by the efforts of former Head of School Bob Bovinette, she participated in board/faculty training and served on a diversity committee that sought to make the school more inclusive for students and faculty of color. “She didn’t just talk about diversity — she showed up, she listened, she learned, and she acted,” said former Associate Head of School Stephanie Lipkowitz. “She modeled a way of being involved that was thoughtful and deeply human.”
“It was important to her to widen the reach of the Academy — that this was something to be shared,” said her daughter Amy.
Thank You for Sharing Our Commitment
The important work of securing the Academy's financial future is a shared commitment. Every community member plays an important role. In this report, we would like to acknowledge every individual, family, and community partner who contributed financially to the well-being of our school and students.
Lifetime Giving Society Circle
The Academy honors individuals and organizations whose cumulative giving totals $35,000 or more as members of our Lifetime Giving Circle. These individuals, couples, and organizations play a significant role in enriching the school's future through their philanthropy. View members of the Lifetime Giving Circle.
Laura Lee Moore Society
The Laura Lee Moore Society recognizes, honors, and seeks to perpetuate the tradition of planned giving at Albuquerque Academy. Those who designate Albuquerque Academy as a beneficiary in their planned giving program – bequests, life income arrangements, or other deferred gifts – become members of the Laura Lee Moore Society. View members of the Laura Lee Moore Society.
Corporate Partnerships
The corporate partner program offers opportunities for businesses to connect and advertise, while also providing our students with a valuable network for senior projects and internships. At the close of our second year offering this program, 14 businesses from a variety of industries signed on to this opportunity.
Board of Trustees
The Academy is fortunate to have a dedicated body of volunteers with diverse and expert backgrounds to oversee the administration of the school and the stewardship of its financial and physical resources. Our trustees share a passion for the Academy’s mission and a vision for the school’s ongoing excellence and leadership in education. View members of the 2024-25 Board of Trustees.
Alumni Council
The Alumni Council engages with alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents, volunteer boards, and friends of the Academy to support the mission of the Academy and to strengthen the Academy and its community. They recognize that, as graduates of Albuquerque Academy, they have a responsibility to the Academy to preserve its resources and serve generations of children to come. View members of the 2024-25 Alumni Council.
Albuquerque Academy Parents’ Association
The Albuquerque Academy Parents’ Association (AAPA) serves a vital role in the Albuquerque Academy community. It works to increase parent and family involvement in Albuquerque Academy life; assist in welcoming new families to the Academy community; foster relationships among parents, students, faculty, and staff; support and assist the student governance structure; and serve as an advocate for the Academy mission. View members of the 2024-25 AAPA Executive Committee.
Multicultural and Diversity Parent Council Leadership
As part of its commitment to creating a caring, inclusive, and just community, Albuquerque Academy is home to five Multicultural Parent Councils. The African American; Allies, Friends, and Parents of LGBTQIA+ Academy; Asian American; Hispanic; and Native American Councils are affinity spaces for members with similar backgrounds, identities, and/or objectives to connect, encourage, mentor, advocate for, and support our diverse student body and their families. View leadership members of the 2024-25 Multicultural and Diversity Parent Councils.
Albuquerque Academy’s Mission
We believe that children’s lives change when their natural passion for learning is nurtured and transformed into habits of life-long learning and reflection. We believe that the world changes as these children learn to serve country and community with wisdom, conviction, and compassion.
In light of these beliefs,
We serve students of talent and character, offering them an education that broadens their perspectives, sharpens their minds, strengthens their bodies, and engages their hearts.
We commit to creating a caring, inclusive, and just community, using the geography and culture of our home in the Southwest to enrich our educational programs and to foster creativity, personal balance, and a connection to the natural world.
We devote our resources to ensure economic accessibility to our students and to support the wider community through outreach and community service.
We entrust this mission to our graduates and successors as we preserve our resources and serve the generations of children to come.
Read past impact reports.
The 2024-25 Impact Report is a publication of the Albuquerque Academy advancement team. All efforts have been made to verify the accuracy of our data. If anything appears in error, please contact us at advancement@aa.edu so a correction may be made. To learn more about our advancement efforts or to make your annual gift to the Academy, visit www.aa.edu/advancement.