About the Awards
The New Mexico Academy of Science recognizes New Mexico K-12 teachers and Informal Science Educators who provide exemplary opportunities for students’ STEM learning. The Academy honors two outstanding educators each year at the annual NMAS symposium/meeting with an engraved plaque, a monetary award provided by ACS, and classroom materials. Each winner and a guest are provided a hotel room and event registration/meal for the annual award ceremony.
Nominations are open to all grade K-12 teachers and all Informal Science Educators who teach or promote STEM subject(s) in New Mexico. Nominations can come from school administrators, parents or families of students, colleagues, or self. A single award was established in 1968 to honor New Mexico STEM educators. Since 1990, awards have been given to two teachers annually. In 2018, the Academy opened the awards to nomination of Informal Science Educators. The American Chemical Society has partnered with NMAS and currently presents the monetary award to both NMAS winning.
Nominations are open to all grade K-12 teachers and all Informal Science Educators who teach or promote STEM subject(s) in New Mexico. Nominations can come from school administrators, parents or families of students, colleagues, or self. A single award was established in 1968 to honor New Mexico STEM educators. Since 1990, awards have been given to two teachers annually. In 2018, the Academy opened the awards to nomination of Informal Science Educators. The American Chemical Society has partnered with NMAS and currently presents the monetary award to both NMAS winning.
Open Call for Nominations
Nominate your favorite science teachers and educators today!
2019 Call for Nominations (PDF)
Deadline: Friday, October 4, 2019
2019 Call for Nominations (PDF)
Deadline: Friday, October 4, 2019
Past Recipients of the Outstanding Science Teacher Award
Year Teacher, School/Organization
2018 Julianna Matz-Esquibel, Taos High School, Taos (bio)
Nate Raynor, Mescalero Apache School, Mescalero (bio)
2017 Jessica Sanders, Berrendo Middle School, Roswell
2016 Jodie Guillen, Moriarty Middle School, Moriarty
Kevin Sebastian, El Camino Real Academy, Santa Fe Public Schools, Santa Fe
2015 Turtle Haste, Desert Ridge Middle School, Albuquerque (bio)
Anna Suggs, Zia Middle School, Las Cruces (bio)
2014 Colleen Ruiz, Annunciation Catholic School, Albuquerque
Lindsay Hanson, Public Academy for Performing Arts, Albuquerque
2013 John Irwin, Texico H.S. Texico
Debra Chee, Crownpoint M.S., Crownpoint
2012 Vickie Funk-Sheley, Tibbetts MS, Farmington
Gail Silva, Piedra Vista HS, Farmington
2011 Barbara Mullis, Los Alamos MS, Los Alamos
Brian Montoya, Puesta del Sol ES, Rio Ranch
2010 Bonnie Dodge, Infinity HS, Belen
Damian Armijo, Alta Vista MS, Carlsbad
2009 Vince Case, School on Wheels HS, Albuquerque
Don Mulder, Washington MS, Albuquerque
2008 Jennifer Coughlin, Eldorado HS. Albuquerque
Theresa Apodaca, Sarracino MS, Socorro
2007 Karen Griego-Kraig, Pojoaque Valley MS, Espanola
Chasity Montes, Smith ES, Deming
2006 Lesha Harenberg, Eldorado HS, Albuquerque
Tammy Hinckley, Barranca Mesa ES, Los Alamos
2005 Joe Matteson, Pojoaque Valley HS, Espanola
Steven Brugge, Eisenhower MS, Albuquerque
2004 Mary Ann Patterson, Socorro ES, Socorro
Gilberto Logo-Martinez, Truman MS, Albuquerque
2003 Sam Nichols, Hobbs HS, Hobbs
Sarah Claussen, Zimmerly ES, Socorro
2002 Charles E. Gallegos, Lynn MS, Las Cruces
Alexandra Loots, Santo Domingo ES, SD Pueblo
2001 Ervin A. Pfeifle, Las Cruces HS, Las Cruces
Brenda Brannen, El Capitan ES., Roswell
2000 Lino "Ricky" M. Espinoza, Shiprock HS, Shiprock
Susan Nuckols, Floyd ES., Floyd
1999 David P. Nohe, Chaparral MS, Alamogordo
Sara Sue Torres, Sierra MS, Las Cruces
1998 Rondal Nauert, Tatum HS, Tatum
Cathy Stell Kinzer, Mesilla Pk. ES.,Las Cruces
1997 Kevin Blackstone, Alamogordo HS, Alamogordo
Patricia May, La Union ES, Anthony
1996 Ann Allen, Goddard HS, Roswell
Richard Berglund, Capitan Schools, Capitan
1995 Kevin Jarigese, Moriarty HS, Moriarty
Katy Price, Naaba Ani ES, Bloomfield
1994 Mark Witkowski, Santa Teresa HS, Santa Teresa
Sandy Pixley, Dulce ES, Dulce
1993 Arthur Flores, San Miguel ES, Las Cruces
1992 Joe Keating, Thoreau HS, Gallup
Marian Pelking, East Picacho ES, Las Cruces
1991 Malva Knoll, Eldorado HS, Albuquerque
William Reed, Cameo ES, Clovis
1990 Timothy Black, La Cueva HS, Albuquerque
1989 (no records)
1988 (no records)
1987 (no records)
1986 (no records)
1985 (no awards)
1984 (no awards)
1983 (no awards)
1982 Vincente Villa, NMSU
Mauro Montoya, Highland HS, Albuquerque
1981 David Kidd, UNM
Antonio Lara, Gadsden HS, Anthony
1980 Harry F. Pomeroy, Jr. , Yucca Jr. HS, Clovis
1979 (no award)
1978 Geoffrey Purcell, NM Tech
Rex L. Robinson, Grants HS, Grants
1977 Marshall S. Floyd, Highland HS, Albuquerque
1976 Robert F. Miller, WNMU
Earl F. Paige, Tucumcari HS, Tucumcari
1975 Antonio L. Gennero, ENMU
Eldrid E. Harrington, Albuquerque Public School
1974 M.F. Stubbs, University of Albuquerque
Herbert J. Hammond , Alamogordo HS, Alamogordo
1973 (no award)
1972 Clay T. Smith, NM Tech
1971 (no award)
1970 George R. Fischbeck, Albuquerque Public Schools
1969 (no award)
1968 Joseph McKinnon, Roswell HS, Roswell
2018 Julianna Matz-Esquibel, Taos High School, Taos (bio)
Nate Raynor, Mescalero Apache School, Mescalero (bio)
2017 Jessica Sanders, Berrendo Middle School, Roswell
2016 Jodie Guillen, Moriarty Middle School, Moriarty
Kevin Sebastian, El Camino Real Academy, Santa Fe Public Schools, Santa Fe
2015 Turtle Haste, Desert Ridge Middle School, Albuquerque (bio)
Anna Suggs, Zia Middle School, Las Cruces (bio)
2014 Colleen Ruiz, Annunciation Catholic School, Albuquerque
Lindsay Hanson, Public Academy for Performing Arts, Albuquerque
2013 John Irwin, Texico H.S. Texico
Debra Chee, Crownpoint M.S., Crownpoint
2012 Vickie Funk-Sheley, Tibbetts MS, Farmington
Gail Silva, Piedra Vista HS, Farmington
2011 Barbara Mullis, Los Alamos MS, Los Alamos
Brian Montoya, Puesta del Sol ES, Rio Ranch
2010 Bonnie Dodge, Infinity HS, Belen
Damian Armijo, Alta Vista MS, Carlsbad
2009 Vince Case, School on Wheels HS, Albuquerque
Don Mulder, Washington MS, Albuquerque
2008 Jennifer Coughlin, Eldorado HS. Albuquerque
Theresa Apodaca, Sarracino MS, Socorro
2007 Karen Griego-Kraig, Pojoaque Valley MS, Espanola
Chasity Montes, Smith ES, Deming
2006 Lesha Harenberg, Eldorado HS, Albuquerque
Tammy Hinckley, Barranca Mesa ES, Los Alamos
2005 Joe Matteson, Pojoaque Valley HS, Espanola
Steven Brugge, Eisenhower MS, Albuquerque
2004 Mary Ann Patterson, Socorro ES, Socorro
Gilberto Logo-Martinez, Truman MS, Albuquerque
2003 Sam Nichols, Hobbs HS, Hobbs
Sarah Claussen, Zimmerly ES, Socorro
2002 Charles E. Gallegos, Lynn MS, Las Cruces
Alexandra Loots, Santo Domingo ES, SD Pueblo
2001 Ervin A. Pfeifle, Las Cruces HS, Las Cruces
Brenda Brannen, El Capitan ES., Roswell
2000 Lino "Ricky" M. Espinoza, Shiprock HS, Shiprock
Susan Nuckols, Floyd ES., Floyd
1999 David P. Nohe, Chaparral MS, Alamogordo
Sara Sue Torres, Sierra MS, Las Cruces
1998 Rondal Nauert, Tatum HS, Tatum
Cathy Stell Kinzer, Mesilla Pk. ES.,Las Cruces
1997 Kevin Blackstone, Alamogordo HS, Alamogordo
Patricia May, La Union ES, Anthony
1996 Ann Allen, Goddard HS, Roswell
Richard Berglund, Capitan Schools, Capitan
1995 Kevin Jarigese, Moriarty HS, Moriarty
Katy Price, Naaba Ani ES, Bloomfield
1994 Mark Witkowski, Santa Teresa HS, Santa Teresa
Sandy Pixley, Dulce ES, Dulce
1993 Arthur Flores, San Miguel ES, Las Cruces
1992 Joe Keating, Thoreau HS, Gallup
Marian Pelking, East Picacho ES, Las Cruces
1991 Malva Knoll, Eldorado HS, Albuquerque
William Reed, Cameo ES, Clovis
1990 Timothy Black, La Cueva HS, Albuquerque
1989 (no records)
1988 (no records)
1987 (no records)
1986 (no records)
1985 (no awards)
1984 (no awards)
1983 (no awards)
1982 Vincente Villa, NMSU
Mauro Montoya, Highland HS, Albuquerque
1981 David Kidd, UNM
Antonio Lara, Gadsden HS, Anthony
1980 Harry F. Pomeroy, Jr. , Yucca Jr. HS, Clovis
1979 (no award)
1978 Geoffrey Purcell, NM Tech
Rex L. Robinson, Grants HS, Grants
1977 Marshall S. Floyd, Highland HS, Albuquerque
1976 Robert F. Miller, WNMU
Earl F. Paige, Tucumcari HS, Tucumcari
1975 Antonio L. Gennero, ENMU
Eldrid E. Harrington, Albuquerque Public School
1974 M.F. Stubbs, University of Albuquerque
Herbert J. Hammond , Alamogordo HS, Alamogordo
1973 (no award)
1972 Clay T. Smith, NM Tech
1971 (no award)
1970 George R. Fischbeck, Albuquerque Public Schools
1969 (no award)
1968 Joseph McKinnon, Roswell HS, Roswell
Last updated: 02/14/20145
