The Good and the Bad Hello, from the New Mexico Mathemat- ics, Engineering, Science and Achieve- ment (NM MESA)! We are excited to inform you of our success and achievement with our NM MESA students, teachers, staff and Board of Directors. These past months have been very busy for the schools and our MESA students. They have completed parts of

Photo by Rick Cole Participants in the 2016 NM MESA SIFT to Washington D.C. pose in front of the U.S. Capitol, just one of many inspiring des- tinations visited in four full days. Photo by Rick Cole NM Executive Director Toney Begay challenges students at the 2016 MESA Truly, DC SIFT is a Gift! Day competition. Rick Cole ventures. The first stop was dinner at the son Memorials. The weather was ideal for CO Regional Coordinator Crystal City Shops, a mall in Arlington, such an evening tour and it proved to be a the NM MESA requirements as students, teachers and schools. Along with the aca- During the last week of April, Wash- Virginia. This was followed by a tour of great finish to the first day. demic requirements set by the state of New ington D.C. was a little spicier than usual. the Arlington National Cemetery where I began the next day with an uplifting Mexico, our students competed in our state Not because a new chef was in town ex- HS MESA Advisor Luisa Cas- pre-sunrise, five-mile run along the water championship engineering and science perimenting with recipes, but because 28 tillo began to showcase her knowledge of front in South Washington and met the rest competitions in February and March. Not high school seniors and seven adults de- D.C. area historic sites. Castillo guided the of the crew for breakfast before heading only that, ten MESA teams competed at scended on the city from New Mexico as group to key cemetery locations including to the National Building Museum. There the state level to qualify to represent NM a part of the 2016 NM MESA Senior In- the gravesites of John Kennedy, Jacqueline the students were engaged in designing MESA at the national engineering design centive Field Trip (SIFT) giving “sabor de Kennedy Onassis and Robert Kennedy and and constructing a miniature house which challenge at the MESA USA level. Nuevo Mexico (New Mexican flavor)” to the memorials to the crews of the Chal- could withstand a simulated earthquake. Other not too exciting news is NM ME- the many social venues in the Capitol. lenger and Columbia space shuttles. She The students did well as all constructed SA’s state funding was cut by 7%. Many The journey began early Monday, April also timed her tour so that the group got homes survived the earthquakes. agencies and programs received similar 25, at the Albuquerque Sunport where NM to witness the changing of the guard at the After touring the museum, the SIFT- funding cuts. But NM MESA is not deterred MESA State Events Coordinator Anita Tomb of the Unknown Solider. The precise ers moved on to the dazzling exhibits and in meeting its mission and stands ready to Gonzales mustered all the travelers after choreography and attention to exact detail activities within the Smithsonian Air and partner with NM Higher Education Depart- two months of preparation. For most of of the guards is a fitting tribute to honor Space Museum and the National Archives ment in the mutual goals of service deliv- the participants, this was going to be their all who have given the ultimate sacrifice in before heading to the Kennedy Center for ery and fiscal constraint. This funding cut first visit to Washington. For some, it was defending the USA. And seeing the thou- dinner and a theatrical performance of the will affect NM MESA’s service to schools, about to be their first airplane flight. As for sands of grave stones in such a beautiful- long-running play, “Shear Madness.” The teachers and students. NM MESA is cur- me, I had been to Washington D.C. three ly manicured park brought a lump to my play was not only entertaining but unique rently adjusting its fiscal budget to balance times, but the last time was in the spring of throat. in how spectators interacted with the actors for the next fiscal year. It’s disheartening, 2001 before some memorial sites had been The group also did a driving tour around during the play. Riding the subway back to but we hope the economy will improve and built and before the terrorist attacks and the the Marine Corp Iwo Jima our hotel was adventurous as it involved our funding returns to a level where we can subsequent change in security at so many Memorial which is stunning in its scope quickly changing trains at precise times. provide the same amount of quality service of our Capitol’s iconic tourist sites. And and artistry. Patriotic fervor was a natural NOTE: Luisa Castillo was impeccable as to our schools, teachers, students and nu- although I had been to some of the sites response for me as I have studied the battle our guide underground on the subway or merous partners, collaborators, and sup- listed in the itinerary, others I had never of Iwo Jima extensively. Anyone who had above ground amongst our many venues. porters including community members and visited and I could hardly wait to see these a camera or cell phone was flashing pic- Her help was essential to the smooth flow parents next year. historic spots. tures of this majestic sculpture. and the overall enjoyment of our tours. We are “Making Tomorrow …. Today”. Fortunately, the flights to Kansas City A quick check-in to the hotel was fol- Day Three featured another pre-sunrise Thank you. and then Reagan National Airport in Vir- lowed by an invigorating evening walk to Continued on p. 6 Toney Begay ginia were smooth and relaxing before the the inspiring Martin Luther King Jr., Frank- Executive Director MESA crew began their memorable ad- lin Delano Roosevelt and Thomas Jeffer- See 2016 SIFT Memories New Mexico MESA, Inc. Check inside for the following articles - * Cibola Girls are MESA Day State Champs...... p. 2

* Mayfield HS Team #1 - Legacy in Progress.....p. 3

* The Amazing Life of IT Manager John Davis..p. 4 * Regional Highlights...... p. 5

* 2016 MESA Day...... p. 7 Photo by Rick Cole During the SIFT, West MESA HS students Gladys Robles, KarlaVasquez, Ariana As- torga and Brenda Salas build a house frame designed to withstand an earthquake. * MESA People Profiles...... p. 8

2 VISION - Spring, 2016 Cibola Girls Win It All! Smart, Savvy, Tight Friendships and Wearing Pink Hats – Trademarks of the 2016 MESA State Champions Rick Cole they all studied corporately and indepen- simply bonded. The team also adopted their trademark CO Regional Coordinator dently to prepare for the on-site event: “We were holding hands while Bai- pink hats in conjunction with developing MESA FUNdamentals – Environmental ley did the distance accuracy toss,” noted a cap with a chinstrap to actuate the pros- Nine months ago nobody knew about Careers, Sustainability Supermarket and Zuanich. thetic arm. Since there was going to be a Cibola High School Team #3, not even the Syntax Charades. “And we were holding hands while the cap, the decision was made for the whole four girls who would eventually join to- The results of this “sisterhood” teamwork awards were being announced,” added team to wear caps and pink was chosen gether to become resulted in a remarkably Garcia. to emphasize the perky the team. Now, balanced performance The emotional sup- and distinctly feminine they are known that bested 109 other port complemented the nature of the team. for many things teams in MESA Day. methodical planning, Burke joined MESA – academic prow- Granted, CHS Team abundant practice and as a junior after friends ess, competitive placed fifth overall in the intensely competitive encouraged her to take a skill, efficient prosthetic arm but trailed focus the team dem- look at the program at a teamwork, bubbly Deming #1 and Mayfield onstrated in scoring school club fair. Gradu- laughter and pink #1 by only 12 and seven highest on object re- ating with a 4.2 GPA hats. However, points respectively. They location and just one and a host of AP courses beyond these note- then blasted Deming #1 point below highest on under her belt, Burke, worthy traits, they by 74 points and May- distance accuracy. The who was vice-president are most highly field #1 by 26 points in FUNdamentals to team demonstrated that girls from diverse of the CHS MESA club, brought leader- regarded as the 2016 New Mexico MESA claim complete dominance in overall scor- backgrounds with relatively little experi- ship, a proven work ethic, knowledge on a Day champions. ing. The resounding state championship ence could achieve the pinnacle of MESA broad range of subjects and articulate com- Their journey to a state title is a dream triumph was the first for Cibola HS and the success with “chemistry,” the chemistry of munication skills to the team. She was born come true from visions that did in Panama as the youngest of not coalesce until December, four siblings to an American 2015, just three months before military father and Panama- MESA Day. Indeed, the mem- nian mother. She possesses bers of CHS Team #3 – seniors a deep faith in God and will Michelle Burke and Sophia be attending UNM next year Zuanich, sophomore Bailey majoring in business. Dodson and freshman Savan- Zuanich joined MESA nah Garcia – are newcomers with Burke. She hails from to MESA compared to most of Massachusetts and lived in the teams they beat. Burke and California before moving Zuanich are two-year members to New Mexico before her of MESA while Dodson and sixth-grade year at Taylor Garcia are rookies. By com- MS. Zuanich is also an hon- parison, state runner-up May- ors student who also leans field HS team #1 has 18 years toward attending UNM. The of combined experience. De- social butterfly is perpetually ming HS Team #1, which won playful and brings a unique the MESA USA state qualifier charm to the sisterhood. event last month, has 19 years Dodson, born in Belgium between its members. How to military parents, is the then did four relative newcom- “energizer bunny” of the ers earn the greatest prize and troop as she posts straight highest honor in state MESA A’s while competing in var- competitions? sity tennis, bowling and golf “We like each other and work- and serves with the CHS Key ing together never seemed like Club. She is a newly induct- a chore,” explained Burke, who ed member of the National is called “Mom” by her CHS Honor Society and will be MESA colleagues because of the CHS MESA President her innate ability to nurture, or- next year. ganize and gently discipline all Garcia may be the young- at the same time. est of the team but had the “Working together felt more most experience in computer like party fun,” added Zuan- coding as she taught herself ich, who leads the Interna- code through on-line stud- tional Club at CHS. She ought ies with the Khan Academy to know. As the IC President, two years ago. In fact, the it is her task to create a festive Photo submitted by Bailey Dodson former LBJ Middle School atmosphere celebrating the vari- Cibola High School Team #3, the 2016 NM MESA Day State Champions, radiate the joy of triumph as they student had completed a ous international cultures repre- display their clean sweep at the Central MESA Day Regional Contest at UNM March 2. The team of (left to number of engineering proj- sented among foreign exchange right) Sophia Zuanich, Michelle Burke, Bailey Dodson and Savannah Garcia, won first place in prosthetic ects using code prior to high students at CHS. arm, FUNdamentals and overall scoring enroute to winning the overall state championship. school. She is also passion- This very social atmosphere ate about Volkswagen vans, developed the relationships and first for an all-girls team. having grown up traveling interdependence that made four hours ev- “We placed second at the regional rally human relationships. and camping in various VW vans and even ery Sunday afternoon for nine consecu- by just two-tenths of a point,” noted Burke. “We pinpointed what we wanted to do, learning to do some mechanical work on tive weeks methodi- “We knew that if we re- committed to work the vehicles. cally efficient. The ally applied ourselves, and then had fun doing Because Burke and team was able to we could win state. And it,” Burke explained. Zuanich are graduating build prototypes, re- we did!” “We also learned to CHS, this particular sis- design components, The focused effort be resourceful. For terhood is the shining write and re-write enabled the team to example, at the Rally light of NM MESA for code, practice and post near perfect scores during lunch in the only one year. However, re-practice competi- in certain components (Zoo) Cafe, we made Dodson and Garcia are al- tion routines with of the FUNdamentals. emergency modifica- ready laying the founda- productivity that op- Their communication tions using a shoe lace, tion for another dominat- posing teams could during competition was binder clip and hair tie ing CHS team next year. not match in many precise yet spirited and and it almost worked “Maybe we’ll have pur- months of collaboration. They divided du- cheerful. When emotions got intense, they well enough to get us first place.” ple hats next year,” quipped Dodson. ties and combined efforts as needed and

VISION - Spring, 2016 3

marching band and has also contributed to the Trojan varsity tennis program. Brooks is also in band, on the bowling team and the Mayfield Moon Buggy team, another STEM-based competition. Trujillo joins Brooks on the bowling team and Moon Buggy team but is also active in the school choir and has personal voice lessons. Ham- mond is the President of the Class of 2017 and the Mayfield National Honor Society in addition to running cross country, play- ing tennis and serving as the Drum Major for the award-winning Trojan marching band. Being busy does not deter these aspir- ing engineers from pursuing excellence in MESA. Indeed, they so enjoy working together that it is worth the extra effort to work as both colleagues and friends. “We do everything as a team,” explained Brooks about how friendship influenced their work. “We all worked together to get ideas. We then decided who would lead which tasks – design, construction, testing, the technical paper. We shared ideas and helped each other every step of the way.” Such teamwork is repeatedly shown to be integral to MESA success. Similarly, virtually every professional engineering endeavor is completed by a team of engi- neers and technicians. To Boyd, that is the best part of being active in MESA. “Learning how to work with others is the best,” noted Boyd. “I really enjoy see- ing how well we can work together.” Photo by Rick Cole Brooks thoroughly enjoys the camara- Hoisting the second-place trophy at the MESA USA State Qualifier Championship in April, Mayfield HS derie, but chooses learning as the greatest benefit to MESA participation. Team #1 notches yet another strong finish at a MESA competition. The team consists of (from left to right) “I like seeing the progression of tech- Lachlan Boyd, Tim Trujillo, Kevin Brooks, Jacob Hammond and Advisor Kaelin Redmond. nology. I think it’s really cool to solve an actual problem with a solution that could really help people.” Trojan Scientists Competitive Again “I’m proud of having so many expe- riences while participating in MESA,” added Trujillo. “To get to go to state and Record-Setting Mayfield HS Team #1 is State Runner-Up nationals, work with LIMBS and use 3-D printing are awesome.” in both MESA Day and MESA USA “Understanding the engineering process – the good, the bad and the ugly – is re- Rick Cole to Nationals. Last year we qualified for The rivalry between Deming and May- CO Regional Coordinator ally worthwhile,” noted Hammond. “And nationals and we were surprised. But this field is intense but friendly. Deming team learning to write a technical paper and year, we have been very focused in our leader David Velez credits Mayfield in the Few teams have had as much success present our work to professional engineers project time.” team’s technical paper as an “inspiration is very gratifying.” in MESA competitions as Mayfield High The four members of Mayfield HS #1 for success.” School Team #1. Not only have they been The team credits their families, Vista include Trujillo, fellow sophomore Kevin But even though the Trojan scientists MS MESA Advisors Josh Wisner and Re- dominating contests since middle school, Brooks, and juniors Jacob Hammond and are not travelling to Ogden, Utah in June they placed fourth overall at the 2015 beca Fuentes, Mayfield Advisor Kaelin Lachlan Boyd. They spent virtually every for the 2016 MESA USA National Cham- Redmond and MESA RC Terry Ramirez to MESA USA National Championship – Wednesday night working together be- pionship, they are dedicated to working to- the highest achievement of any NM high being instrumental in their success. Since tween October and April in seeking a slot gether again next year when they will seek they are all underclassmen with intact sup- school team in the 33-year history of NM for MESA USA. The team finished second to regain a berth on the national stage. MESA. port systems, continued success is likely. at MESA Day to Cibola HS Team #3 (fea- That is only one of many aspirations “We’re not gonna stop till we get this “Placing at Nationals was great,” ex- tured in an article on page 2) and second for this very ambitious foursome. Besides plained sophomore Tim Trujillo. “It mo- (national championship) done,” empha- at the MESA USA qualifier meet to rival MESA, Boyd is a leader in the Mayfield sized Boyd. tivated us to work extra hard to go back Deming HS Team #1. JROTC program, plays in the school

Photos by Rick Cole Mayfield HS junior Lachlan Boyd, left, and fellow junior and teammate Jacob Hammond, right, both use the team prosthetic arm in the dexterity component of the MESA USA State Qualifier Championship April 22 at the New Mexico Military Institute. The combined efforts of Boyd and- Ham mond enabled the Trojans to score third in the event behind Deming and Carlsbad respectively. The Trojan scientists won the pre- sentation component and earned run- ner-up status after compiling 342.43 points compared to champion Dem- ing, which tallied 423.33. Carlsbad earned third place after winning two components - technical paper and display poster. Deming won the distance accuracy, object reloca- tion, dexterity and design efficiency divisions. Mayfield returns all four team mem- bers to try and earn the state title in 2017 after winning it last year. The format will be different next year as “winner takes all” at MESA Day.

4 VISION - Spring, 2016 John Davis Life Quest: Order from Chaos Rick Cole John’s interest in foosball led to getting of jobs as title courier, printer, mechanical John resigned with MESA to return to Tuc- CO Regional Coordinator a job doing electrical work. But he soon re- draftsman and teaching computer science son and again build relationships with his alized he needed certification as a licensed Some people have a life story that reads at New Horizons, even though he had no daughter, Briana, a new granddaughter and electrician to make a living at the vocation. like a melodramatic movie script. John Da- college degree in the field. extended family. So, he moved to Albuquerque to be close vis, who resigned as the NM MESA Infor- “I just had the ability to understand “I will really miss MESA,” said John. to dad and earned an electrician certifica- mation Technology Manager last month, is computers,” John said. “I learned quickly, “I benefited so much from seeing how such tion at TVI (Technical Vocational Institute, one such person. communicated what I knew and just loved a small team (12 employees) can do the the previous name of Central New Mexico Indeed, John’s life is so full of triumph teaching. But my contract expired and I work of a big team. MESA is efficient and Community College). John then returned to and tragedy, change and more change, in- went to work for a `temp’ agency.” smooth with an emphasis on teamwork be- Boulder and ran arcades in Boulder where credible successes and heartbreaking loss- This led to a job with an animal phar- tween the staff, teachers and students. It is he could parlay his love of foosball, pinball es that he could be the 21st century ver- maceutical company which led to employ- the first non-profit for which I have worked and related games with his knowledge of sion of some archetypical Shakespearean ment with the Southern Arizona Center that was pro-active rather than reactionary. electronics. character. Few have experienced such a Against Sexual Assault (SACASA). He It was refreshing and inspiring. Shortly thereafter John was driving be- wide range of soul-stirring events and yet began by doing data support but became “I hope my legacy with MESA is one tween Boulder and Albuquerque when he emerged so optimistic about life. Such is IT Manager, Facilities Manager and Audits of open, caring, professional IT help. Tech- fell asleep at the wheel near Pecos, NM the nature and character of he, who for 30 Manager. nology is ever changing and we have to and ran his `69 Saab off the road in a high- months, maintained the network, fixed the However, he was laid off because of help people make the changes as smoothly speed, single car accident that put him in equipment and upgraded the systems that a merger and went to work for Compass and efficiently as possible.” UNM Hospital for a month. make NM MESA’s computer system “state Health Care (an organization devoted pri- “Oh bless John!” exclaims SE Regional “I broke my back, several ribs, my pel- of the art” and marvelously efficient. marily to alcoholic rehabilitation) where Coordinator Betty Chancey. “I have called vis and bruised a lung,” recalled John. “I “I like to bring order to chaos,” smiled his management skills led to a 15% reduc- him so many times with so many issues and turned 20 lying on a hospital bed. I didn’t John. “I like to take something that needs tion in overhead expenses. he has always been so helpful. It could be like it at the time, but in the long run, that some work, fix it, make it better and then “Once you go non-profit, you never go about software, or it could be about equip- experience taught me to appreciate life.” make it great.” back,” chuckled John. “I love working ment, but John would figure out what the When he recovered, he worked multiple John emphasizes that this applies not where the emphasis is on service rather problem was and what to do about it.” jobs and lived out of an automobile so that only to work but to his personal life, al- than on how much money is made.” “John and I would tease each other he could save money to move to Tucson though he concedes his personal life has At this time, Lindsey and Brianna, now a lot, but he was so good to work with,” and go to college. Eventually he made the been chaotic to say the least. However, al- 16 and 14 respectively, moved in with John added NM MESA Deputy Director Linda move, attended Pima Community College ways the optimist, John dwells on the order and landed a job with Digital Electronics that comes from the chaos. building circuit boards and related elec- “I am so blessed, and I thank God for tronic devices. But John was laid off when all that I have in my life,” reflects John. “I the job market in electronics went soft in praise the Lord for each and every day. I the mid-80s. don’t know where I’m going, but I’m ex- However, through a lead from a friend, cited.” John quickly got a new job as he was hired Such a proclamation of peace is all the on the spot to be door man for an upscale more noteworthy considering John made night club. Being a quick learner and amia- the statement as his second marriage was ble, John advanced from good door man to ending in divorce and he moved to Tucson, better bar tender to valuable club manager. AZ without a job or a home to call his own. This venture became John’s single longest However, challenging circumstances have stint at a job as he worked there six years. It never dampened the spirit or diminished was there he met and married his first wife, the zest of this “bear of a man” over the Priscilla. His oldest daughter Lindsey was course of 54 years of life. born during this time and brought some John was born in St. Louis, Missouri stability to a chaotic and hectic schedule. to a pair of free spirits who moved three But eventually the all-consuming demands times before John was in the first grade. of running a night club led to a conflict in John’s dad earned a PhD in mathematics at conscience and John simply quit. Washington University, before completing He moved the family to San Diego a stint as a post-doc instructor at the Uni- where he worked in a Kinko’s franchise versity of California Berkeley in the midst and another night club, where he quickly of the social turbulence that was the 1960s. became manager when the owners learned The elder Mr. Davis grew a pony tail and of his reputation as a “manager” from his became a professor of mathematics at the previous bosses. University of New Mexico while announc- “The owners made it clear that my job ing motocross races on the weekend. As a was to make as much money as possible,” result of his dad’s passion for motorcycles, explained John. “But again, I saw how this John was riding dirt bikes across Albuquer- kind of place just ruined people’s lives and que mesas while learning as a student at I couldn’t keep doing it. I had to leave.” Osuna Elementary School. John not only left the “dark side,” he However, life in the fast lane took a rad- actually began working with light as he ical change of direction and pace for John landed a job in sales with 3-M Lighting. He when his parents divorced while he was in accrued more than a million dollars sales the fourth grade. Over the next few years during the first year. However, trouble John would see his dad in the summer, but brewed at home as Priscilla moved out and his mother took him and his siblings to live took Lindsey and new daughter Briana. in Colorado, where she remarried and the So, John moved to St. Paul, MN with 3-M family settled into a Buddhist monastery, :Photo by Rick Cole where he headed up a manufacturing facil- Marpa House, in Boulder. Former NM MESA Information Technology Manager John Davis answers another ity that doubled production in six months. “The monastery was a converted frat phone call about yet another technical issue confronting a MESA stakeholder. Davis This was followed by a move to Des house and each family had their own is known for his ability to work on solving the problem until it is indeed solved. The Moines, Iowa where he headed up a new room,” explained John. “I met a lot of neat watermark behind the article is a profile of John in the midst of active discussion 3-M facility there that was soon outpacing people there, got connected to a group of with MESA colleagues on how to address various computer concerns confronting the St. Paul plant. This was repeated in Far- poets and started tending bar when I was staff, advisors and students. Brainstorming is a John Davis forte. go, ND and Atlanta, GA before John finally 16. Needless to say, I wasn’t into school as felt such angst about being separated from much as I could be.” his family that he returned to Tucson. John’s Mom, Carol Garcia, died from full time and he was able to guide them Andrews. “I was really impressed with his Efforts to reconcile with Priscilla were bone cancer just a month after John gradu- through the crucial high school years. ability to create new ways of doing things. unsuccessful and John moved to Pittsburgh, ated from high school. Her death hit John A Facebook connection with Cristi Chap- He could think outside the box.” PA to work with Energy Solutions Interna- hard and he began playing a lot of foosball man of Albuquerque led to a romance, a Truly, John’s attitude brought order to tional, formerly 3-M Lighting. However, to get his mind off losing his mom. wedding in a bowling alley and eventually where there could so easily be much chaos. because ESI was merging with Northern “Concentrating on moving the balls and establishing a new home in Albuquerque. Comments about John from other MESA States Power, John was managing natu- strategizing how to score points took my At first John worked remotely for- Com staff and many advisors have been consis- ral gas supplies. This evolved into a stint mind off the moment,” reflected John. “I pass, but eventually applied for and landed tently positive in reflecting upon his con- in California where John had an epiphany played so much that I got good enough to a job as the IT Manager for NM MESA. tributions to MESA. In retrospect of past that his legacy was to be a great father. enter tournaments and over the years kept Thirty months of great success on the job performances, we trust that he will bring So, he returned to Tucson again where working my way up the foosball circuits were not matched by joy in the marriage. order to a new career and family as he be- he did spend an increasing amount of time until I made top 50 in the world.” The second divorce prompted John to once gins a new chapter in his Shakespearean with his daughters while working a series again prioritize his family and that is why adventure.

VISION - Spring, 2016 5 Many Achievements for SE Region MESA Programs Betty Chancey • MESA Day Statewide Competi- SE Regional Coordinator tion Once again, the SE Region NM MESA Carlsbad Intermediate School’s teams won programs had a very busy and rewarding 1st and 3rd Place Overall spring semester. Since January 1st, SE & in the MESA USA Qualifying event they Region schools received recognition for won 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place. participation in the following competitions Carlsbad HS won and fieldtrips : • SUPER COMPUTING in Los • SE Rally (Prepares students for Alamos the state-wide MESA Day competition ) – * Portales HS students win 2nd Place (Arm Event results) Overall at Los Alamos Super Computing * Carlsbad HS #1 – 1st Place, Rui- Challenge and won the Technical Writing doso HS #5 – 2nd Place, Ruidoso #4 – 3rd Award as well. Please see web page pic- Place tures, etc. * Carlsbad 6th Grade Academy #3 • MESA USA State Competition – 1st Place, Carlsbad Int. #1 – 2nd Place • UNM PNM State Math Competi- and Portales Jr. High #3 – 3rd Place tion Photo by Kim Allen Scheerer • Legislative Fieldtrip • Roswell Zoo improvements, wa- T-shirt fashions highlighted the CI Spring RAM at Cocina Azul. Following a boun- • Regional Science Olympiad (Rui- ter chemistry, macroinvertebrates & filter- tiful feast and informative meeting, Valley High School MESA advisors Missy Mick, doso HS, Mt. View MS Roswell &, God- ing plants (Ruidoso MESA club) Seeri Grube and Michael Goodrich celebrate “Most Fashionable MESA T-shirt” dard HS) Other News: Nathan Christensen – (Carls- and “Best Teamwork” awards in the restaurant parking lot. • Vex Robotics (Carlsbad HS) bad High School Senior) is the recipient of the $10,000 Devon Achievement Award. CI Spring Highlights: Workshop, West Schools Do New Activities Shawndeana Smith Meeting and Baseball were able to design, build and complete a West Regional Coordinator Kim Allen Scheerer “mature” and college-ready high school functioning arm for competition. There is CI Regional Coordinator students experienced a UNM student lead It’s been a busy school year for the West no doubt that the West Region will be top panel, a fabulous physics presentation by Region. Like many MESA schools around contenders at the 2017 MESA Day Com- As the school year transitions its stress- Dr. Dunlap, water gun creation competi- the state, the West region schools are in- petition. ful, but exciting, wind down into summer, tion and tours of several of the University volved in so many great programs and Along with MESA Day, the West schools the MESA Central Inner region is reminded labs. competitions from mid were also involved with of the good times this Spring. Highlights Our Central Inner teachers had a fun spring to the end of the other competitions around include the ‘Engineering the Elements’ and collegial competition as well this school year. the state. For instance, they event at UNM, our third Regional Adviso- Spring. After an interactive tour of Fried- The semester started participated in the Air Force ry Meeting (RAM) and our second annual man Recycling, we awarded several inspir- off with a series of Ral- Research Lab Flight Chal- Isotopes STEAM adventure! ing trophies amongst our team of teaching lies set up in different, lenge in Albuquerque, The Showing strong collaboration with professionals at our third and final RAM of convenient locations for Technology Student Asso- UNM’s School of Engineering’s (SOE) the year. Awards included the following: the West schools. The ciation Conference in Los Student Services program, MESA’s Cen- ‘Highest GPA’ (determined from cumula- Rallies were held at San Lunas, The Supercomput- tral Inner region partnered with the student tive Loyalty Award points for qualifying Juan College, NMSU ing Challenge in Albuquer- diversity groups of the National Society for seniors) to ad- Grants, and at Navajo que, RoboRave Interna- Black Engineers (NSBE) and the Hispan- visors Liz Alvarado and Jimmy Phillips. Technical College in tional in Albuquerque, and ics in Engineering & Sciences Organiza- ‘Best Teamwork’ to Valley High School Crownpoint. At each much more. We also had tion (HESO) to bring STEM to the masses. our Grants High School stu- advisors Serri Grube, Michael X. Goodrich Rally, students were able Shawndeana Smith This event, hosted at Centennial Engineer- and Missy Mick, who also took home the to engage with campus dents attend the First Robot- ing Center, wrangled more than 175 3rd- ‘Most Fashionable MESA t-shirt’ award departments, staff and ics Competition in California 12th grade students for a day of ‘elemental’ (see photo). Aleli Colon of Van Buren students. They had the opportunity to get this year. fun! The day started with a warm welcome Middle School earned herself the ‘Most hands on learning with 3D printers, robots, The West Region concluded with one fi- from the UNM Provost Chaouki Abdal- Dedicated Advisor’ award for her tireless computer simulations, horticulture practic- nal Regional Advisor Meeting in Gallup in lah and then students had the opportunity effort of connecting her students with the es and much more. There was also an op- May followed by a round of final site visits to participate in various workshops that world around them. portunity for the students to practice with before school ended. It has been a pleasure revolved around the design process. Ele- Finally, we finished our 2015-2016 their prosthetic hands and ask questions to work with some fabulous advisors and ments of education included: fire, water, MESA delights with our 2nd annual trip to in regards to the MESA Day Competition. students this year. As always, the West air and earth. Students created hot air bal- Isotopes Park for a Spring matinee game Although the arm was a challenge to build Region is looking forward to a rodeo sum- loons, solar ovens, marshmallow blowguns on May 9th. Bringing together the geom- and program for many students and advi- mer and then another great year of MESA and explored the wisdom of water. They etry of the ballfield, the speed of the pitch sors, there were still quite a few teams who learning and fun. Count on the West to set also fueled their engineering experiences and crack of the bat with some peanuts and pace in 2017! with a tasty pasta and pizza lunch and cracker jacks seems like just the perfect fi- ice cream experiment. Finally, our more nale to a splendid year! North Central Region Works on Working Nicholas Kunz plants, pruned and cleared branches from North Region “Builds” Creativity, Leadership NC Regional Coordinator the apple orchard, helped build a founda- As spring has made its way to New tion for a new greenhouse, made rows for Alejandra Carmona-Cruz skills. As part of the Challenge Course, the Mexico, students and advisors from NM garlic and participated in seed sprouting NO Regional Coordinator students and teachers participated in sev- MESA’s North Central Region have been workshops with Mr. Ballon. Incorporating computer programming eral low ropes and one high ropes course. working hard. In early January, students As an alternative to participation in into MESA Day competition certainly The students gained valuable experiences began the semester with preparation for the MESA Day, Pecos High School elected challenged the North Region students, but working in teams with their peers in dif- MESA Day competition. Schools that par- to produce a rocket competition at their nonetheless gave students the opportunity ficult situations. Santa Fe Community Col- ticipated in MESA Day in Las Vegas had a school. Students worked to build and test to learn computer programming in relation lege definitely has one of the best ropes great time and everyone was successful. different models, while learning about the to engineering a prosthetic arm. Teachers courses in NM! But what is a MESA program to do after physics of rocket flight and improving the might have had nightmares about Arduino Other regional activities since MESA mid-February when MESA Day is over? efficiency of their product. The morning for months, but they certainly provided Day include – As it turns out, MESA Day is only one of the competition brought a blue sky and support and a place for students to explore 1) Santa Rosa Middle School MESA small part of the STEM enrichment that mild sunshine while the students launched and learn. students working non-stop with their advi- programs in the North Central Region ex- their rockets from the baseball field. An un- After MESA Day many North schools sor Gary Pearsons on building trebuchets. perience. Spring time means it’s time to get expected adventure came when the group have continued activities such as leader- Students have worked on all the design and to work! trekked around an old Pecos graveyard and ship, service learning projects, end-of-the- engineering such as: measuring, installing Regional Service learning projects con- into the forest to retrieve the spent rockets. year field trips, non-Mesa competitions wheels, repairing counterweight systems, tinued at the Tesuque Agricultural Initia- To conclude the school year, students and various workshops. One leadership building release mechanisms, drilling and tive, led by plant geneticist Emigdio Bal- completed another Regional Service workshop was conducted in April at Team sawing. They launched potatoes to test lon. The farm can always use help with the Learning project, working with the Rail- in Action of Santa Fe Community College. trebuchet functionality. endless work needed to maintain the crops, yard Stewards to help maintain Santa Fe’s Peñasco Middle and High School, Santa 2) Another school that has also been and they value the opportunity to teach iconic Railyard Park and also visited the Rosa High School, West Las Vegas High quite busy inventing and creating has been young people about the science of what newly opened Meow Wolf Museum to and Middle School and Anton Chico and West Las Vegas High School. These MESA they do every day on their 40 acres. Early explore the intersection of the artistry and Memorial Middle Schools attended the students built a “student friendly” desk and spring work consisted primarily of prepar- technology in STEM projects. Stay tuned Challenge Ropes Course. There they dem- took it to the Innoventure Competition in ing the land for planting. Students cleaned and check out the next edition of this news- onstrated their tenacity as well as leadership May. out dried remnants of medicinal herb letter for an update on their experiences.

6 VISION - Spring, 2016 2016 SIFT Memories from Washington run, this time in a light rain. Breakfast at the before celebrating the day’s achievements trip yet we learned so much; it was better “This was a unique SIFT,” noted Gon- hotel was delicious and nutritious before with a tasty dinner at the Washington D.C. than being in school!” zales. “There was more emphasis on his- we went to the Department of Energy head- Hard Rock Café. “I like the play (Shear Madness) the torical sites as well as STEM activities. quarters for a meeting with Deputy Direc- The final day did not include an early best,” added Gladys Robles of West Mesa We also had the unique opportunity to tor Dottie Harris, who announced that DOE morning run as we had to load up our lug- High School. “That is one of the funni- meet with our legislators. It will definitely will be providing a grant to NM MESA for gage on a tour bus, eat breakfast and begin est things I have ever seen. I laughed till stand out as a very special and memorable Loyalty Award funding. Ms. Harris and her our tour by 7:00 a.m. The day’s itinerary I hurt!” SIFT.” staff also demonstrated a device that can be included a visit to the White House Visi- “Washington is an amazing place,” As a MESA Regional Coordinator blessed attached to a cell phone camera and be sub- tor Center, a walk to view the White House commented Brianna Pacheco of Mora to help coordinate the trip, the journey sequently used as a microscope. This ven- (in the rain) and a visit to the fascinating High School. “There are so many people made apparent to me how important SIFT ture was followed by lunch at the Capitol National Museum of Health and Medicine, and they are all in a rush. I am glad I live is as a milestone experience for students. It Cafeteria and visits with NM Legislators which is the best museum of its kind I have in Mora where it’s not so crowded and so is truly something they will remember all Martin Heinrich, Ben Ray Lujan, Michelle ever visited. Lunch at Pacci’s Pizzeria cli- peaceful.” their lives and it is also an experience that Grisham and Tom Udall before touring the maxed the morning and our itinerary as we “It is always a challenge for a teacher to helps show them there is so much beauty, U.S. Supreme Court, the Lincoln Memo- then proceeded to the airport for our return miss four days of school,” explained Mike so much opportunity, so many neat people rial, the Korean War Memorial, the Viet- journey. Boyle, shop teacher, coach and MESA Ad- and so many memories to be made beyond nam Veterans Memorial and the World War “I really gained an appreciation of how visor at Robertson High School. “But it New Mexico. In that regard, the SIFT is II Memorial. Lots of pictures were taken historical our Capitol is,” explained Alan was so worth it to come on this trip and see truly a gift! at these memorable meetings and venues Tirado of . “It was a fun what we got to see.”

Photos by Rick Cole (Clockwise from upper left) Sergio Juarez of Alta Vista Early College High School poses in front of classic aircraft at the Air and Space Museum; Department of Energy Deputy Director Dottie Harris interacts with students attaching a microscope device to their cell phone cameras; West Mesa HS students Brenda Salas, Ariana Astorga, Karla Vasquez and Gladys Robles learn “Freedom is not free” at the Korean War Memorial; U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich discusses STEM issues with SIFT students; WMHS student Brenda Salas takes a picture of a skull with a large bullet hole at the National Mu- seum of Health and Medicine.

VISION - Spring, 2016 7 2016 MESA Day: Finalists Selected Three Regional Events Comprise One State Championship for the Alejandra Carmona-Cruz first place for the state. que weather complemented with several Guenther Advisor Terry Ramirez The South MESA Day event was the interactive options from the Museum of largest of the three events held this year Natural History, the Energy on the Move Kim Allen Scheerer with over 500 students competing. Stu- Achievement Award Regional Coordinators team, Talking Talons and the Albuquerque dents and advisors also got to enjoy many Astronomical Society. Students had the Nicholas Kunz “downtime” Discovery Fair exhibitors to opportunity to visit and learn from an array NC Regional Coordinator This year, NM MESA staged three MESA get lots of useful information and have fun of guest presenters and community volun- Day Competitions in three different loca- NM MESA’s Advisor Achievement Com- engaging with STEM professsionals. teers. tions - Las Vegas, Las Cruces and Albu- mittee has selected five finalists for con- High school students from these three querque. Students competed in the same sideration for the Dr. Arthur H. Guenther CI, CO and West regions started their morning with the fes- contests with the same rules but on differ- Advisor Achievement Award. Selection of tivities of the FUNdamentals. As a pre- award recipients is based on performance ent days depending on their region. The third and final MESA Day was senter in the Supermarket Sustainability, and is designed to reward excellence and hosted at the University of New Mexico’s it was awesome to see the students really leadership. Finalists were determined after (UNM) Student Union Building in early North - North Central getting into the conversation and content of the committee’s review of specific selec- March. Bringing together students from the various activities. I heard debate about tion criteria as well as submitted advisor The very first MESA Day covered the nomination forms. North and North Central regions and took The five finalists are: Luisa Castillo, place February 18 at New Mexico High- West Mesa High School; Serri Grube, Val- lands University in Las Vegas. At this ley High School; Rebecca Merrill, Gallup Northern competition, approximately 150 High School; Leah Olivas, Carlsbad Inter- students and 43 teachers attended from mediate School; and Monika Tso, Hiroshi both regions. Miyamura High School It was an honor and delight for three NM Selection of the two final awardees will MESA female students to commence the be done after all MESA activities have Northern Area MESA Day with a beauti- ended for the 2015-2016 academic year. ful rendition of the National Anthem! NM Selected advisors and their schools will be MESA is fortunate to have such brilliant recognized formally and publicly by NM and talented students in the program. The MESA as recipients of the award. Advisors three singers were Evelyn Juarez from Es- will receive a cash award of $100 from NM panola Valley High School, Mariah Garza MESA. of Mora HS and Oksana Herrera of West Dr. Arthur H. Guenther created New Las Vegas HS. Interested individuals can Mexico MESA in 1982. As a research pro- watch a video of them singing the National fessor of electrical and computer engineer- Anthem on the NM MESA YouTube chan- ing, professor of physics and astronomy at nel. Furthermore, these young women’s Photo by Rick Cole UNM, and Chief Scientist at the Air Force harmonious singing set the tone for the Carlsbad High School Team #1 focus their efforts on completing a competitive task Research Library, he was an advisor and competition in the North. in the FUNdamentals portion of the South MESA Day. The four girls tallied a 41st mentor to hundreds of graduate students This event might have been small in place finish in FUNdamentals but fourth in the Prosthetic Arm 2.0 to record a fifth and a science and technology advisor to numbers but not in quality. The stakes place mark in the overall MESA Day standings. The team also finished third at the the Governor of New Mexico. He wanted were high but students pushed through the MESA USA State Qualifier, winning two events in the process. to influence the lives of high school stu- challenge and their dedication showed that dents in New Mexico who were interested day. The student teams competed in the in a bright future in STEM careers, so he prepared design event Prosthetic Arm 2.0, worked with university representatives and the Central Inner (CI), Central Outer (CO) which entailed engineering a prosthetic arm environmental costs, I saw real-world bud- state and federal government officials to and West regions created an exciting vibe controlled with Arduino programming. The geting taking place and was inspired to bring the MESA program to New Mexico. with lots of creative competition. The day on-site event, also known as FUNdamen- observe students working together to find He subsequently spent many years work- kicked off with enthusiasm as the buses tals, consisted of three different challenges: solutions. The older students finished their ing as a MESA Board Member and Board rolled on to campus and the ballroom filled Syntax Charades, Environmental Careers afternoon with the arm competition, adding Member Emeritus. with eager students. and Sustainability Supermarket. For each the difficult dexterity task to their Arm 2.0 NM MESA has established the Dr. Ar- Middle school students started their event student teams had to meet an objec- skill set. Cibola High School Team #3 won thur H. Guenther Advisor Achievement rotation in tive, ranging every event to claim not only the overall Award with the expressed goal of honoring prosthetic arm from being championship of this regional MESA Day the legacy of Dr. Guenther, while simul- competition, familiar with but the state as a whole also. taneously recognizing the productive and with many stu- Arduino pro- After a full day of competition, awards important work done by MESA advisors dents feeling g r a m m i n g were made and Vice President of Student who perpetuate Dr. Guenther’s vision each the pressure language to Affairs and MESA Board Member Dr. year. Congratulations to this year’s final- of competing being able to Eliseo ‘Cheo’ Torres spoke with students ists! The winner will be announced on the and the ex- identify the about the merits of competition and college NM MESA website (www.nmmesa.org) citement of a job charac- life. In addition to emphasizing the nces- and the summer publication of Vision, the c u l m i n a t i n g teristics of an sity for study, He encouraged each student NM MESA newsletter. Aquaculture event. Moving to find his/her path and dive into learning Manager. through the ob- with personal interest and passion! Loyalty Award Update Thanks ject relocation to more than and distance Overall Middle School Results John Davis two dozen accuracy tasks Team Points IT Manager v o l u n t e e r s in the morn- 1 Carlsbad Inte. School Team 3 294.43 It has been said that “The journey is that came to ing took the 2 Taylor MS Team 1 292.19 its own reward” and that is true for all stu- help run each pressure off 3 Carlsbad Inter. School Team 5 276.20 dents participating in MESA, but we go event. to enjoy the 4 Lynn MS Team 2 265.73 even farther by offering students a Loyalty FUNdamen- 5 Mora MS Team 1 264.25 Award for up to $1,000 upon graduation tals sessions 6 Taylor MS Team 2 263.29 and enrolling in college. Southeast including En- 7 Jefferson MS Team 1 263.26 This year, NM MESA will surpass the and vironmental 8 Lynn MS Team 5 262.20 $2,000,000 mark in awards given to NM 9 CC Snell MS Team 4 257.58 Southwest Careers Chal- MESA students. Since 1992, NM MESA lenge, Su- 10 Carlsbad 6th Acad. Team 5 253.49 has awarded money to students that attain p e r m a r k e t Students Photo by Rick Cole certain levels of participation and academ- Sustainabil- from the Carmen Griego of Santa Rosa Middle School com- Overall High School Results ic success while involvemed in the MESA ity and Syntax S o u t h w e s t petes in the Object Relocation at the North-North Team Points program. This money is not only an in- Charades in and South- Central MESA Day. 1 Cibola HS Team 3 352.77 centive for the students to participate and the afternoon. east regions 2 Mayfield HS Team1 333.88 thrive in the MESA program but also to Students were competed in 3 nexGen Academy Team 1 326.28 reward them for their achievements earned excited to move through the rotations, chat- the South MESA Day at NMSU February 4 Cibola HS Team 1 306.02 along the way. ting happily about what their team could 22. Mayfield High School Team #1 won 5 Carlsbad HS Team 1 304.47 This year there are 131 students that met accomplish and how best to do it. Taylor overall first place in the high school divi- 6 Deming HS Team 2 295.14 the criteria and deadlines for a total amount Middle School Team #1 won all-around sion for the South MESA Day and second 7 Deming HS Team 1 290.13 of over $102,000 and an average Loyalty honors for their performance. place in the entire state. Carlsbad Interme- 8 South Valley Academy Team 1 276.51 Award amount of $782 per student. Yes, Lunchtime, hosted by Dion’s Pizza, was diate School Team #3 won first place over- 9 Portales HS Team 2 274.14 the journey is its own reward and the desti- enjoyed outdoors in the sunny Albuquer- all in the middle school bracket as well as 10 nexGen Academy Team 2 271.64 nation for these students is greatness!

8 VISION - Spring, 2016 Darius Gallegos-The Young Man with a Plan

Nicholas Kunz learning and laughing together. NC Regional Coordinator During his 7th grade year in 2013, they Darius Gallegos has spent his entire won second place overall in the MESA USA school career in Mesa Vista. He is a MESA competition, followed by a second place all-star. A 16 year-old in 10th grade, he is overall win the following year. While they a grounding force in his school’s MESA won 4th place overall at MESA USA last program and continues to drive them for- year, they won first place in the dexterity ward. I sat with Darius at a picnic table in event and also participated in MESA Day, the courtyard of notching eighth his school on a place overall windy spring among over day with patch- 200 teams. es of clouds pe- Darius has big riodically steal- plans for the Photo submitted by Alissa Wells ing our sunlight. future. He will The restored 100-year old adobe home near Mora that former Texan Alissa Wells Darius’s ear- continue with now calls home. nest smile is MESA through catching as he his senior year Wells doing “Well” as Mora MESA Advisor remembers the of high school. de Mora Local Growers Cooperative after first day we met He has served Alejandra Carmona Cruz moving because I believed I could support back in 2014 at as MESA NO Regional Advisor myself as a farmer.” the North Cen- President in She is grateful the science teacher posi- tral Regional past years and Mora Middle School MESA Advisor tion at Mora Middle school became avail- Rally. plans to run Alissa Wells is as excited about teaching able and she can still be a farmer on a much It was ear- again next year, as she is gardening or digging salamanders smaller scale. ly in his 7th and if elected, out of the wall of her historic adobe home. “This summer I am adding two bee grade year at will implement “I will be having a salamander special- hives to the farm and cannot wait to have Mesa Vista some of his ist come and present to my students next my own honey.” Middle School growing ideas week” recalled Wells earlier this spring. Darius Gallegos - Mesa Vista HS Like honey, working with MESA has that Darius for interesting “I dug salamanders out of the wall of my been sweet but “stingingly” tough at times. first learned of trips and activ- adobe home the other night.” Regardless, Alissa was certainly deter- MESA. He happened to meet Mr. Victor ities. And college is a definite. He is look- Alissa just completed her third year mined to get her students involved and Jaramillo, one of MESA’s most senior ad- ing at the engineering degree programs at teaching at Mora Middle School. She learning. She provided a space where her visors, who asked Darius if he’d like to sign UNM and NM Tech, which will prepare moved from Forth Worth, Texas three students could explore, struggle, and learn up for MESA. At his first MESA meeting, him for a career in Mechanical Engineer- years ago, but loves living in Mora and to program a prosthetic arm. Darius learned about the planned engineer- ing. has adapted well to her new home. Alissa “If they want to go to competition, they ing projects and other activities on tap for Sitting in the dappled afternoon sunlight, taught science at Fossil Hill Middle School will have to work as a team. I will provide the year and knew he would love it. Darius makes it clear that he wouldn’t have in Fort Worth for seven years before mov- the classroom and be there to help, but I He would soon be assigned to a group of learned about engineering, nor would he ing to Mora. She now has a full decade of will not do the work for them.” four other students, with whom he still re- have formulated such clear goals for the science-teaching experience. This is exactly what helped her teams be mains today. They do everything together. future without the influence of MESA. Alissa states, “My family has owned successful at MESA Day. Alissa brought “After our first year together, we de- “MESA inspires me to bring out my cre- property in Mora for 15+ years, and once two teams to competition and all students cided to call ourselves `The Dream Team’” ativity and craftsmanship,” explained Gal- we fixed up a 100 year old adobe home, I in the program learned Arduino and built Darius recalls. And the members of The legos. “I owe a lot of thanks to my school, quit my job and moved here.” arms. The two teams that attended compe- Dream Team are friends. Any time they my advisors, my mother and soon-to-be Alissa moved to Mora in hope that she tition placed first and third overall respec- are working on a MESA project, they are father”. could make a living for herself. “I love gardening and became a member of Los tively. Three-Year MESA President to Attend Embry Riddle Shawndeana Smith West Regional Coordinator iels Scholarship and has been awarded the GATES Millennium Scholarship, Presi- Jefferson Bahe is a 2016 Honor gradu- dential Scholarship at Embry Riddle and ate of Gallup High School. He has been the NM MESA Loyalty Award. He is cur- an active member of GHS rently applying for the Chief MESA and has been Presi- Manuelito Scholarship. He dent for the past three was also invited to apply to years. the National Society of High This year he was one of School Scholars. the seniors chosen to attend Jefferson wishes to rec- the 2016 Senior Incentive ognize his 5th grade teacher Field Trip to Washington Marie Susanne Mercado for DC. He has also been an ac- her help and encouragement tive member of the National in helping him become in- Honor Society as Vice Pres- terested in pursuing math in ident, the GHS swim team, school. He would also like and the GHS Dine’ Club. to recognize Ms. Merrill, his He has done internships for MESA Advisor, for her help Southwest Youth Services, and encouragement in his DePauli Engineering and pursuit of the engineering Surveying, and the Upward field and Mrs. DePauli for her Bound program. support and encouragement in Jefferson has been- ac pursuing higher level classes Photo submitted by Alissa Wells cepted and plans to attend and applying for scholar- Mora MS MESA teacher Alissa Wells is passionate about gardening and teaching. Embry Riddle Aeronautical Jefferson Bahe at the ships. He would mostly like University in Prescott, Ari- White House to thank his parents for their zona to study mechanical support and encouragement Vision engineering and hopefully pursue a career throughout his life in every endeavor he NM MESA Executive Director IT Manager in robotics. He was a finalist for the Dan- has achieved. Toney Begay John Davis Deputy Director Editor NM MESA Embraces Science and Music in Nashville Linda Andrews Rick Cole Linda Andrews side in Music City. State Program Coordinator Regional Coordinators Deputy Director NM MESA staff returned home with Anita Gonzales Betty Chancey, Terry Ramirez, New Mexico invaded Tennessee dur- scores of ideas for activities for school pro- Shawndeana Smith, Rick Cole, Kimi Scheerer, Nicholas Kunz, Alejandra Carmona-Cruz ing the first week of April, 2016, when NM grams. Many new vendors displayed their MESA staff attended the annual National wares and provided a medley of ideas as well. It was impossible to come away with- Vision is an electronic newsletter published quarterly by New Mexico MESA. It is published by the Science Teachers’ Association (NSTA) MESA staff as a public service to all stakeholders of NM MESA and the general public. Opinions out new and exciting things to do related to Conference in Nashville. The city was are the views of the MESA staff and those who submit articles or letters to the editor on issues of humming with a dynamic beat as thou- science! The trip reminded us of the many concern, or in response to any material produced in the newsletter. Submissions can be made elec- sands of teachers attended sessions and innovations in science education, and pro- tronically to [email protected]. The editor reserves the right to edit any submission for grammar, walked on the country and western wild vided bonding time for the MESA staff. clarity, the omission of profanity or libelous material. All editing will retain author’s intent.