LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Sept. 12, 2019—Students and teachers across Northern New Mexico will benefit this year from more education opportunities thanks to two grants to regional education nonprofits totaling nearly $800,000 from Los Alamos National Laboratory operator Triad National Security, LLC.
The funding was announced by Janet Napolitano, president of the University of California (UC), at an education-focused community event hosted by the Laboratory at the Hilton Buffalo Thunder hotel in Santa Fe Sept. 12. UC is one of the partners that make up Triad, together with Texas A&M University System and Battelle Memorial Institute. Howie Morales, lieutenant governor of New Mexico, and Eleni Kounalakis, lieutenant governor of California and a UC regent, also spoke at the event.
“The University of California and our partners in Triad are honored to work closely with these outstanding regional organizations that are committed to boosting educational opportunities and economic growth across Northern New Mexico,” said Napolitano. “Institutions like the University of California and Los Alamos National Laboratory can, and should, play a critical role in supporting social mobility and propelling the local economy.”
“Education is fundamental to a thriving community, and the Laboratory is committed to inspiring a diverse STEM-focused talent pool in the region,” said Thom Mason, director of Los Alamos National Laboratory and president of Triad. “Triad’s partnerships with the LANL Foundation and the RDC will directly help the young people who will become the workforce of the future.”
Triad is making grants of $599,600 to the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Foundation and $200,000 to the Regional Development Corporation (RDC). Both organizations are based in Española, N.M.
The LANL Foundation supports early childhood education, works to improve K-12 public education in a variety of areas including STEM, supports college and trade school access for local students, and advocates for excellence in schools in Northern New Mexico.
Triad’s investment in the foundation will provide more needs-based scholarships for students pursuing two- and four-year degrees and trade and professional certifications, and will also support efforts to prepare and retain qualified teachers throughout the region. Some of the funding will also be used to jumpstart the creation of a Northern New Mexico STEM hub, increasing access to STEM opportunities for local K-12 students.
“The investment by Triad in education in the region allows LANL Foundation to help teachers achieve certifications that strengthen their practice and increase their pay, to increase academic success for more college students, and to grow a STEM ecosystem in Northern New Mexico that improves STEM education, collaboration and job opportunities,” said Jenny Parks, LANL Foundation president and CEO. “We are thrilled to be entrusted with this partnership with Triad and will work hard to make positive change for our students and their families.”
RDC, a local economic development nonprofit, works to boost economic diversity and job growth by providing private investment opportunities and technical assistance to small businesses. Triad's investment will support RDC's workforce development programs at six regional colleges and universities in Northern New Mexico. “Through supporting professional development workshops, accelerated learning programs, and paid internships, this funding will help to build a robust pipeline of educated workers ready to take on high-demand jobs throughout the region,” said Val Alonzo, executive director of the RDC. Triad’s investment forms part of its Community Commitment Plan approved by the National Nuclear Security Administration. The plan outlines the company’s support for economic development, education and community giving in the region around the Laboratory.
About Triad
Triad – the prime contractor of Los Alamos National Laboratory – is a public service oriented, national security science organization equally owned by its three founding members: Battelle Memorial Institute (Battelle), the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS), and the Regents of the University of California (UC) for the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.
About Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is managed by Triad, a public service oriented, national security science organization equally owned by its three founding members: Battelle Memorial Institute (Battelle), the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS), and the Regents of the University of California (UC) for the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.
Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns.