ALUMNI
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Connect with the Academy!
Being an alum of Albuquerque Academy means you are part of an extraordinary global community. Here are some ways to get involved. In addition, the ChargerHub alumni portal is full of resources especially for our graduates. If you do not have access to ChargerHub, please email us or call (505) 858-8862.
Joseph Weiss
Director
MBA – University of New Mexico
BA – Binghamton University SUNY
Angela Sylvestre
Donor Services Coordinator
BA – Eastern Washington University
Heather Harrigan
Associate Director
JD – University of Virginia
MED – University of Virginia
BA – University of Virginia
Tea Salazar
Alumni and Philanthropic Engagement Officer
BA – University of New Mexico
Tim Cass
Advancement Consultant for Special Projects
Email us or call (505) 858-8862.
Alumni in the News
By Brody Foster – Reporter, Albuquerque Business First Hub International has added a new leadership position to oversee its day-to-day operations in the Land of Enchantment. Eric Weinstein was named president for Hub International’s New Mexico operations on Sept. 16. He spent the last 24 years at Aon, an insurance brokerage firm in Albuquerque, where […]
To shine a light on the transformative power of tuition assistance, Alumni Council member Ted Alcorn ’01 is telling the stories of alumni who were grateful recipients during their Academy years. By Ted Alcorn ’01 When Chamiza Pacheco de Alas ’96 drops off her sixth-grader at the Academy, she sometimes thinks about arriving there herself […]
He Could Probably Design an Experiment to Explain It. Bravery has been brewing inside David Eagleman, Albuquerque Academy Class of 1989, for a long time. On a fall day in the 1980s, when he’d only been a sixth grader at the Academy for a matter of weeks, hot-air balloons touched down on campus, and one […]
The Academy’s strong English program and focus on writing and clearly expressing ideas have both attracted and produced a number of outstanding authors. If you’re planning to settle in with a good book as the nights get long and temperatures drop, try one of these. (And please contact Simms Library if you have an addition […]
To shine a light on the transformative power of tuition assistance, Alumni Council member Ted Alcorn ’01 is telling the stories of alumni who were grateful recipients during their Academy years. By Ted Alcorn ’01 As she neared the end of eighth grade, Ava Dellaira ’02 received an offer she couldn’t refuse. She’d gone through […]
The T.S. Eliot Prize has announced the ten poets named to the 2024 shortlist — an eclectic list comprising seasoned poets, two debuts, two second collections, and two previously shortlisted poets from both long-established, and small independent presses. High Jump as Icarus Story by 2014 Academy grad Gustav Parker Hibbett is among the honorees. Gustav is a […]
A different way to understand your community — and yourself. By Nick Pachelli (Academy Class of 2009) In 2021, I moved from Harlem to leafy Fort Greene, Brooklyn. I’m a longtime competitive tennis player, and one of my first outings in the neighborhood was to an annual community tennis tournament in the park that a […]
Rachel Dorin, Ph.D. ’13, co-founder and CEO of TeraPore Technologies, has been selected to receive the Bayh-Dole Coalition’s American Innovator Award. She and four other innovators featured in the coalition’s second annual Faces of American Innovation Report will receive the honor at a ceremony later this month in Washington, D.C. As a Ph.D. candidate, Dorin […]
Recent Academy grads Piper Wiese ’24 and Cara Anderson ’24 are among 45 girls nationwide who have been named 2023-24 High School Scholar All-Americans by United Soccer Coaches based on their cumulative achievement in the classroom as well as on the soccer field. Piper, a midfielder, and Cara, a goalie, are the only two New […]
By Laura Paskus – Source New Mexico Phoebe Suina ’94 knows all about systems: “If we’re static, that is unsustainable,” she says. Even in the engineering world, she explains, nothing is linear. Similarly, to adapt to the warming world, people must stop thinking that the changing climate and its impacts are part of a linear […]
By James Yodice / Journal Staff Writer Josh Skarsgard is a former standout player at Albuquerque Academy; he was a teammate of James Borrego, who is one of the men who has interviewed for the current Los Angeles Lakers coaching vacancy. Skarsgard on Tuesday was named the new head coach of the Academy girls basketball […]
In the frantic world of entrepreneurship, sometimes the most impactful ideas come from unexpected places, sparked by personal experiences and shared memories. For Faizaan Sharif ’97 and Zachary Lovelady ’97, their journey from school friends to business partners led to the creation of Blueink, a pioneering eSignature solution that helped revolutionize the way businesses handle […]
To celebrate 50 years of educating girls at Albuquerque Academy, Alumni Council member Ted Alcorn ’01 is telling the stories of women alumni. By Ted Alcorn ’01 When Alicia Keyes, Albuquerque Academy Class of ’93, called up an executive at Netflix, she couldn’t have known it would eventually bring two billion dollars in film and […]
The High Point-Thomasville HiToms have acquired Samford University RHP Alex Gaeto for the 2024 Coastal Plain League Campaign. In 35.1 innings-pitched through two seasons with the Samford Bulldogs, Gaeto has logged 39 strikeouts and has a career record of 1-1 out of the bullpen. Gaeto attended Albuquerque Academy, where he posted a 1.56 ERA and […]
By Andrew Felts – Southwestern University For the first time in Southwestern University’s illustrious history, a student has earned the Barry Goldwater Scholarship. Junior biochemistry and mathematics double major Brian Armijo ’25 was awarded the prestigious, nationally competitive scholarship designated for students pursuing research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering fields. “When I […]
To celebrate 50 years of educating girls at Albuquerque Academy, Alumni Council member Ted Alcorn ’01 is telling the stories of women alumni. By Ted Alcorn ’01 Lena Moffitt ’01, who directs one of the country’s leading environmentalist organizations, traces the roots of her advocacy to a box of yellowing newspaper clippings. She discovered them […]
By Jay Newton-Small / For the Journal In the summer of 2020, Yale University forestry student Ben Christensen was home in Albuquerque weathering the pandemic like most students. He’d just left a large lumber waste pile, which collects waste wood from all over the city, in Los Ranchos and was walking into a Sprouts a […]
To celebrate 50 years of educating girls at Albuquerque Academy, Alumni Council member Ted Alcorn ’01 is telling the stories of women alumni. By Ted Alcorn ’01 As a five-year-old, in the company of her maternal grandmother, Elianna Boswell ’12 went to China. It was one of many countries she had already visited. That “China” […]
By Ryan Boetel – Albuquerque Journal Business Editor Albuquerque native and Houston Astros All-Star Alex Bregman earlier this month launched Wild Sol, a Southwest food brand that is beginning with a lineup of four salsas, each of which includes fresh ingredients and a minuscule amount of tequila for taste, Wild Sol CEO Michael Posey said. […]
To celebrate 50 years of educating girls at Albuquerque Academy, Alumni Council member Ted Alcorn ’01 is telling the stories of women alumni. By Ted Alcorn ’01 Catherine Gordon, Academy Class of 1977, the first woman ever to coach men’s professional soccer in the U.S., did not start coaching until she was nearly 40. And […]
By Jennifer Ramo, published in the Albuquerque Journal “It’s a mud day,” Dr. Karen Sanchez-Griego mentioned on our call. It took my brain a few seconds to register what a mud day might be. It was a snow day but with mud. The entire student body of the Cuba Independent School District (CISD) was working […]
In honor of 50 years of coeducation at Albuquerque Academy, Alumni Council member Ted Alcorn ’01 is telling the stories of women alumni. Laura Hochla ’97 was about to introduce America’s highest ranking military officer, General Mark Milley, to the pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis. But she was thinking about her seventh-grade […]
In honor of 50 years of coeducation at Albuquerque Academy, Alumni Council member Ted Alcorn ’01 is telling the stories of women alumni. When Phoebe Suina describes her feelings for the mountains, fields, and rivers of New Mexico, even the word “love” doesn’t seem adequate. “It’s in my bones, and it’s in my blood,” she […]
In honor of 50 years of coeducation at Albuquerque Academy, Alumni Council member Ted Alcorn ’01 is telling the stories of women alumni. Jocelyn Swigger ’89 can hardly remember a moment of her childhood when the radio wasn’t on. Her dad liked to tune into the classical music of Albuquerque’s KHFM right after the morning […]
The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) announced that it has hired Lela Wendell to serve as Director of the Policy, Research, and Quality Initiatives Division. In this role, Wendell will lead the department’s policy and research efforts, continue to improve the collection and analysis of early childhood data in New Mexico, […]
In honor of 50 years of coeducation at Albuquerque Academy, Alumni Council member Ted Alcorn ’01 is telling the stories of women alumni. When 15-year-old Loretta Cordova arrived at the Academy in 1974, she was no stranger to the place. Her dad, Vincent Cordova, taught math here and was one of the basketball and track […]
Fifty years ago, a landmark decision by the Board of Trustees transformed our school from Albuquerque Boys Academy to Albuquerque Academy. In the fall of 1973, 22 girls entered the sophomore class. From distinguished scholars and pioneering athletes to compassionate philanthropists and trailblazing professionals, these women have made an indelible mark on our school and […]
BY ABQJOURNAL NEWS STAFF Albuquerque native James Borrego has accepted a position as assistant coach for the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, ESPN reported Saturday. Borrego, 45, was head coach for the Charlotte Hornets from 2018-22. His title with New Orleans will be associate head coach, ESPN said. It is his second time around on the […]
Seniors Tessa Anderson (women’s soccer) and Lucas Kramarczuk (men’s track and field) were recognized as the 2022-23 recipients of the Dave Hauck Award by the St. Olaf College Athletic Department at the first Golden Oles Awards on Tuesday evening. Established in 2010 in honor of longtime head men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach Dave […]
By Ashley Strickland, CNN Giant solar balloons were sent 70,000 feet up in the air to record sounds of Earth’s stratosphere — and the microphones picked up some unexpected sounds. The stratosphere is the second layer of Earth’s atmosphere, and its lower level contains the ozone layer that absorbs and scatters the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, […]
By Rebecca Goldfine The biology major is just one of 120 undegraduates this year to win an Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship, which offers college tuition support and a summer internship with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The scholarship program recruits and prepares promising students for science-related public service careers with NOAA or […]
Distinguished Alumni Award: Amy Loyd ’93 The Alumni Council annually presents the Distinguished Alumni Award to an alum of the school in recognition of extraordinary achievement or service that exemplifies the principles and values of Albuquerque Academy. Dr. Amy Loyd, Class of 1993, serves as the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Career, Technical, and […]
(KRQE) — James Borrego’s journey in life has brought him back home to Albuquerque for now. The former Charlotte Hornets head coach could find himself back on an NBA bench in the future, but for now, he is enjoying the benefits of connecting with family. Borrego has had a busy life since graduating from Albuquerque […]
MIT sophomore Lauren Keller (Albuquerque, N.M.) is the recipient of the Elite 90 Award for the 2022 NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship. This is the Engineers’ 20th Elite 90 Award and the second for women’s volleyball as Margaret Wang ’22 was the 2021 winner. MIT currently ranks second all-time across all divisions as Stanford […]
Ian McKinnon ’85 – with his wife Sonnet ‘89, among the largest supporters in Academy history – was the keynote speaker at the Albuquerque Community Foundation’s series Notable New Mexicans in Philanthropy, where he spoke warmly about why he gives back to the Academy so generously and emphasized what he receives from the providing this […]
(KKOB) — The Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance (AREA) announced that the 2022 505 Rising Star award will be bestowed upon PNMs Elisha Saavedra-Torres, Manager of Business Development. The award recognizes an emerging leader who is contributing to economic development programs, projects and activities in a significant manner that leads to increasing investment in New Mexico […]
By Scott Albright, Neighborhood Journal While students watched skits at the Simms Center for Performing Arts or hung out with friends around the bonfire Friday evening, Albuquerque Academy alumni were inside the music building for…READ MORE
Outside Editors If there’s one idea that gets at the very heart of Outside’s mission, it’s the why. Behind every passion, every pursuit, and every adventure there’s a why. It’s what motivates us to act, and action is what leads to improving ourselves and the world. That’s why we’re launching “Why I . . .,” […]
By New York Times In his two years as editor of DealBook, Jason has played a central role in the expansion of the newsletter’s editorial team and the increase in its audience, which is well more than double what it was when he started. He is a quick editor and writer with deep experience in […]
By Meagan Nichols – Editor-in-chief, Albuquerque Business First Justina Grant was named advertising sales director for Albuquerque Business First effective May 2. READ MORE.
BY STEVE VIRGEN / JOURNAL ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Notah Begay III, the first Native American to compete on the PGA Tour and in the Presidents Cup, has been named captain of the U.S. Junior Presidents Cup team, the Presidents Cup and American Junior Golf Association announced on Wednesday. The event will be contested for the […]
BY KEVIN T. DUGAN / NY MAG Thirteen years after the birth of cryptocurrency, it was supposed to be time for Washington to rein it in. Instead, the White House punted, and the Securities and Exchange Commission is still hashing out how it’s going to oversee the $2 trillion industry. State watchdogs have filled that […]
BY TODD SPANGLER / VARIETY National Research Group (NRG), an entertainment and tech research firm and strategy consultancy, has hired Grady Miller, previously head of consumer insights for Apple TV Plus, as chief marketing officer. It marks Miller’s return to NRG, where he was most recently VP of strategy before exiting to join Apple in November […]
BY RANDY HARRISON / JOURNAL SPORTS EDITOR Notah Begay III has been in elite company all his athletic life. The four-time PGA Tour winner and current television commentator on golf is one of the four athletes to be inducted into the 2022 class of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) National High […]
BY STEPHANIE MEHTA / FOR FASTCOMPANY It may have started with a dress code. When tech entrepreneur and investor Tom Chavez was a senior at Albuquerque Academy in the 1980s, he bristled at the private school’s clothing rules—no jeans, collared shirts—a holdover from the school’s roots as an elite boys’ prep school. “I thought it […]
BY GLEN ROSALES / FOR THE JOURNAL Michael Graczyk and Jeff Rowland have been friends since attending La Cueva together some 20 years ago. They were among the leaders on the New Mexico men’s soccer team to reach the NCAA title game in 2005, coming perhaps within a missed penalty kick of winning a national […]
AUCD – November 17, 2021 Michael Baca was recently named administrator of the Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD), University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. CDD is home to Iowa’s UCEDD and it’s the state’s tertiary level diagnosis and evaluation center for people with disabilities. Baca serves as a member of the core faculty […]
WASHINGTON, D.C. – November 16, 2021 Cambium Carbon, an organization that upcycles fallen urban trees to grow green jobs and mitigate climate change, has been awarded The 2021 J.M.K. Innovation Prize. From a nationwide search for transformative, early-stage projects, The J.M. Kaplan Fund awards the Prize biennially to ten innovators in the fields of social justice, the environment, and heritage conservation. Awardees receive […]
By Jimmy Vielkind / The Wall Street Journal New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has tapped an Obama administration veteran to be the state’s top financial regulator, officials said Tuesday. Adrienne Harris was nominated to lead the New York State Department of Financial Services, which oversees insurance companies and state-chartered banks. Ms. Hochul, a Democrat, said […]
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS The Charlotte Hornets are working toward a multi-year contract extension with head coach and Albuquerque native James Borrego. There is an agreement in principle with Borrego, the Charlotte Observer and ESPN report. Borrego, an Albuquerque Academy alumnus, is entering his fourth season leading the Hornets. He had been entering the final season […]
BY JAMES YODICE / JOURNAL STAFF WRITER The 2013 Albuquerque Academy graduate will be competing in the Tokyo Olympics, swimming on the 4×100-meter freestyle relay team for the Czech Republic. Since her mother, Radka, is from VlaÅ¡im, a city of about 11,000 people located roughly 45 miles south of Prague, Apostalon, 26, was eligible for […]
BY JAMES COLGAN / GOLF You know Notah Begay. Perhaps as a former professional golfer and four-time winner on the PGA Tour. Or maybe as a Golf Channel analyst, where he has served in a variety of roles at a variety of tournaments over the last several years. But what you don’t know about Notah […]
By JENNIFER IYER | Redlands Daily Facts More than 100 students at Crafton Elementary School in Redlands will receive a free hardcover book to call their own, and with it, perhaps, a love of reading for their whole family. University of Redlands graduate Jordan Buttner organized the Redlands Reads campaign to garner the books this […]
“In high school, he helped lead his team, Albuquerque Academy, to two state championships. Coaching was rightfully his ultimate passion and he took over as an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of San Diego, while he was in grad school. After a few seasons there, he moved on to the NBA and […]
BY RICK WRIGHT / JOURNAL STAFF WRITER Track and field took Curtis Beach to Spain, Germany, Belgium, Trinidad and Tobago and the Czech Republic. It earned him a scholarship at a prestigious university. It brought him collegiate and professional national titles. It brought him to within eight tantalizing points of the medal stand at the […]
BY RANDY HARRISON / JOURNAL SPORTS EDITOR Chase Weissenborn may be happier than anyone when the University of New Mexico baseball team returns to action Friday. It’s been a long, painful wait between games and, in Weissenborn’s case, COVID-19 had nothing to do with it. Yes, the coronavirus pandemic is a significant player in this […]
By Lizzie Widdicombem, The New Yorker The pandemic has really done a number on our sense of time. The documentary “WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn,” which was released last week, on Hulu, spans 2008 to 2019, a period that technically ended just eighteen months ago. But, at times, watching […]
By Christina Rodriguez, Grace Reader The Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education voted 4-3 to select Scott Elder as their new superintendent. In a statement, the board cited his knowledge of the district and their current challenges. Scott Elder has served as the district’s interim superintendent since former APS Superintendent Raquel Reedy retired in 2020. Elder is a product […]
BY ANGELICA CAMPBELL The past year has brought us many challenges, new opportunities for growth, a broader community, and new inspirations. The world of music education had to drastically shift methods and focus to adapt to the life this past year brought us. Luckily, we have an incredible community of music educators who were able […]
BY JAMES YODICE / JOURNAL STAFF WRITER Notah Begay and a coach he once played for, Mike Brown, headline the first-ever Hall of Fame athletics class at Albuquerque Academy. Begay and Brown are joined by: Joe Armijo, the Academy athletic director from 1969-97; Micaela Esquivel from the Class of 2002 who played soccer, basketball and […]
“The HNBA is pleased to honor 26 of our outstanding young Hispanic lawyers from across the nation and across sectors that showcase the exceptional legal talent and leadership that our community has to offer,” said Elia Diaz-Yaeger, HNBA National President. “The award recipients were selected from a number of highly qualified candidates. The overwhelming number […]
Virtual Fundraiser for New Mexico’s Health Care Workers By Devon Jackson for The New Mexican When a local philanthropist who had been aiding in COVID-19 relief efforts decided he wanted to do something spotlighting New Mexico’s health care workers, he turned to people in the community who knew people. The result: Tonic for the Times, […]
(KRQE) Josh Skarsgard has always appreciated the game of basketball, from his days as a member of the Albuquerque Academy Chargers to college ball at UC Santa Barbara. What Skarsgard always noticed in his home state was a lack of indoor courts, not just for basketball, but for other sports as well. “Albuquerque has an […]
By New Mexico United Staff New Mexico United is thrilled to announce the signing of Albuquerque native Alex Touche. Touche, who attended Albuquerque Academy, and played three seasons with USL League 2’s Albuquerque Sol before attending the University of Pennsylvania, will make his professional debut with his hometown club in the 2021 season. “We are […]
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) is pleased to announce the selection of Chamiza Pacheco de Alas as the new director of New Mexico programs, effective Feb. 1, 2021. In this role, Pacheco de Alas will provide leadership and oversight of the foundation’s longstanding investments in New Mexico to further create conditions that ensure children and […]
by Mala Blomquist, Arizona Jewish Life Kate Gallego’s path to becoming mayor of Phoenix started when she won a runoff election with Daniel Valenzuela on March 21, 2019. The election was called after former Mayor Greg Stanton resigned his seat on May 29, 2018, to run for Congress. Upon winning the election, Kate became the […]
Local Entrepreneurs to Provide Clean Water in Africa by Anna Padilla, KRQE It’s said that the best way to start a business is to solve a problem, and that’s exactly what the young men who started Didomi intend to do. Didomi is an Albuquerque company that partners with organizations that aim to combat the global […]
This I Believe New England by Frederic Reamer, The Public’s Radio Along with so many parts of our lives, the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated theater and arts venues that are at the heart of our community. Museum doors are shuttered. Concert stages are silent. Theaters are dark. Artists, musicians, and actors are thinking outside the […]
Cambium Carbon is working to build reforestation hubs — public-private partnership that aims to restore city forests across the US. In doing so, the enterprise creates local manufacturing jobs, replants local forests, improves public health, and stems the worst of climate change. READ MORE.
By Rowena Lindsay | MIT Lincoln Laboratory MIT Lincoln Laboratory has established a new research and development division, the Biotechnology and Human Systems Division. The division will address emerging threats to both national security and humanity. Research and development will encompass advanced technologies and systems for improving chemical and biological defense, human health and performance, […]
Ford School professor of practice and Towsley Foundation Policymaker in Residence Adrienne Harris has been named to a Biden-Harris transition Agency Review Team, focusing on the Federal Reserve, Banking and Securities Regulators group includes the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve, the National Credit Union Administration, and the Securities […]
BY ADRIAN GOMEZ / JOURNAL ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Kenneth Miller is not one to slow down. The Albuquerque native is determined to make waves in the film industry. His most recent project, “The Secret Life of a Celebrity Surrogate,” is airing on Lifetime on-demand and the network’s app. It premiered on Sept. 19. The […]
BY ELLEN MARKS / FOR THE JOURNAL Monte Skarsgard wants you to know who grew your peach (Paul in Colorado). Same goes for the fresh corn (Dean in Moriarty) and the tomatoes (Christopher in Velarde). It’s part of Skarsgard’s approach for his 17-year-old company, Skarsgard Farms, which makes weekly deliveries of organically grown food to […]
University of New Mexico head women’s soccer coach Heather Dyche has announced the promotion of Michaela Supple to assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Supple is a native of New Mexico and was apart of four state titles at Albuquerque Academy from 2008 to 2012. Coach Dyche believes that Supple was a no brainier for the […]
Jenny Ramo would rather talk about her work than about herself – which explains an early morning email: “Having 3 a.m. fears,” she wrote about her interview, “was worrying we just got chatting and didn’t really get to what I am passionate about: permanent and dramatic improvements for children and families.” Ramo, executive director of […]
BVA Group is proud to announce that Erica Bramer has assumed the role of Managing Partner as of January 1, 2020. Since joining the firm in 2013, Erica has played an integral role in driving growth for the firm, both as a practitioner and also as a member of the firm’s Management Committee. In her […]
BY KEN TYSIAC / ASSOCIATED PRESS Georgetown goalkeeper Tomas Romero stopped Virginia’s Axel Gunnarsson in the seventh round of penalty kicks to give the Hoyas their first NCAA men’s soccer championship Sunday night. The Hoyas are coached by Brian Wiese, an Albuquerque Academy alumnus. READ MORE.
The University of Texas at Austin has named Claudia Mora the next dean of the Jackson School of Geosciences. Her appointment will begin February 1, 2020. Dean-designate Mora comes to UT Austin from Los Alamos National Laboratory, where she serves as the deputy division leader of the Chemistry Division. In this role, she helps lead […]
BY SCOTT TURNER / JOURNAL STAFF WRITER Albuquerque native Jason Karaian discovered a passion for writing while studying economics at Northwestern University in Chicago. “I found out I was much better at constructing sentences than building equations,” the Albuquerque Academy graduate said. Specifically, he found out that he loved writing about how an economy works, […]
By Kate Kelly, The New York Times R. Martin Chavez, one of Goldman Sachs’s most senior executives, will retire from the firm at the end of the year. READ MORE.
By Francesca Washington (KRQE) An Albuquerque teen has made it her mission to feed thousands — literally one step at a time. With every step, a meal is supplied for a person in need. READ MORE.
BY PATRICK NEWELL/FOR THE JOURNAL Recent Albuquerque City Golf Championship events have been dominated by local college golfers. Sunday afternoon at Los Altos Golf Course, Simon Miller scored one for the “old guys.” Miller, 26, put together a nearly flawless final round shooting a 5-under-par 67 to win the 78th annual Albuquerque City Championship. READ […]
BY JOURNAL STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS University of Memphis coach Penny Hardaway has added more NBA experience to his staff by hiring former Phoenix Suns assistant Cody Toppert. Toppert will be an assistant coach at Memphis. He replaces Sam Mitchell, a former NBA coach who left Memphis’ staff after the 2018-19 season to pursue a […]
BY DAVID STEINBERG / FOR THE JOURNAL The dominant theme of Mira Jacob’s new book “Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations” is race in America. Though the graphic memoir’s subject is weighty, the text and the graphics infuse the book with a relaxed, approachable tone and imagery from the get-go. Conversational, indeed. Jacobs is the […]
BY JOURNAL STAFF REPORT Shayla Heavner’s students come to her via the world of the web, a path she, too, has navigated with deftness. An adversity of life drew the Albuquerque native and Albuquerque Academy graduate to online education. It was her success online as a student that led her to become an online teacher. […]
BY ADRIAN GOMEZ / JOURNAL ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR The statistic piqued the interest of Denali Tiller: An estimated one in 14 American children is growing up with a parent in prison. So the New Mexico filmmaker set out to tell the story of those kids and their parents. READ MORE.
BY SCOTT TURNER / JOURNAL STAFF WRITER Albuquerque native Carl Minzner took an unusual path to becoming one of the top scholars in the U.S. about Chinese politics and government. READ MORE.
Associated Press Kate Gallego opened a large lead over Daniel Valenzuela early in the race for Phoenix mayor on Tuesday. Though the race is officially nonpartisan, Gallego and Valenzuela are both Democrats who largely agree on most issues but faced off bitterly on funding for sports arenas and public safety. READ MORE.
By Story Hinckley, The Christian Science Monitor A plume of dust trails his worn sneakers as he strides over the red sand. Most runners would find this surface trying: a sinking, winding path, made narrow by low desert brush. But not Dustin Martin. He glides over the sand – seemingly without sinking at all – […]
Alumni Weekend & Reunions
Alumni Weekend 2024: September 13-14
We hope everyone had a great time!
Alumni Council
Our Mission: We believe an alumni council that engages with alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents, volunteer boards, and friends of the Academy is essential to support the mission of the Academy and to strengthen the Academy and its community. We recognize that as graduates of Albuquerque Academy, we have a responsibility to the Academy to preserve its resources and serve generations of children to come.
Christina Bachicha ’91, Chair
Lee Affholter ’10
Ted Alcorn ’01
Tomas Atencio-Pacheco ’99
Kevin Fowler ’77
Karen Glenn ’85
Jeremy Greene ’78
Meaghan Stern Hindman ’05
Noreen Kassam ’08
Chuck Larrabee ’71
Audrey Lee ’23
Matt Martinez ’02
Kevin Pierce ’02
Noel Richeson ’96
Ravi Singaraju ’03
Jason Skarsgard ’96
Nathan Thai ’09
Pablo Torres ’98
Mariah Wilson ’03
Please log in to the ChargerHub alumni portal for Alumni Council bios and contact information.
Are you ready to make a real difference and stay connected with the Albuquerque Academy community? Each year, we invite enthusiastic alumni to serve a three-year term on the Alumni Council, working together to support and uplift our school.
As a council member, you’ll actively participate in monthly meetings, serve on a committee, and volunteer at key moments throughout the year. We’re looking for alumni who reflect the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and skills of Academy graduates to help foster a strong culture of philanthropy and engagement. There are opportunities for both local and remote participation.
If you know someone who’s ready to contribute their time, energy, and ideas—or if you’re eager to get involved yourself—we encourage you to submit a nomination. Terms begin in January. Complete the form below to submit your interest and be part of this vibrant, hands-on council!
Alumni Awards
Each year, the Academy community is invited to submit nominations for two alumni awards: the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Young Alumni Service Award. Any member of the Academy community (alumni, family of past or current students, faculty, staff, or current student) may nominate anyone who attended Albuquerque Academy. Nominations close on October 31 for the following year’s recipients.
Distinguished Alumni Award: Rashan Jones ’95
Rashan is deeply involved in other community initiatives as well. As the past president of the Sawmill Community Land Trust (Sawmill CLT), he contributed to community redevelopment and reduced displacement of existing residents. As the lead artisan and executive director at High Desert Creative Arts, he pioneers arts education for young minds. This groundbreaking initiative introduced elementary school glass education classes, partnering with local schools including Manzano Day School and Annunciation Catholic School, allowing students to explore the magic of glass firsthand. From molten glass to compassionate creativity, Rashan weaves a tapestry of resilience, inspiration, and artistic legacy.
Young Alumni Service Award: Jordan Buttner ’17
In 2021 during the pandemic, Jordan, then a senior at the University of Redlands, recognized the urgent need for children to access books and organized the delivery of new hardback books to Crafton Elementary School in Redlands, CA.
Now a student at UNM Medical School pursuing his M.D., Jordan continues his legacy of service in his community through various roles, including providing medical services at OneHope Clinic, coordinating Free Sports Pre-Participation Physical Clinics, and serving as a Project Heart Start class coordinator. He has also received recognition for his teaching contributions at UNM School of Medicine.
Alumni Council Faculty Legacy Award: Rich Adam
He also served as one of the adjuncts for experiential education, chaired the Senior Appraisal Committee, and served on the 10-12 admission committee and The User Committee, which provided guidance during the planning and construction of Simms Library, for which he later served as interim co-director.
Rich’s assignments reflected both the school’s needs and his curiosity about learning and teaching. In 1991, he became the Academy’s archivist, deeply involved in documenting the school’s history, as he reduced his teaching commitments before his retirement in September 2023. He is cherished by the Albuquerque Academy community for his ability to listen, remember, and provide insight into the school’s history through various means, including student work and conversations with alumni.
The Alumni Council presents the Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of extraordinary achievement or service that exemplifies the principles and values of Albuquerque Academy. It may honor an individual for one noteworthy act or for many years of effort and accomplishment.
The intent is to recognize members of the Academy community making significant contributions to society more than to highlight persons merely on the basis of human interest or fascinating and unusual life stories. Presentation of the award will occur on an annual basis.
Created by the Alumni Council to recognize notable service to the community and society that exemplifies the spirit of the Albuquerque Academy mission, the Young Alumni Service Award is presented annually during Alumni Weekend to one recipient who is 35 years of age or younger at the time of nomination and who has made significant personal achievements in serving the local, national, or international community.
Nominees for this award must:
- demonstrate dedicated volunteer service to others;
- have developed, implemented, or participated in a program, event, or special outreach effort that improves the lives of others;
- exhibit leadership and creative ability in addressing and solving societal problems;
- and embody the ideals of the Academy mission.
This award is given to a member of the Academy’s faculty who has rendered distinguished service to Albuquerque Academy and made a lasting impact either to the development of the school’s students or, through their dedication and leadership, has strengthened the school as an institution of learning for our community. The Albuquerque Academy Alumni Association Constitution allows the Alumni Council to bestow membership to the recipient of this award.
2023
Distinguished Alumni Award: Amy Lloyd ’93
Young Alumni Service Award: Julia Youngs ’10
Faculty Legacy Award: Ed Baklini
2022
Distinguished Alumni Award: Mayor Kate Gallego ’00
Young Alumni Service Award: Dustin Martin ’07
2020
Distinguished Alumni Award: Notah Begay III ’90
Young Alumni Service Award: Erin Penner ’02 Gallegos
Spirit Award (Special Award): Dr. Garon Cortiz ’04
2019
Distinguished Alumni Award: James Borrego ’96
Young Alumni Service Award: Noreen Kassam ’08
2018
Distinguished Alumni: Loretta Cordova de Ortega ’77
Young Alumni: Anna Pancheshnikov ’06
2017
Distinguished Alumni: Stacey Epstein ’87
Young Alumni: Katie Ogawa ’10
Special Award “The Voice of the Chargers:” Brent Carey ’79
2016
Distinguished Alumni: Christopher Schmidt-Nowara ‘84
Young Alumni: Christopher Marianetti ‘99
2015
Distinguished Alumni: Kristine Hain ’85 Rollinson
Young Alumni: Tomas Atencio Pacheco ‘99
2014
Distinguished Alumni: Gary Gordon ‘79
Young Alumni: Kristen Clauss ‘07
2013
Distinguished Alumni: Ian McKinnon ‘85
Young Alumni: Tara Perea ’06 Palomares
2012
Distinguished Alumni: Joshua Ramo ‘87
Young Alumni: Beau Hilland ‘06
2011
Distinguished Alumni: Norman Bay ‘78
Young Alumni: Neely Crane-Smith ’02 Heubach
2010
Distinguished Alumni: Jonathan Wolfe ‘88
Young Alumni: Consuelo Gonzales ‘04
2009
Distinguished Alumni: David Eagleman ‘89
2008
Distinguished Alumni: Tom Casey ‘93
2007
Distinguished Alumni: Laura Hood ’89 Watchman
2006
Deborah Cantrell ‘78
2005
R. Martin Chavez ‘81
Volunteer
At the heart of the Academy’s mission is a commitment to service. Our alumni volunteer in communities across the globe, serving a variety of organizations. They also volunteer at their alma mater. Albuquerque Academy’s advancement team relies heavily on volunteers to help us coordinate reunions, plan events, and raise funds to support the school’s mission. We have a number of volunteer opportunities available and encourage you to complete this form to notify us of your interests. Here are a few ways you can get involved:
The Albuquerque Academy Alumni Council is a volunteer leadership organization comprising approximately 30 alumni representing the various eras in the Academy’s history.
Help build the momentum for your upcoming reunion by joining your class reunion committee — encourage support of the class gift, plan your reunion event, or simply make calls to motivate classmates to attend. Please call (505) 858-8862 or email the alumni office for more information about the various opportunities available.
Help classmates stay connected to each other and to the alumni office. This position encompasses staying in touch through a variety of ways and includes reaching out to classmates in non-reunion years for contact information updates, relaying updated information to the alumni office, and maintaining a class Facebook page. Term period for class ambassadors is one year.
Organize and encourage regional alumni activities. These individuals could live in Albuquerque or in any region where alumni reside. Duties might include organizing one or two regional events per year, meeting with alumni new to the city/region, encouraging professional networking among area alumni, and updating regional alumni regarding programming and events happening both in their area and locally at the Academy.
Support Albuquerque Academy by maintaining close connections with classmates and inspiring meaningful gifts to the school. This will be achieved through contacting classmates by telephone, email, or social media. Other duties will include updating the alumni office with any revised address/email/professional information about classmates. Class ambassadors receive training from the advancement office to most effectively encourage class participation and play a crucial role in boosting participation in the Academy Fund, which supports the school’s mission and daily success.
Keep in touch!
Do you have
- an interesting story to share?
- news about jobs, marriage, births, and so on that should be updated in our database?
- a new address, phone number, or email address?
Please use the form below to send us this information.
We mourn the loss of these members of the Academy community. To submit a notice, please email the alumni office.
- Maríasol Alegría Gutiérrez Roberts ’96 died on August 19, 2024. Read the obituary here.
- Catherine Elizabeth Shuster ’92 died on July 9, 2024. Read the obituary here.
- Sean Murphy ’81 died on July 1, 2024. Read the obituary here.
- Joni Barabe died on June 6, 2024. Read the obituary here.
- Annette Ewing Chakerian died on May 31, 2024. Read the obituary here.
- Todd Webster ’96 died on May 5, 2024. Read the obituary here.
- David Harper ’73 died on April 3, 2024. Read the obituary here.
- Randy McCutcheon died on February 2, 2024. Read the obituary here.
- Jacob Sandoval ’17 died on January 24, 2024. Read the obituary here.
- Ellyn Thompson ’01 died on January 20, 2024. Read the obituary here.
- LaVerne Harper died on January 3, 2024. Read the obituary here.
- Christopher Canavan died on October 29, 2023. Read the obituary here.
- Robert Fiser ’78 died on August 13, 2023. Read the obituary here.
- Samaan Shiehmorteza ’27 died on July 25, 2023. Read the obituary here.
- Jenna Pickett ’09 died on May 3, 2023
- James Carrell died on April 19, 2023. Read the obituary here.
- Jada Gonzales ’23 died on December 18, 2022. Read the obituary here.
- Maria Cristina Quiroga died on December 1, 2022. Read the obituary here.
- George D. Buffett II ’82 died on November 7, 2022. Read the obituary here.
- Albert G. Simms III ’62 died on October 5, 2022. Read the obituary here.
- Stanley Steck ’72 died on September 30, 2022. Read the obituary here.
- Gregory Jones ’79 died on September 3, 2022. Read the obituary here.
- Brian O’Connor ’76 died on August 15, 2022. Read the obituary here.
- Theodor Kircher III ’70 died on August 4, 2022. Read the obituary here.
- James Foley ’67 died on July 8, 2022. Read the obituary here.
- Zachary Blanchard ’20 died on April 11, 2022. Read the obituary here.
- Dr. Eugene Lesser ’72 died in January 2022.
- Daniel Charles Growney ’82 died on November 28, 2021. Read the obituary here.
- Verne Huser died on November 18, 2021. Read the obituary here.
- Isaac Shelby ’24 died on September 8, 2021. Read the obituary here.
- Malcolm Hall ’10 died on August 20, 2021.
- Coach Mike Brown died on June 30, 2021. Read the obituary here.
- Susan Chipps ’81 Lupori died on April 24, 2021. Read the obituary here.
- Esther Gonzales died on April 18, 2021. Read the obituary here.
- Prantik Nath ’23 died on March 27, 2021. Read more here.
- Stephen White ’01 died on March 21, 2021. Read the obituary here.
- Deric Sinnott Hill ’70 died on March 12, 2021.
- Larry Dean Willard, former member of the Board of Trustees, died on February 24, 2021. Read the obituary here.
- Lynsey Gooding Horcasitas ’04 died on December 9, 2020. Read the obituary here.
- Durwood “Rocky” Jones ’01 died on December 8, 2020. Read the obituary here.
- Dr. David J. Ottensmeyer, former member of the Board of Trustees, died on November 8, 2020. Read the obituary here.
- Niko Dellios ’10 died on November 1, 2020. Read more here.
- David “Doc” Glidden died on September 27, 2020.
- CJ Coffin (Cassandra Janette “CJ” Gulley) ’80 died on September 19, 2020. Read the obituary here.
- Jeff Moredock died on August 1, 2020. Read more here.
- Ken Hause died on July 18, 2020.
- Hugh Rayburn died on July 16, 2020. Read more here.
- David “Hans” Schoenburg ’05 died on June 30, 2020.
- Edward “E.J.” Jackson ’88 died on December 31, 2019. Read the obituary here.
- Jay Boyd ’66 died on October 15, 2019. Read the obituary here.
- Garon Coriz ’04 died on July 13, 2019. Read more here.
- Daniel Gorham ’68 died on June 26, 2019. Read the obituary here.
- Julia Ransom ’83 died on May 15, 2019. Read the obituary here.
- Albert Gallatin Simms II died on April 21, 2019. Read the obituary here.
- Barbara Kimberly Lilie ’93 died on March 14, 2019. Read the obituary here.
- Michael (Mickey) Prokopiak, faculty member, died on February 15, 2019. Read the obituary here.
- Estevan Manuel Tafoya ’05 died on January 13, 2019. Read the obituary here.
- Barbara Young Simms died on October 27, 2018. Read the obituary here.
- Michael T. Friggens ’82 died on October 13, 2018. Read the obituary here.
- Harvey Conklin ’76 died on August 22, 2018. Read the obituary here.
- Lori Jordan Laflin ’94 died on May 30, 2018. Read the obituary here.
- Timothy Varoz ’72 died on May 13. Read the obituary here.
- Eric Mora ’95 died Feb. 7, 2018. Read the obituary here.
- George Shaffer died February 2, 2018. Read the obituary here.
- Carlos Chavez ’93 died on January, 2018. Read the obituary here.
- Daniel Hedges ’97 died on December 23, 2017. Read the obituary here.
- Richard “Trip” Sonntag ’85 died October 27, 2017. Read the obituary here.
- Samantha Paulette Zamora Peterson ’89 died on October 8, 2017. Read the obituary here.
- Luke A. Barnett ’77 died on July 23, 2017. Read the obituary here.
- Grant Bauer ’81 died on April 28, 2017. Read the obituary here.
- TJ McOlash ’88 died on March 8, 2017. Read the obituary here.
- Gene Gardenhire, died on January 8, 2017. Read the obituary here.
- Matthew Wharton ’85 died December 1, 2016. Read the obituary here.
- Ronald Vincent Cordova ’76 died on September 13. Read the obituary here.
- Daryl Duane Moellenberg ’74 died on May 11, 2016. Read the obituary here.
- Bill Blueher ’69 died on Tuesday, March 29, in Telluride, CO. Read the obituary here.
- Theresa Sagartz ’13 died March 9, 2016. Read Notre Dame’s announcement here.
- James Blair (JB) Newsome ’88 died on Monday, February 29. Read the obituary here.
- Suvinder “Jogi” Ahluwalia ’83 died in October 2015.Read the obituary here.
- Kurt Cobbett ’78 died on December 26, 2015. Read the obituary here.
- Scott Theiler ’15 died Friday, December 25, 2015. Read the obituary here.
- Garry Davis, died on December 21, 2015. Read the obituary here.
- Joe Waters ’91 died on December 23, 2015. Read the obituary here.
- Christopher Schmidt-Nowara ’84 died on June 27, 2015. Read obituary or read a tribute from Tufts University, where Christopher was a professor of history.
- Angela Mathew ’11 died on February 10, 2014. Read obituary or read a tribute from The Harvard Crimson.
- Charles “Chuck” Ryan Price ’02 died on January 6, 2014. Read obituary
- John Doherty ’72 died on December 16, 2013.Read obituary
- Ruth Rand, died on September 2, 2013.Read obituary
- Bob McCannon died on August 23, 2013
- Sean Hopkins, died on June 28, 2013. Read obituary
- Austin Hudson-Lapore ’10 died June 12, 2013. View remembrance website
- Bryan “Chip” McOlash, Jr. ’83 died on November 2, 2005. Read the obituary here.