2nd Annual New Mexico Governor’s STEM Challenge
NMSU to host virtual competition for High School teams vying for $5,000 in prize money
For Immediate Release
December 10, 2020
Contact: Stacy Johnston
Acting Public Information Officer
505.250.3926
2nd Annual New Mexico Governor’s STEM Challenge
NMSU to host virtual competition for High School teams vying for $5,000 in prize money
(Albuquerque, NM) – High school students from 33 schools will be competing for $5,000 in prize money from 18 employers in the 2nd Annual New Mexico Governor’s STEM Challenge. Hosted and organized by New Mexico State University (NMSU), the Los Alamos National Labs Foundation, New Mexico Public Education Department (PED), and New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS), this event will be entirely virtual this Saturday, December 12, 2020.
Ten-person student teams have submitted solutions to the NMSU formulated question, “How can you combine New Mexico’s natural resources with technology to address regional/global needs?” Employer partners have provided judges who will rate the solutions based on quality, creativity, presentation, and how they match up with skills that employers need for future hires in their own industries. Selected teams will receive $500 per student in cash.
Employer partners from around the state include: Air Force Research Labs, Boeing, Chevron, Deloitte, El Paso Electric, Facebook, Freeport-McMoran, Intel, Los Alamos National Labs, Lovelace Health, Molina, N3B Los Alamos, Pattern Energy, PNM, Presbyterian Health Services, Sandia National Labs, URENCO Eunice, and Virgin Galactic.
“Governor Lujan Grisham cares deeply and passionately that New Mexican students can compete and thrive in a 21st century economy,” said Bill McCamley, NMDWS Cabinet Secretary. “The amazing contributions from statewide public and private sector partners shows the widespread agreement with the Governor and we are excited to complete the second year of this program even in these challenging times.”
“I want to thank each of our student participants as well as their mentors who helped them through this process,” said NMSU President John Floros. “Because of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, and the Governor’s STEM Challenge, these students have studied important issues facing our state and developed a number of innovative potential solutions. When students are able to expand their understanding of STEM disciplines and emerging technologies, and we help them to think more quickly and innovatively, we all benefit.”
“It is our deep honor at the PED to recognize the resiliency, creativity, and collaboration of students during this time of remote instruction,” said PED Deputy Secretary Dr. Gwen Perea Warniment. “We are incredibly proud of New Mexican youth who are clearly demonstrating with the STEM Challenge they are the leaders that will take the state and nation into the next century.”
Click here for a list of the schools and short descriptions of their proposals.
For specific information about the challenge including important dates visit: https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/bureaus/math-science/governors-stem-showcase/. NMSU’s page for the event can be seen here: https://nmsu.edu/community/STEM-challenge.html.
###