Pam Muñoz honored with congressional prize
by Daniel Juarez - juad130@aa.edu
Pam Muñoz ’11 was honored at the 29th annual Congressional Art Competition by having one of her pieces sent to the Capitol building in Washington D.C. The piece was submitted through “Celebramos: The Soul of Central New Mexico,” a congressional competition, and hand-selected by Representative Martin Heinrich and a panel of gallery owners. Her painting, inspired by artists like Ernst Kirchner, Van Gogh, Bauman and Franz Marc, is entitled “It was a Dark and Stormy night in the Land of Enchantment.” Alison Green, Visual Arts faculty member, describes Munoz’s painting as “moody, stylized, [and] expressionistic.” Munoz’s Drawing and Painting II class took several pictures of the Academy’s open space, which were then combined into collages to create a model for student reference. The students then used acrylic paint on paper to create their paintings.
“This is such a boost for her as an artist,” Green said. Muñoz will continue into AP studio artnext year.
Students study nuclear disarmament at Sandia Labs
by Jaimie Lin - linj140@aa.edu
On April 2, 19 Academy students in the 10/12 division got the chance to discuss and study a world without nuclear weapons through a trip to Sandia Labs. History department faculty member Charles Bergman organized the trip to give students who have shown an interest in international relations and politics an opportunity to delve into the world of nuclear disarmament and express their views in a group discussion with both professionals and their classmates. They met with Sandia Lab’s Strategic Focus Group, led by parent Tommy Woodall, senior manager of the group. Students also viewed a PowerPoint about international policies and nuclear laws, were led through museum displays and created presentations about a world with out nuclear weapons.
The trip also impacted the students’ possible future job choices. Joe DelGrande ’12, said, “It definitely made me think more about careers in foreign affairs.” According to DelGrande, the trip was enjoyable as well as informative. “I thought it was a fantastic idea,” said Kaela Thomas ’11, “it’s a really valuable experience that I hope will continue in the coming years.”
The participants in this trip were DelGrande, Thomas, Annalise McGrail ’12, Amanda Blazek ’12, Matt Studer ’12, Jonathan Petrillo ’12, Jeff Gao ’12, Beatrice Verrillo ’12, Karina Gonzalez del Real ’11, Brent Jone ’11, Cole Helsell ’11, Raymond Craddock ’11, , Rebecca Wallace ’11, Ella Wood ’11, Jim Howe ’10, Louis Fazio ’10, Amanda Burroughs ’10, Carolina Mattson ’10 and Jenni White ’10.
Japanese Garden dedicated to Japanese-Americans in Diversity Day ceremony
by Meagen Twyeffort - twym140@aa.edu
On Diversity Day, April 15, the student-made Japanese Garden was dedicated to the Japanese Americans that lived in internment camps during World War II, represented by Ada Jane Akin and Ruth Hashimoto’s children. The ceremony began with poetry reading by students, followed by Science department faculty member Rhonda Spidell, thanking the contributors. It concluded with a speech by Davis Begay, the honorary Japanese Consul. Many faculty members and students attended, including many eighth graders, who helped start the garden last September. The garden is 100 percent sustainable, using run-off water from the roof and solar powered pumps. The garden will be used for Earth Systems science, where students will use the garden for labs, solar powered cars and pond ecology, as well as for general enjoyment. “I’ve always been inspired by the internment camps.” Spidel said. “I’ve gone around the country photographing them. Nothing like this has been dedicated to internees before, so it means a lot.”
Students return from ISAS trip in Dallas
by Yaqoob Qaseem - qasy140@aa.edu
On April 10, a large group of students returned after three days at the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) arts festival in Dallas, Texas. According to Performing Arts Department Chair Marilyn Bernard, most students greatly enjoyed the experience. They participated in and watched many activities including performances, concerts, improvisations, art shows, plays and workshops. The Jazz Band, Upper School Chorus, Academy Singers, Latin Guitar and actors from Beckett’s Café also performed at the festival and were critiqued by judges; Visual Arts students also displayed pieces. Corinne Spacagna ’14 said, “I learned that performances really vary depending upon where you’re from.” Sydd Urgola ’14 said, “I got to meet new people… who I normally wouldn’t talk to much.”
The faculty members also exchanged ideas at the festival to improve the arts departments. A core committee including Director of Community Service Paula Williams, Visual Arts Department Chair Tim Mullane, Richard Hogle and Bernard, is already meeting to plan next year’s ISAS festival, which the Academy will host. Bernard said, “We’ve got the ball rolling… everybody’s looking forward to next year’s festival. They can’t wait to see what we have to offer.” Students were given notebooks to record the positive and negative aspects of the festival. Ideas and observations presented by students are being discussed and will be taken into account in the planning of next year’s festival.
Middle school students place in KUNM essay contest
by Robbye Raisher - rair130@aa.edu
Academy students Caroline Bay ’15, Jason Hou ’15, and Ricky Cruz ’15, won first place, fourth place, and an honorable mention, respectively, in the New Mexico Human Rights Projects essay contest last month. The subject of the contest was “Stereotyping: From Anne Frank to the Present,” and their winning essays were selected out of 156 entries.
"In my essay I included a stereotyping experience of when I was a pre-kindergartener and how harmful stereotyping still continues,” Bay said. Bay received $250 in prize money, and all finalists had the opportunity to read their essays live on KUNM’s Children’s Radio Hour, an experience she described as being both exciting and nerve wracking. “I didn’t know what kinds of questions [they] would be asking me or how I would sound to everyone listening to me,” Bay said. "But, in the end, I think I did pretty well and the overall experience was great.”
