APS Education Foundation

That’s a Wrap on the 2025-2026 School Year! 🎬✨
And just like that... the final bell has rung! 🔔
It has been an absolutely action-packed year for the APS Education Foundation, and we couldn’t let the last day of school pass without looking back at the incredible journey we’ve shared. From kicking things off in the summer heat to celebrating our seniors in the spring, every moment was fueled by community, connection, and a passion for supporting our schools.
Take a trip down memory lane with us! This year, we:
* 🚀 Kicked off strong at the APS Rising Conference
* 🏆 Brought the competitive spirit to the Superintendent’s Cup
* 🧠 Learned together during Lunch & Learns at Janet Kahn & Del Norte
* 📝 Collaborated during our vital Grant Reader sessions
* 🎄 Spread cheer (and raised funds!) during the Gold Bar Holiday sales
* 🥂 Celebrated a major milestone at our 30th Anniversary Donor Reception
* 🌟 Honored outstanding students at the Selfless Senior Reception
* 🦈 Watched brilliant young minds pitch big ideas at the Middle School Shark Tank
* ✨ Danced, cheered, and celebrated excellence at the Gold Bar Gala
* 💼 ...and stayed dedicated through every single Board Meeting in between!
Thank you to our incredible board members, donors, educators, volunteers, and students who made this year so unforgettable. Your support keeps us empowering education every single day.
Have a safe, wonderful, and well-deserved summer break! ☀️🏖️

Big news! 🎉 Help us give a massive welcome to our 2026–2027 Student Board Members! 🌟

We are absolutely thrilled to have these outstanding student leaders join us to represent their peers, bring fresh perspectives, and advocate for classrooms across the entire district. We can’t wait to see the incredible impact you’ll all make this year! 🏛️✨

Meet the new team:

Natalia Alvarado – Highland High School (2027) (Welcome back!)

Zia Lujan – La Cueva High School (2027)

Mya Flores – Rio Grande High School (2027)

Luna Torrez – Sandia High School (2028)

Drop a comment below to welcome them to the APS Education Foundation family! 💙👇

Grantees in Action!
Community Buddies is a unique intergenerational learning
approach. Connecting Valley High students with MacArthur
Elementary students creates a mutually beneficial learning
environment. High school students develop leadership skills and a
sense of community, while elementary students gain valuable
mentorship and positive role models. This peer-to-peer support
system, bridging different age groups, is an innovative way to
enhance growth and development for students to reach their full
potential. Albuquerque Public Schools

Huge shoutout and a massive THANK YOU to our incredible 2025-2026 Student Board Members! 🌟

From the boardroom to the classroom, Brooklyn, Henry, Isaac, and Natalia have worked tirelessly to represent their peers and make a lasting impact across our entire district. We are so proud of your leadership, dedication, and the bright futures ahead of you! 🎓✨

Join us in celebrating:

Brooklyn Trimble – La Cueva High School (2026)

Henry Newcomb – Atrisco Heritage Academy High School (2026)

Isaac Garcia – Valley High School (2026)

Natalia Alvarado – Highland High School (2027)

Thank you for being the voice of our students! 💙

With heartfelt gratitude, we thank our incredible Board President, Luis Quinones, for his outstanding leadership, unwavering commitment, and passion for our mission. Through his guidance, the Foundation has experienced meaningful growth and lasting impact, and we are truly grateful for all he has done to support our students, schools, and community.
At the same time, we are excited to welcome Edward Calabaza as our new Board President! Edward brings energy, vision, and a deep dedication to the future of education. We look forward to this next chapter and the continued impact we will make together under his leadership.
The APS Education Foundation Board is made up of 30 dedicated community and business leaders who generously give their time, expertise, and passion to support students and public education across Albuquerque.
Here’s to continuing this important work TOGETHER!
Albuquerque Public Schools

To the Albuquerque Public Schools of 2026, your journey is just beginning! 🎓✨

The APS Education Foundation celebrates your hard work, resilience, and all you’ve accomplished. As you take your next steps toward college, careers, service, or new adventures, know that we are proud of you and cheering you on every step of the way.

Dream big, lead boldly, and never underestimate the impact you will make on the world.

Congratulations, Class of 2026! Your future is bright!

A Night to Remember! Thank You for Making Gold Bar 2026 a Success! ✨🌵
We are still buzzing from the energy of our “Night Out West”! An event of this scale truly takes a village, and we want to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who played a part in celebrating our incredible 2026 Selfless Seniors.
To Our Sponsors:
Your generosity is the engine that drives the APS Education Foundation. A special shout-out to for their sponsorship of our West Mesa High School Selfless Senior table to ensure every selfless senior table received a sponsorship. Thank you to all our Award, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Table sponsors for investing in the future of Albuquerque.
To the Teams Behind the Scenes:
Thank you to the Sandia Resort & Casino staff for the beautiful venue and top-tier service, and to our tireless Volunteer Staff who kept everything running smoothly.
To Our Leadership:
A heartfelt thank you to our APS Leadership and Board of Directors. Your vision and dedication ensure that these students receive the recognition they deserve.
To Our Talented Students:
The evening was made even brighter by the APS Student Groups who performed. Your talent is a testament to the incredible arts and activities happening within our schools every day!
To Our Guests:
Finally, thank you to everyone who attended. Whether you were a parent, a principal, or a community member, your presence showed these seniors that their hard work and “selfless” spirits are seen and valued.
Take a look through our gallery to see some of the highlights from this special night! 📸📸📸

A Golden Thank You to Our Gold Bar 2026 Sponsors! ✨🌵

We are still glowing from the success of Gold Bar 2026: A Night Out West! This incredible evening would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our community partners. Because of your generosity, we were able to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our students and educators in style.

From our Award Sponsors to our Table Sponsors, every single one of you helps the APS Education Foundation drive innovation and excellence in our schools.

Please join us in thanking our 2026 Sponsors:

Award & Major Sponsors

Award Sponsors: Pellera TIG, Bank of Albuquerque, Frank Frost Photography, and Comcast

Gold Sponsors: PNM and Sandia National Laboratories

Silver Sponsors: Pepsi and Intraworks

Grand Reception Sponsor: Varitec Solutions

Stage Sponsor: B&D Industries, Inc.

Guest Experience Sponsor: HB Construction

Digital Media Sponsor: Ambitions Mobile Media

Bronze Sponsors

BlueCross BlueShield of New Mexico, Spine Solutions, Nusenda Credit Union, LATA, Presbyterian, and Valero

Selfless Senior Sponsors

Stifel Public Finance, UMB Bank, DNHS First Graduating Class of 1966, Summit Fire & Security, Sunward Federal Credit Union, Highland High School Alumni Association, Desert Greens Equipment, RBC Capital Markets, Genus Law Group, The Baker Boys, Southwest Capital Bank and Sandia National Laboratories

Table Sponsors

Dion’s, CliftonLarsonAllen, Hinkle Fun Center, Lakeshore Learning, Modrall Law Firm, Promethean, and Westwind Landscape Construction

Gold Bar Dessert Sponsors

Screen Kings

Thank you for “stepping up” and investing in the future of Albuquerque! 🌟

🎓 Congratulations to Angelyna Gonzales, recipient of the Vincent James Tapia Inspirational Scholarship! She is one incredible young lady!

Angelyna plans to attend the University of New Mexico to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher and making a difference in the lives of future students.

The Vincent James Tapia Inspirational Scholarship was established in 2025 to honor the life and legacy of Vincent James Tapia, a student at West Mesa High School who believed deeply in the power of education and helping others succeed. The scholarship supports graduating students pursuing higher education in education or engineering and are committed to making a positive impact in their communities.

We are proud to celebrate Angelyna, her compassion and leadership and excited to see all she will accomplish as she continues her educational journey!
Albuquerque Public Schools West Mesa High School

Congratulations to Camila, recipient of the Patrick P. Torres Memorial Scholarship!
This special scholarship honors the life and legacy of Patrick P. Torres, a proud Atrisco Heritage Academy graduate who exemplified excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, and service. Patrick’s impact on his school and community continues to inspire students to lead with kindness, determination, and heart.
Camila was selected for demonstrating the same commitment to excellence through her achievements in athletics, activities, and academics, while planning to continue her education at the University of New Mexico.
We are proud to celebrate Camila and grateful to Patrick’s family and friends for creating a scholarship that will continue his incredible legacy for years to come.
Albuquerque Public Schools Atrisco Heritage Academy High School

⚽🎓 Join us on May 23 for an exciting night with New Mexico United! Before the match, explore the College & Career Fair and connect with opportunities for the future — then cheer on NM United with family and friends!

It’s a WIN-WIN: for every ticket purchased through our link, $4 goes directly back to support the Foundation and students across APS! 💙

Make it a night of family fun, soccer, and supporting education in our community!

🎟️ Get your tickets here:
Purchase Tickets for the May 23 NM United Match & College and Career Fair
Albuquerque Public Schools New Mexico United