ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC) was awarded the New Mexico Excellence in STEM Awards, aka the STEMYS, on February 22 during an awards ceremony at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
The Excellence in STEM Awards are designed to celebrate Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics education in New Mexico. It recognizes students, teachers, schools, businesses and others who demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to, and advocacy of, STEM learning. NTEC was selected as Industry Partner of the Year for the New Mexico Excellence in STEM Awards. It proceeds Intel who was awarded industry partner last year.
“We are honored to be recognized for our efforts to education young students in the STEM fields. We applaud our education coordinator Nathan Tohtsoni for all his hard work and dedication to bring STEM to Navajo students,” said Clark Moseley, NTEC CEO.
NTEC was recognized for its STEM education outreach in 2018, including the inaugural Navajo Nation Girl Scouts STEM Camp, Carbon Rocks! Teachers Workshop on Coal, and partnerships on the STEM-sation events at high schools on and near the Navajo Nation, sponsoring science family nights at schools and chapter houses, STEM college scholarship programs, and more.
“It’s amazing that in a few short years, NTEC is being recognized statewide as a leader in demonstrating STEM excellence,” said Nathan Tohtsoni, Education Coordinator, who accepted the STEMYS on NTEC’s behalf.
“While it was an honor to accept this award, the real winners are the Navajo students who have benefited from our STEM programs and partnerships.” The STEMYS were presented by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) New Mexico Tech Engagement Office in Albuquerque.
“This is the second year of the event, and we were blown away by the number and quality of nominations we received,” said Matt Fetrow, Director of the AFRL Tech Engagement Office. “It is inspiring to see how many people and organizations are dedicated to making STEM learning a priority for our state. We hope that by highlighting their good work, others will be encouraged to get involved and more young people will choose STEM related education and career paths.”