Los Alamos students win All‑State honors; photographers chosen for new school murals

Los Alamos Public Schools used the March 27 board meeting to recognize student and teacher achievements and to unveil winners of a community photography contest for upcoming school buildings.

Band, orchestra and choir students who earned places in All‑State ensembles were named publicly. Band director Mr. Meek and orchestra director Ms. Rosette read names of students in wind and percussion ensembles, symphony and concert orchestras, and jazz and choir groups. "This is Music in Our Schools Month," Mr. Meek told the board, and he praised months of student preparation and statewide competition.

The board also honored Sherry Bublitz, the district’s speech and debate coach, who was named State Speech and Debate Teacher of the Year. A colleague, Margo Bethel, and an alum, Donald Poston, described Bublitz’s 14‑ to 15‑year influence in the district and her role writing curriculum modules for the National Speech & Debate Association.

In a separate recognition, the board and district staff displayed finalists from a photography contest whose images will become large-scale graphics in the hallways of the new Chamisa and Pinon schools. Chief design officer Sanjay Huda and superintendent Jennifer Guy presented the photographs chosen by school-based committees from hundreds of submissions; winners include community photographers and Los Alamos High School students. The images will be enlarged and permanently installed with plaques acknowledging the photographers.

Why it matters: The honors showcased student achievement in arts and speech programs and reflected community engagement in designing interior artwork for new school facilities. The photography project is tied to the district’s bond-funded building projects and will create permanent public displays in the new buildings.

The board and community applauded the recognized students, teachers and photographers during the meeting.