Nationally recognized

  • Published
  • By D.J. Babbitt
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Kirtland Air Force Base, NM --  Former La Luz Academy students Lana Kimmel, Jack Hanson and Haley Hanson received national recognition for their achievements in science, technology, engineering and mathematics during the 2010-11 school year.

All three participated in the Air Force Research Laboratory's La Luz Academy, an education outreach program at Kirtland Air Force Base that targets fifth- through twelfth-grade students.

Lana Kimmel participated with fellow classmates from South Mountain Elementary in the Mars Mission Flight for fifth-graders (2005-2006) and the Department of Defense STARBASE Flight for sixth-graders (2006-2007). In May, Lana, and three other teammates from New Mexico, placed fourth in the national Team America Rocketry Challenge for effectively building, launching and safely landing a rocket that carried an egg 750 feet in 45 seconds.

Jack and Haley Hanson are a brother and sister team from New Mexico who were recognized in October 2010 by President Barack Obama at the White House Science Fair for their computer skills.

Their design of a survival computer game won them first place in the Game Changers Kid Competition. Haley wrote the script and text for the game, while Jack developed the game's logic and designed the game's scenery and creatures. Haley participated in the Mars Mission (2005-2006), the DOD STARBASE Flight (2006-2007), the Providing Engineering and Technology Experiences for Students PRS Flight (2007-2008) for seventh-graders and the Intro to Systems Engineering Flight (2008-2009) for eighth-graders. Jack participated in the Mars Mission (2007-2008), the DOD STARBASE Flight (2008-2009), and the PETES PRS Flight (2009-2010).

"In school, it's difficult for students to see how STEM concepts are applied in a real world way," said Ronda Cole the Director of AFRL La Luz Academy. "The different activities La Luz Academy provides give students the opportunity to see how it's (STEM) applied and a better idea of how it works. I like to think of the La Luz Academy planting seeds and for some students those seeds can germinate and bloom."

La Luz Academy Flights teaches students science, technology, engineering and mathematics that can be applied toward competitions. STEM activities take place in the classroom at Kirtland Air Force Base. These activities are usually an hour or two long and are scheduled during the summer, evenings and some weekends as time permits. "It's really neat to identify kids who come through the program and see what they accomplish" said Ms. Cole. "These particular students had motivation and drive to make STEM concepts happen in a real world way. Of course, mentors, families and La Luz provide support but the students did the work."