Contact:

Kris McGill, 277-2621 Laurie Mellas-Ramirez, 277-5915

December 6, 2001

QUALITY EDUCATION AWARDS CEREMONY DEC. 7

The University of New Mexico College of Education-based 19th Annual Quality Education Awards Program luncheon recognizing outstanding academic programs in New Mexico public schools will be held Friday, Dec. 7 at the Sheraton Uptown Hotel.

School districts from around the state submit programs that have been in practice for the past year to be judged by educational professionals for merit, effectiveness and overall presentation. Programs range from traditional subjects like math and art to learning how to run a business or handle peer pressure.

All first through third place winners and honorable mentions are recognized at the awards luncheon. First places winners are eligible to win a four-year tuition and fee scholarship to one of five institutes of higher education - UNM, New Mexico State Univ., New Mexico Highlands Univ., Eastern New Mexico Univ. and New Mexico Tech.

This year's first place winners are:

(Elementary School): "Columbian Card Factory," submitted by Patricia Veltri of Columbian Elementary School in Raton. Students took part in an actual interview for positions in a business that designed, manufactured and marketed greeting cards.

(Middle School): The "New Millennium Bakery" submitted by Karen Simmons of Belen Middle School also taught students the finer points of running a business. Students baked cookies and sold them to parents, faculty, staff and students during special events and holidays. Participants learned about accounting, marketing, commitment and other business responsibilities.

(High School): "Computer Graphics and Desktop Publishing," an entry submitted by Anne Loveless of Los Lunas High School is a program that teaches students the business end of computer graphics.

(District): "Native American Youth Leadership," submitted by Abby Arquero of Bernalillo Public Schools teaches Native American students how to be role models, mentors and community leaders.

In addition, the Quality Education Awards Program honors an outstanding educator nominated by his/her peers and voted "Educator of the Year."

This year's recipient will be Michael J. Davis, New Mexico's State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Davis has been a school educator for nearly 30 years and was appointed superintendent in 1997.

He has worked diligently to guarantee a productive and caring educational experience for New Mexico's 330,000 public school students. He oversees the state's 89 local school districts, the New Mexico State Department of Education and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

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The University of New Mexico
Public Affairs Department
Hodgin Hall, 2nd floor
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-5813
Fax: (505) 277-1981