Foundation Announces 2025 Best In Class Nominees

Contenders will be celebrated and the winner will be announced at Gold Bar on May 2 at Sandia Resort and Casino.

One program gives students at Cibola High School the opportunity to develop advanced engineering skills through robotics. 

Another makes outdoor equipment like bikes and fishing gear available to students at six elementary schools to expose them to the joy of outdoor movement. A third program provides Truman Middle School students with a STEM Lab and virtual learning opportunities, exposing them to fun and unique activities in science, math, history and other subjects. 

The innovative APS programs are this year’s Best In Class nominees. Soon, the community will decide which will receive the $15,000 grand prize from the APS Education Foundation to expand its work.

Voting will take place from April 21 through April 30, and the winner will be announced at Gold Bar on May 2 at Sandia Resort and Casino. The second-place winner will receive $10,000, and the third-place winner will earn a $5,000 grant.

The three programs vying for the top prize are:

• Cibola High School Robotics Program
• PE Collaborative
• And Truman Middle School STEM Lab and Virtual Learning

Best In Class nominees are selected by the foundation’s Disbursement Committee based on the program’s impact and growth since receiving funding from the foundation. One key factor used in determining the nominees is the program’s ability to grow further to widen and deepen its impact with additional funding.