Gold Bar Returns, Celebrating APS Students, Staff, & Supporters

The APS Education Foundation honored Selfless Seniors, Hall of Honor Inductees, an Outstanding Corporate Partner, and the Best in Class.

The Albuquerque Public Schools Education Foundation hosted its first Gold Bar celebration since 2019 on April 29 at the Sandia Resort and Casino. The event, named for the decadent peanut butter and chocolate treats once served in APS cafeterias, recognizes some of the district’s outstanding students, teachers, supporters, and administrators – past and present. 

The awards banquet featured the Class of 2022 Selfless Seniors, Best in Class innovation grant recipients, Hall of Honor inductees, and an outstanding corporate sponsor, as well as entertainment by APS student dancers, musicians, and even a DJ Club. The event's three emcees were also APS students.     

WEB is Best in Class

The public was invited to vote for one of three nominees for 2022 Best in Class, and the winner was Eisenhower Middle School for its Where Everybody Belongs peer mentorship program. The goal of WEB is to create a welcoming environment for incoming 6th graders during a significant transition in learning environments. It also develops leadership skills for 8th graders who are trained to support their younger peers and are given the opportunity to create meaningful connections and experiences. 

• As Best in Class, the WEB program will receive $15,000 in grant funding from the Foundation. 
• Sandia High School’s Graphic Design Club, which came in second place, will receive $10,000. 
• Garfield STEM Magnet Middle School’s Next Generation Biology will receive $5,000. 

Hall of Honor Inductees

The Hall of Honor, located in the APS administration building, recognizes the sustaining legacy of those who gave their careers to public education and made a difference in the lives of those they worked with. The two women were honored posthumously this year were:

• Helen Fox, who ran the district’s Title I Homeless Project for more than two decades 
• Ruthie Owen, a longtime APS educator who started as an APS educational assistant in 1969 and retired in 1995 as a principal. 

2022 Selfless Seniors

For over a decade, Albuquerque photographer Frank Frost partnered with the Foundation to recognize seniors in high school who have selflessly given back to their communities, usually without recognition or praise. Each Selfless Senior not only represents themselves and their families but also the amazing work of countless high school students who are making a positive difference in our city every day.

The 2022 Selfless Seniors are:

• Albuquerque High School: Liliana Raquel Madrid Larrañaga
• Atrisco Heritage  Academy High School: Claudia Zarate-Vazquez
• Cibola High School: Aaron MadridDel Norte High School: Kim Nguyen
• eCADEMY High School: Ashley Palmer
• Eldorado High School: Cian Monk
• Highland High School: Karla Garcia
• La Cueva High School: James Vanhille
• Manzano High School: Taylin Clark
• Rio Grande High School: Jesus Padilla
• Sandia High School: Claire Larson
• Valley High School: Joshua Gutierrez
• Volcano Vista High: School  Krystal Campos
• West Mesa High School: Elijah Giron

Outstanding Corporate Partner

The 2022 Outstanding Corporate Sponsor, Comcast, played an important role during the pandemic by providing low-cost internet services and computers to families who couldn’t afford connectivity at home.