High School Prize for Scientific Excellence

"It is important to encourage students in the community to pursue science as an academic pursuit in college and beyond. If this small award signifies anything, it signifies our commitment to the youth of today and to say how important we think their scientific achievements are" - Murray Gell-Mann 

The annual Santa Fe Institute and Santa Fe Alliance for Science Prize for Scientific Excellence and Prize for Outstanding Teacher awards recognizes those members of the local Santa Fe area high schools who best embody the spirit of scientific pursuit found at the Santa Fe Institute. Since 2008, the Santa Fe Alliance for Science has cosponsored the prize with the Santa Fe Institute. 

The Prize for Scientific Excellence is awarded to one graduating senior from each of the Santa Fe high schools.  The students are selected by their teachers for academic excellence, originality and creativity in either the sciences, mathematics, or computer science. The prize includes a cash award, a certificate of recognition, and an autographed copy of The Quark and the Jaguar by Murray Gell-Mann, SFI Distinguished Fellow and 1969 Nobel Laureate in Physics. 

The Prize for Outstanding Teacher is awarded to a single Santa Fe area high school teacher who demonstrates special achievement in advancing science education, as recognized by the educational community. The prize includes a cash award and a certificate of recognition. 

The 2012 recipient of the Prize for Outstanding Teacher is Cynthia Salvatierra from Santa Fe Indian School.

The recipients of the 2012 Student Prizes for Scientific Excellence were awarded to:

Robin Bulger, Desert Academy 

Monica Estrada, Capital High School 

Paige Foreman, New Mexico School for the Deaf

Zachary Graybill, Monte del Sol Charter School

Philip Carter Howell, Santa Fe Secondary School

Aja Paulazzo, Santa Fe Waldorf School

Lina Saenz, The MASTERS Program

Russell Sandlin, Academy at Larragoite 

Matthew Sullivan, Santa Fe Preparatory School

Jeff Sward, Santa Fe High School

Felicia Teba, Santa Fe Indian School

Samuel Thompson, New Mexico School for the Arts 

Miquela Wiegel, St. Michael's High School 

The Santa Fe Institute and the Santa Fe Alliance for Science extends our congratulations to our 2012 student and teacher honorees.