Scholarships are a valuable investment in our collective future and help turn promising potential into meaningful careers. The LANL Foundation manages a wide range of scholarship funds and ensures that all donor contributions support student awards. The majority of support for scholarships comes from Los Alamos National Laboratory employees, but we welcome contributions from community members and businesses.
There are several ways to become a LANL Foundation scholarship donor:
- Contribute to the General Scholarship Fund(s). These donations are available immediately to award scholarships.
- Contribute to any of the Named or Memorial Funds below designated for students who meet specific eligibility criteria. Donations to an endowed fund are invested into designated endowments. Earnings from the fund are available to award scholarships in perpetuity.
- Create a new, custom scholarship fund through a planned gift.
Regardless of the donor path you choose, your financial gift is tax deductible.
General Scholarship Funds
Donations to these funds offer the most flexibility in awarding scholarships to deserving students in Northern New Mexico.
Los Alamos Employees’ General Scholarship Fund
In 1998, Los Alamos National Laboratory and its employees, retirees, and contractors partnered with the LANL Foundation to create the Los Alamos Employees’ Scholarship Fund (LAESF). The goal of the General Fund is to provide scholarships that support the students of Northern New Mexico who are pursuing undergraduate degrees in fields that will serve the region. Merit-based awards are determined by academic achievement, leadership potential and commitment to service. Financial need, diversity, and regional representation are integral components of the selection process for all awards.
Career Pathways Scholarship Fund
Formerly known as Regional College/Returning Student Scholarships, this fund provides renewable $1,500 scholarships to students pursuing two-year degrees, certificates and trades. Many recipients are nontraditional students returning to higher education. Others are trade school students and those pursuing a two-year degree or certificate immediately after high school.
Los Alamos Employees’ Endowed Scholarship Fund
Established in 1999. This fund creates lasting scholarship opportunities for Northern New Mexico students. Its goal is to increase the number of scholarships available each year, while ensuring permanent funding.
Need-Based Scholarship Fund
Established in 2019, these scholarships are awarded to well-qualified applicants with demonstrated financial need. All recipients meet or exceed the minimum merit-based eligibility requirements. Status as a first-generation college student is also considered.
Named and Memorial Funds
These funds are established by private donors, partner organizations, and the LANL Foundation to support students who embody the spirit and interests of the donors and the loved ones they wish to honor.
Alan Johnston Memorial Scholarship
Established to honor of Alan Johnston, former LANL employee and LANL Foundation board member, this endowed scholarship supports students pursuing a business-related field of study.
Anchorum St. Vincent /Christus St. Vincent Medical Pathways Scholarship Fund
This fund was established to support graduates of the Capital High School Medical Pathways Program who intend to pursue a two- or four-year degree in a medical-related field at any accredited trade school, college, or university in the state of New Mexico. The scholarship is intended to strengthen the pipeline of skilled healthcare workers in New Mexico.
Blaine Meyer Hadden Memorial Scholarship Fund
This endowed scholarship was established by Marie-Louise Hadden in honor of her late husband Blaine Meyer Hadden of El Rito. Blaine served in the U.S. Marine Corps and earned an Electrical Engineering degree before marrying Marie-Louise and settling in northern New Mexico. Blaine was an avid outdoorsman and served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. At Los Alamos National Laboratory, Blaine was an integral part of a program with Homeland Security’s Second Line of Defense which sent him around the world to secure seaports. This scholarship will be awarded to students pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering or barring any qualified candidates, any engineering discipline.
Bret Knapp Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund
This fund honors Bret Knapp (1958–2014), a brilliant engineer and leader with a distinguished career in public service at Los Alamos National Laboratory in the Weapons Program as senior manager of the weapons engineering, design, and production organizations, and at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. This scholarship is awarded to a student who demonstrates strong leadership and is pursuing a mechanical engineering or similar engineering degree. Additional consideration is given to student athletes who exhibit leadership in sports or community service and students with a passion for math.
Bryan Fearey & Maureen Connolly Endowed Scholarship for Science and the Arts
Bryan Fearey and Maureen Connolly, both physical chemists, share the belief that chemists can do anything, and that world-class science is essential for our national security. Bryan spent 32 years at Los Alamos National Laboratory, frequently applying his chemistry skills to leadership roles on national security. Maureen passed on her knowledge of chemistry while teaching at Los Alamos High School and the University of New Mexico-Los Alamos and shared her love of science with preschoolers as an instructor at Little Forest Playschool. Brian and Maureen also share of love of music and the visual arts. A skilled clarinetist and saxophonist, Bryan performs regularly, and Maureen has been an artist all her life. The Fearey/Connolly Endowed Scholarship for Science and the Arts honors their enduring commitment to science serving the nation’s national security needs and provides financial support to students with similar interests with chemistry at its core and a passion for music performance and/or visual arts. Learn more >
Charles E. & Ellen E. Morris Endowed Scholarship Fund
This endowed scholarship was established by Ellen E. Morris to honor the memory of her late husband Charles E. Morris and provide financial support for deserving students with a desire to pursue a post-secondary higher education. This scholarship is intended to support the hopes and dreams of students in Northern New Mexico pursuing a bachelor’s degree, two-year degree or certificate at any accredited college or university. The primary criteria are merit as demonstrated by academic rigor and scholastic performance.
Climate Change Leadership Institute Endowed Earth & Environmental Science Scholarship Fund
Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Climate Change Leadership Institute (CCLI) provide scholarships to support students pursuing degrees in Earth and Environmental Science fields, including Ecology and Environmental/Climate Stewardship. This scholarship was started in 2014 when LANL scientist Dr. Jeri Sullivan Graham received the Conservation Leadership Seed Grant Award from CCLI. Preference will be given to Native American first-generation college students. CCLI is a nonprofit organization dedicated to phasing out greenhouse gas emissions and empowering community through the ethics of conservation, the adoption of clean energy and the act of taking responsibility as a civil society.
David M. Smith Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship was established by Jill Warren in honor of her late husband David M. Smith. David earned a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University and went on to earn a PhD in Biochemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After graduation, he moved to Los Alamos and worked as an award-winning scientist and then joined the management team at Los Alamos National Laboratory until his retirement in 2008. David was known by friends and family for his incredible breadth of knowledge and his love of fine art. The scholarship will be awarded to a student with demonstrated passion for literature who intends to pursue a degree in English Literature, English Education, or the Humanities, including: History, Art History, Theater/Drama, Creative Writing, Literature written in languages other than English, or Philosophy.
Dell Technologies/Wildflower International Endowed Scholarship Fund
Established by a gift from Wildflower International with support from Dell Technologies, this soon-to-be endowed fund provides educational scholarships for Northern New Mexico high school seniors and undergraduates pursuing studies in computer science and other technology-based disciplines. The first Dell Technologies/Wildflower International Scholar will be named in 2023.
Don & Connie Cobb Endowed Education Scholarship Fund
Don Cobb was an active LANL Foundation board member with a long and distinguished career at Los Alamos National Laboratory. In 2006, Don and his wife Connie were instrumental in creating the LANL Workforce Retirees’ Scholarship Fund. In 2016, inspired by their daughter, an elementary school teacher, they established an endowment to fund a renewable scholarship for students pursuing degrees in education.
Founders Scholarship
Established to honor the founders of the LANL Foundation, this scholarship is awarded to one student annually who demonstrates persistence in the face of adversity and created something greater than themselves.
Howard Menlove and Jean Marshall Memorial Scholarship Fund
This scholarship endowment is made possible by the generosity of Howard Menlove, a retired LANL scientist and Fellow. Howard had a very distinguished career at LANL in Nuclear Safeguards and Nonproliferation. Howard’s life partner, Jean Marshall, worked in education and the coordination of assistance programs for the needy. To honor Jean’s memory and her love of science and education, Howard established the Howard Menlove and Jean Marshall Memorial Scholarship Fund to provide awards to students pursuing degrees in Education, Science or Healthcare.
John & Marti Browne Endowed Leadership Scholarship Fund
Former Laboratory Director John Browne and his wife Marti established the Endowed Leadership Scholarship Fund in 2000. The goal of this scholarship fund is to create lasting scholarship opportunities for Northern New Mexico students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities and achievements in their home, school or community. In addition to meeting LAESF’s rigorous merit-based requirements, students who receive this award also have financial need.
LANL Workforce Retirees’ Endowed Scholarship Fund
This endowment became fully funded in 2018 and continues to grow from contributions made primarily by retired LANL employees to provide scholarships for students pursuing degrees critical to the needs of the Laboratory and the region. Emphasis for these awards will be placed on students who have high academic achievement and financial need. Preference will be given to students who are pursuing STEM degrees.
Marvin Martin Mueller Memorial Scholarship Fund
From a young age, Marvin Mueller knew he wanted to be a mathematician or a physicist. He ultimately achieved his goal while working for Los Alamos National Laboratory for 35 years. Outside of physics, he most notably enjoyed philosophy, gravitating toward the humanist movement. Honoring this legacy, the Martin Mueller Endowed Memorial Scholarship supports the children and families of Los Alamos County Police Department employees pursuing two- and four-year degrees or certificates, and applicants with the expressed desire to improve the lives of others.
Michael A. Hiskey Endowed Nursing Scholarship Fund
This scholarship fund was established by fellow LANL scientists to honor the highly creative, unique and passionate energetic materials chemist, Michael A. Hiskey, by encouraging students in Northern New Mexico to pursue a nursing degree to help address the shortage of nurses in the region.
Nancy and Jeffrey Sauer Endowed Scholarship Fund
This named scholarship was established by Nancy and Jeffrey Sauer to honor their life-long commitment to science and provide financial support to students with a similar passion for and a desire to pursue a career in the physical and environmental sciences. This scholarship is intended to support the hopes and dreams of students in Northern New Mexico pursuing bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Hydrology, or Biology.
Nelson O. and Esperanza Baca Gonzales Endowed Scholarship Fund
The Nelson O. and Esperanza Baca Gonzales Scholarship fund provides scholarships in perpetuity for students from Mesa Vista High School primarily, and then to students from Espanola Valley High School pursuing a bachelor’s degree, associate degree, or certification in a trade. Scholarships will be awarded to those who embody the Gonzales’ commitment to community and service. Financial need is strongly considered in the selection process.
NNM American Society of Mechanical Engineers Scholarship (ASME)
This endowed fund was established by ASME to provide scholarships for two students annually pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering or other engineering field.
Northern New Mexico Tribal Business Scholarship Fund
Established by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, and LANL, this fund is designed to support and advance education opportunities for Native American students from the LANL’s 16 neighboring Tribal communities. The intent is to keep up with the growing need for accountants, financial analysts, and business information system professionals within Tribal communities to support business opportunities to help provide a bright future for generations to come. To make this a reality, Tribal communities encourage students to pursue business-related degrees and use their educational skills to be a part of their long-range goals to enhance economic development and business in their communities.
Pete & Elaine Lyons Memorial Scholarship Fund
This endowed scholarship fund honors and celebrates the life and legacy of Pete B. Lyons and his late wife Elaine. Pete dedicated his life to public service—to his community, the scientific community and the nation. He spent more than 30 years in a range of leadership roles at Los Alamos National Laboratory, as a long-time school board member at Los Alamos Public Schools, as an advisor to Sen. Pete Domenici, and most notably, serving as the Assistant Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Energy under President Obama. He also helped create the LANL Foundation, further continuing his life interest in fostering future generations of Northern New Mexico. In the spirit of Pete and Elaine, this scholarship benefits students who have demonstrated leadership and service to their school and community and for whom financial need is a barrier to attaining a college education.
Rae Lee Siporin Scholarship
This endowed fund provides scholarships for one female first-generation college student and one female Native American student annually. Rae Lee Siporin is a first-generation college graduate who firmly believes that women need extra support to pursue their educational goals and to that end has started several funds to support women through various organizations, including the LANL Foundation.
Raymond M. Chavez Memorial Scholarship
Established by the LANL Foundation and supported by the family of Raymond M. Chavez, this fund provides one scholarship annually to a student from Chimayó/Española Valley with exceptional community service.
Senator Pete Domenici Endowed Scholarship Fund
Senator Domenici made immense contributions to the Los Alamos National Laboratory, LANL Foundation and communities of Northern New Mexico. He played a leadership role in obtaining a $35 million appropriation for the LANL Foundation’s endowment. To honor him for these contributions, the LANL Foundation established the Senator Pete Domenici Endowed Scholarship Fund. In “Pete’s spirit,” the fund is dedicated to providing college scholarships to local high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding leadership in their schools and communities and who exhibit academic excellence and financial need. These awards help foster the competitiveness of New Mexico’s workforce in an increasingly complex global economy. Each year, the fund awards one $10,000 scholarship in each of the seven Northern New Mexico counties served by the Foundation.
Sheila Morris Luna Memorial Scholarship Fund
LANL Foundation supporters Susan Seestrom and Chris Morris have created a scholarship fund honoring their daughter Sheila Morris Luna and their own life-long commitment to science. Established in 2020, the Sheila Morris Luna Scholarship is awarded to a woman pursuing a bachelor’s degree in any STEM-related field at a New Mexico college or university. Undergraduate status and financial need are highly considered when awarding this scholarship.Learn more >
Susan Herrera Endowed Scholarship Fund
After 17 years of leadership, CEO and LANL Foundation founder Susan Herrera retired in 2015. The Foundation board of directors established this special scholarship award in her name. Herrera scholars embody Susan’s spirit of community and leadership and exemplify the resiliency and determination of students in Northern New Mexico who work hard to earn every grade in school.
Tim Martin Memorial Scholarship
This endowed fund was established by the family of Tim Martin to honor him and support students from his hometown of El Rito, NM. One-time awards of $1000 are given each year to Mesa Vista High School seniors who exemplify Tim’s spirit of community service and academic performance. Learn More
William & Gertrude Fradkin Memorial Scholarship
This endowed fund was established by David Fradkin to honor his parents William and Gertrude Fradkin. This scholarship is awarded to one student annually who demonstrates high moral character and has financial need.
Become a LANL Foundation Scholarship Donor
Contributing to our General Scholarship Fund or another existing fund managed by the LANL Foundation is an incredible way to create a future for another person that ultimately benefits our state.
If you’re interested in establishing a new, custom scholarship fund to honor your legacy or that of a loved one or would like to discuss a planned gift to the LANL Foundation, contact Tony Fox, Vice President of Institutional Advancement & Scholarships at 505-753-8890 ext. 116 or email tony@lanlfoundation.org.