Forty members of the Class of 2020, pictured here with former LAMS principal and LAHS vice principal Mike Johnson, were among the first WEB Crew leaders at Los Alamos High School. These students were the first to be welcomed as 7th graders, serve as 8th grade leaders, be welcomed by the Link Crew as freshmen and several went on to join the Link Crew program. C’YA will recognize some of those students as part of its sixth birthday celebration in June. Courtesy photo

BY BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Champions of Youth Ambitions

Champions of Youth Ambitions (C’YA) will celebrate six years, as a non-profit in June. They’re hoping community members will consider supporting some of their projects. They currently have several projects underway that will take place, even though the world is on lock-down. They revolve around the areas of science education, the Community Asset Awards, youth leadership and sending mail to local members of the military.

The request is that those that are able donate $6 to support several missions. The first is Rise for Rita, a project to recognize educator Rita Sanchez on the occasion of her retirement after 35 years of dedication to education at the Los Alamos Middle School. We are collecting memories, photos and more for her at P.O. Box 4741 White Rock, NM 87547. If you ever had a student in her class or are personally a friend of hers, please help us send Rita off in style. They hope you might take her photo (Flat Rita), with you in quarantine and send it by mail or email cya.org@att.net.

The second is a recognition of several graduates in the Class of 2020. Students in the Class of 2020 were the first ones to be welcomed into the Los Alamos Middle School school by the WEB Crew program. They then went on to be welcomed by the Los Alamos High School Link Crew program.  Our Sci Guy is about to hold his first on-line presentation and we continue to send mail to military troops serving throughout our country. Feel free to write to letters or cards to several of them and drop them in our donation box at the senior centers.

You might consider a nomination for the Community Asset Awards and we encourage you to nominate people going above and beyond the call of duty in this extraordinary time of year. There have plans for a special activity related to an exceptional nominee as they approach their 6th birthday. Nominations can be made all year long.

For more information, text or call (505) 695-9139.