EDUCATION SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
REACH FOR NEW HEIGHTS
The two universities and one school district featured here are helping learners seek new outcomes and get the educational tools they need to succeed. By Page Grossman
opportunity defined the university of New Mexico’s unparalleled educational opportunities open doors to more than just a world-class education. UNM has a mission to serve, and by teaching and advancing the brightest minds, UNM’s students, faculty, and alumni— proud members of the Lobo pack—create opportunities for jobs, discovery, social growth, and more. This isn’t just a university—UNM is a critical driver of economic and social prosperity for the state and region. As the state’s flagship university, sharing knowledge and discovering “the next” alongside other leaders of educational and technological exploration is a part of its institutional DNA. In fact, UNM has three national laboratories within 100 miles of its 600-acre main campus in Albuquerque. This proximity allows University departments, programs, and centers to collaborate on research with some of the most cuttingedge institutions in the world. These partnerships and the experience they provide create countless opportunities for UNM’s students and researchers. Students not only acquire knowledge, but also have the freedom to create it. Likewise, many Lobos
choose to shape the future at the Innovation Academy, a place where students harness ingenuity into entrepreneurship. Through a partnership with the Rainforest Student Pitch Competition for business ideas, this program has generated 29 student startups. UNM’s technology transfer and economic development arm, STC.UNM, has spun off 130-plus startup companies, creating millions of dollars in labor income for local workers. Other opportunities at UNM are for future leaders. Take, for example, a video chat between New Mexico school
UNM is one of 131 R1 “very high research” institutions in the U.S. and the only one in the state.
children and NASA astronaut Christina Koch—live from the International Space Station. UNM biology professor David Hanson wanted to encourage students of all ages to explore STEM-based education. By connecting NASA with UNM, he gave 500 young minds an out-of-this-world chance to talk to an astronaut. Lobos create a collaborative environment unlike any other. In this place where cultures and perspectives merge, some of academia’s top minds are making the impossible possible. At UNM, opportunity isn’t simply found—it’s created.
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