UNM initiative recognized with 2026 New Mexico Excellence in STEM Award

The James and Gail Ellis School of Business Leadership (previously Anderson School of Management) has been named a recipient of the 2026 New Mexico Excellence in STEM Award for its Rural Student Connectivity Project (RSCP), an initiative led by the school's Corporate and Community Engagement (CCE) office. The project supports rural student success through technology access, career preparation, and community engagement.

The Rural Student Connectivity Project was funded through a 1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. National Science Foundation in 2022. The project works to bridge the technology divide facing rural communities across New Mexico. The program conducts outreach to rural communities statewide and brings students to campus twice each year for immersive programming focused on higher education access and career development. Participants also receive access to technology resources, paid summer internships, and family-focused programming designed to support student success.

"The Rural Student Connectivity Project (RSCP) represents our commitment to ensuring that rural New Mexico students-especially Native American and multigenerational Hispanic youth-have equitable access to college, careers, and STEM opportunities," said Rob DelCampo, senior executive director of Corporate and Community Engagement (CCE).

"This program is not just about exposure; it is about building confidence, engaging families, creating real-world pathways through internships, and showing students they can succeed while staying connected to their communities. Being recognized with the STEMY Award is incredibly meaningful because it affirms the importance of this work and highlights the power of investing in rural students to build a stronger, more inclusive STEM future for New Mexico," added DelCampo.

The New Mexico Excellence in STEM Awards (The STEMYS) aims to recognize students, teachers, volunteers, and other New Mexicans making a significant impact in science, technology, engineering, and math education. The STEMYS are hosted by the Air Force Research Lab Tech Engagement Office and Q Station.

Recipients of the award will be honored at a ceremony on June 5 at Q Station.

The City of Albuquerque Economic Development Department is the Presenting Sponsor of this year's event.

The James and Gail Ellis School of Business Leadership:

As of May 8, 2026, the UNM Anderson School of Management has been renamed to The James and Gail Ellis School of Business Leadership in honor of a transformative $30 million gift. Read more about the Ellis family and the historic gift.