LAPS Foundation Announces 2026 Scholarships; Most Deadlines Feb. 27, Ettinger March 30

The Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation has opened its 2026 local scholarship program for graduating Los Alamos High School seniors, offering dozens of awards that reflect academic achievement, community service, career-technical training, athletics and other interests. Most applications must be submitted by Feb. 27, 2026, while the June and Harry Ettinger Memorial Scholarship has a later deadline of March 30, 2026.

The foundation encourages eligible seniors to apply online through the Foundation’s application portal or to mail or deliver paper applications to the LAPS Foundation office at 1010 Central Avenue, Los Alamos, NM 87544 - use the east door in the new Los Alamos Schools Credit Union Building. For questions or assistance, call 505-500-6501. High school counselors will also distribute a local scholarship packet through the LAHS College and Career Center later in the fall semester for future cycles.

Local partners and memorial donors continue to shape the slate of awards. The Foundation said it administers memorial scholarships on behalf of community members and maintains long-standing practices that connect awards to teachers and local mentors. "Each year the LAPS Foundation presents several graduating LAHS seniors with a Community Service scholarship. The awards go to students who have demonstrated community service throughout their high school careers, both for their schools and their community," the Foundation noted in its program description. Students who receive scholarships select an Educator of Distinction from their years in Los Alamos Public Schools and the honored educator is recognized alongside the recipient.

Themes for this year’s scholarships span STEM, cross country and track, golf, soccer, theater, social justice, reading an impactful book, volunteering and financial need, as well as career-technical pathway awards created in recent years. Local coverage also notes the Foundation is administering six new scholarships this year, though the supplied materials do not list all six by name; the Foundation is the authoritative source for the full 2026 list and award amounts.

Among named awards cited in past packets are the Irene Boone Memorial, Jim Sims Memorial Engineering, Sophia Feldman Memorial and Larry Baca Memorial scholarships. The Kristin Kosiewicz Substance Abuse Awareness Scholarship is highlighted with specific details: "This will be the second year for the Kristin Kosiewicz Substance Abuse Awareness Scholarship," and "This year the scholarship will be a $2000 award for one graduating student based on their essay about the negative impacts of substance abuse." Kristin Kosiewicz was an LAHS 1993 graduate who "tragically passed away on September 26, 2021 from an accidental drug overdose." Kristin’s family says the scholarship aims to honor her life and raise awareness so "no family has to endure the pain of losing a loved one in this way."

For Los Alamos families and seniors, these local scholarships represent both financial help and community recognition. The LAPS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has directed more than $2 million toward student and teacher opportunities over time. Seniors planning to apply should prepare materials early, confirm which awards require separate applications, and contact the Foundation at 505-500-6501 or the LAHS College and Career Center for packet details. The Foundation’s final 2026 scholarship roster and award amounts will clarify which awards match a student’s academic path or community service record.