ALBUQUERQUE — More than 100 middle-school students from across the state gathered in Albuquerque to learn about college and career options in science, technology, engineering and math at the annual GEAR UP New Mexico and STEM Santa Fe Pathways Conference on April 15 and 16, 2026.
The students collaborated in hands-on workshops on topics including robotics, veterinary science, ecology and quantum computing. They also attended a STEM college and career fair featuring the University of New Mexico School of Engineering, Sandia National Laboratories and other STEM focused groups.
GEAR UP New Mexico, a division of the New Mexico Higher Education Department, is a federally funded program aiming to increase access to resources for college and career readiness for students in grades seven through 12. GEAR UP partners with middle and high schools in eight districts across New Mexico serving high proportions of rural and first-generation students.
“Over two exciting, action-packed days, students across New Mexico engaged in hands-on STEM experiences that sparked curiosity and built confidence” said Dr. Corine Ripberger, GEAR UP New Mexico Director. “These experiences help our GEAR UP students connect classroom learning to real-world careers and build critical skills like problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation. Opportunities like the GEAR UP STEM Conference are essential to strengthening New Mexico’s future workforce and expanding pathways to high-demand STEM careers.”
Also at the conference was Alissa Chavez, an entrepreneur of Hot Seat, a product she originally developed as a science fair project. Chavez spoke to the students and urged them to pursue their ideas.
“It is always a privilege to support GEAR UP New Mexico and the work they are doing with students. I started my first company as a teenager after participating in a STEM event, so I am a big advocate for STEM events for students,” said Alissa Chavez. “These types of events are so important because they give students more opportunities to explore careers or ideas they maybe had not previously been interested in. I hope that sharing my story can encourage other young entrepreneurs and students to explore every path and find what they are passionate about. GEAR UP and this STEM conference are so important to keep students creative and motivated to learn."
The conference also hosted Alefiya Master, CEO of MAD-learn, an award-winning program that teaches students to create their own apps. She spoke to students about how she built a career developing two education technology programs. Master said anyone can get involved in STEM, even if they had never planned to.
Photos from the conference are available via GEAR UP New Mexico’s Facebook page and Instagram page.
For more information about GEAR UP, visit gearupnewmexico.org, or follow GEAR UP New Mexico on Facebook and Instagram.