New Mexico State University (NMSU) Extension’s New Mexico 4-H Friday program was recently honored with an award.
The program, a partnership backed by NMSU, was created in 2016 with the help of Collet Park Elementary School in Albuquerque to cultivate academic success among elementary school students, a news release from the university said.
In June, the program received recognition for Excellence in Extension Programming, Multidisciplinary Team, from the Western Extension Directors Association.
Jon Boren, the Associate Dean and Director of the Cooperative Extension Service at NMSU College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, commended the partnership as a testament to the transformative influence of extension programs on the lives of New Mexicans, the release said.
“The partnership she [Brittany Sonntag] has built with Collet Park Elementary School is an example of how Extension is changing the lives of New Mexicans every day,” Boren said.
Sonntag and Collet Park Principal Stephani Treadwell were instrumental in the creation of the program.
“We are proud of the work that Brittany and her team have done to elevate new ideas for reaching diverse audiences. As an urban extension agent, it is critical that she looks at traditional programming differently and adapts to meet the needs of New Mexicans in Bernalillo County,” said Boren.
Sonntag said her favorite part of the program was reaching those students who would not participate in 4-H without the program.
“It has been a great way to overcome barriers to participation, such as lack of transportation, cost of materials, and parents working during program hours,” she said. “It is helping youth overcome the academic divide while learning everyday life skills.”
Treadwell said she hopes that the 4-H program will be a blueprint for other schools.
“My favorite aspect of 4-H is when the children realize that the reading, math and science skills from their classroom are applied when they work on their projects,” she said. “We remember skills when we use them for something we value.”