Tony and Tiffany Hinojosa are a dynamic duo adding a wealth of health to education and the outdoors. They are the ‘essence of leadership’ and engagement to community life. They received one of two non-alumni leadership awards from LLA. Courtesy/Bernadette Lauritzen
By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
LLA
Leadership Los Alamos (LLA) is a storied organization, educating the community/region, and launching new leaders into the stratosphere. This year their cup runneth over. It actually pours out with awards recognizing leaders with great achievements for alumni, non-alumni and a NextGen award.
“Our alumni recipient this year, George Marsden, represents the kind of leader that the Leadership Los Alamos Awards program was established to recognize,” LLA Board Chair Kirsten Bell said. “Exceptional leaders who actively serve and positively impact our community. George has done that in countless ways.”
Marsden is a dedicated community leader and advocate, currently serving as director of operations for The Family YMCA. Almost a decade of experience leading the Teen Center, he has established himself as a champion for youth and a driving force behind initiatives that strengthen the community.
As chair of the MainStreet Futures Committee, member of the Los Alamos County Parks and Recreation Board and a founding board member of Friends of Los Alamos Pride (FLAP), Marsden demonstrates his dedication to inclusivity, diversity and the well-being of all community members. His astute observation skills and ability to listen and build bridges enable him to identify challenges and develop effective solutions. In 2022, the Los Alamos Democratic Party awarded him the prestigious Jimmy Carter Community Service Award.
George Marsden
LLA alumni award recipient
Marsden’s leadership style emphasizes empowerment and growth. He allows others to take the lead, providing resources and support, allowing them to strive for excellence through his self-awareness and commitment to personal development. He advocates for those who might be marginalized, consistently working to create a more inclusive and equitable community.
His approach to leadership focuses on collaboration and sustainability. He empowers youth to take ownership of their work, providing guidance while allowing them the autonomy to grow and evolve their initiatives. Marsden is deeply engaged in the community, serving on various committees including Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church and the Los Alamos Nonpartisan PAC. His support extends to his wife, Chandra, and all those around him, uplifting individuals to strengthen the community as a whole.
Marsden exemplifies true leadership through his dedication, empathy, and tireless work on behalf of the community. His commitment to inclusivity, empowerment, and growth has created a lasting impact, inspiring others to follow in his footsteps.
“The board was delighted to have a strong list of candidates to choose from this year. Given the diversity of the applications, we felt it was appropriate to select two non-alumni nominations. “Tony & Tiffany Hinojosa represent a legacy of leadership that our community was founded on,” Bell said. “Brandi Weiss is a phenomenal young adult who began her leadership journey from a very young age and she is dedicated to helping youth across our state.”
The Hinojosa’s, both born and bred in the heart of Los Alamos, epitomize a spirit of dedicated community service and leadership. Tony, a graduate of Los Alamos High School (LAHS) Class of 1997, and Tiffany Class of 1998, have seamlessly woven themselves into the fabric of their hometown, leaving an indelible mark through their tireless efforts and exemplary leadership.
Tony’s impact resonates through his role as a physical education teacher at Mountain Elementary School. Beyond imparting knowledge, Tony serves as a mentor, shaping the physical fitness and leadership skills of his students. He initiated the RC Racing Series in White Rock, has collaborated with organizations such as Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) to provide outdoor activities for youth, and for almost a decade, has been co-president of USASA (United States of America Snowboard and Freeski Association), which blends outdoor exploration with physical activity.
Meanwhile, Tiffany Hinojosa, as co-president of USASA, stands as a beacon for youth involvement and snow sports promotion. Her leadership extends to the Jr. Derby team, where she nurtures young athletes, instilling in them both skill and sportsmanship. Tiffany’s commitment transcends sports, as she has also dedicated her time to the Los Alamos Arts Council Board and LAHS Booster Club, enriching extracurricular opportunities for students.
Together, the Hinojosas embody the essence of leadership. The couple’s contributions have profoundly impacted Los Alamos but they influence beyond their hometown, championing snow sports and youth engagement on a broader scale. Their versatility and dedication exemplify their unwavering commitment to enhancing all facets of community life.
Brandi Weiss with her professors from left, Dr. David LoConto, Dr. David Ortiz, Weiss, Dr. Stephanie Arnett, Dr. Heather Harper and Dr. Marshall Taylor. Weiss has spent her four years at NMSU as a school Ambassador welcoming in new students, and researching risk and resiliency data for her thesis on the Los Alamos community. Courtesy/Bernadette Lauritzen
Brandi Weiss, a graduate of LAHS in 2019 began as a Chamisa Cheetah. Her “Put her best foot forward” attitude excelled in success, propelling her in Web Crew, then middle and high school Speech & Debate. She carried that leadership to being a New Mexico State University (NMSU) ambassador welcoming new students.
Those same efforts continued as president of the College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation (HEST) Ambassador at NMSU, vice president and treasurer of Alpha Kappa Delta (Sociology Honors Society) and treasurer of the Sociology Graduate Student Organization. Weiss went on to write her master’s thesis on the youth risk and resiliency data of her hometown community. Now, she will educate today’s community parents, to drive the message home in hopes to make change. One that can be shared with local educators still doing the boots on the ground work here.
Weiss recently graduated with honors in Sociology where she received awards from NMSU in the areas of graduate leadership, graduate student council, was nominated as the top candidate for the Sociology Department, and won the Academic Excellence Award given by the Sociology Department and College of HEST.
Dr. David Ortiz Canseco, Associate Professor/Interim Department Head of Sociology had this to say knowing she would be honored with this award: “Brandi is one of the very best graduate students I’ve had the privilege of mentoring during my 17-year career. She is a service-oriented leader that truly excels at everything she does and always gives her 100% to the tasks that she devotes herself to.”
Luke Favorite
2024 LLA NextGen Award Recipient
Finally, we always hear about amazing work being done in and around our community by very passionate and talented youth. The new 2024 LLA NextGen Awardaims to celebrate, inspire and empower young leaders, recognizing their achievements, motivating others, and fostering a culture of leadership and community engagement among youth.
“We were thrilled and not surprised to receive strong nominations in this category,” Bell said. “Our selected winner this year, Luke Favorite, is an example of the positive impact that young leaders can have on their peers, communities and society at large.”
A senior at LAHS, Favorite’s list of accomplishments and involvement in our community includes many roles in which he assumes leadership responsibilities. He is involved in Speech and Debate, Model UN, National Honor Society, Rotary Interact, Key Club, Natural Helpers, Student Council, Teen Court, Marching Band and has been a student intern with the physics department at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Favorite’s work includes numerous opportunities for service within the school and in our community. He served as a board member for the Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation for two years.He volunteered as a nursery worker for his church, served as an acolyte and mentored younger acolytes. He helped to build three homes in Juarez for those in need.He performed in the Santa Fe Youth Symphony, performing alongside professional musicians in the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra. He was also involved in putting on Los Alamos JJAB’s “How to Save a Life” event educating students on the dangers of fentanyl and Narcan.
Among notable accomplishments, Favorite has been a Rotary Distinguished Student of Service. He is among the top 0.26% of point earners with the National Speech and Debate Association, earning the Degree of Premier Distinction. Favorite was also selected as one of eight New Mexico high schoolers to attend the Model International Criminal Court in Poland (MICC) where he had an intense week of learning about international law, the ICC and justice alongside other international students.
