Marion Markham and Nicole Keeney
08/24/2026 –
NM MESA has selected recipients of the 2026 Dr. Arthur H. and Joan Guenther Advisor Achievement Award. Marion Markham and Nicole Keeney are this year’s outstanding MESA advisors. Each of these two fine educators will receive $100 from NM MESA, which will be presented to them by MESA’s Guenther Award Committee and representatives from the Guenther Family. NM MESA is proud to have them on board and grateful for their ongoing exceptional work!
Marion Markham has taught at El Dorado Community School in Santa Fe for 15 years, originally starting as an educational assistant working with students with exceptionalities in grades K-8, followed by 12 years in the 7th and 8th grade science classroom. Three years ago, she became a MESA advisor after helping start the program at her school. Ms. Markham is passionate about inquiry based scientific exploration, and applied field science in particular. When working on her Bachelor’s degree in Science with a specialty in Marine Sciences from Eckerd College in St Petersburg, Florida, she developed a “deep belief that science must be experienced first hand and hands-on was nurtured by my professors and the diverse ecosystems around Southern Florida”. She says that because she is curious by nature, she is “always seeking to understand the world around me and I strive to share that curiosity and passion with my students. I am fascinated by the way children and young adults think about the world they live in.” She has also served as Student Council Advisor for 11 years, and recently took on the role of WAVE (Wellness Ambassador to Voice & Empower) advisor for middle school students. Additionally, she was a New Mexico state finalist for a Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching. “I strive to give my best efforts and my love of science to my students and community every day that I come to work. I know all teachers try to give their best to their students every day. It is amazing to be recognized for that hard work and dedication.”
Nicole Keeney has been in the role of MESA advisor for the past four years at Socorro High School, and she is now in her 14th year as a teacher at the school. She graduated from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and stayed in Socorro to teach Algebra and Pre-Calculus. She also coaches the Science Olympiad team and works with Upward Bound Math and Science. Ms. Keeney says, “One of my favorite parts of teaching is watching students begin to see themselves as capable mathematicians, especially students who never thought of themselves as a “math person.’” She also enjoys taking students on trips and introducing them to new places and cultures, and finds it rewarding to see how students’ perspectives change during such experiences. An especially proud moment as the Socorro MESA advisor was her students’ first place award in the MESA Mayhem competition at MESA Day last year. “We had spent a lot of time working on communication and teamwork, so seeing those skills come together in a successful competition was a highlight for me.” Ms. Keeney has a simple philosophy on the time she spends in the classroom: “More than anything, I hope my students leave with not only the skills they learned in my classroom, but also fun memories of the experiences we shared—whether that was in math class, on the streets of Tokyo, or during the stressful moments of a competition.”
About the Dr. Arthur and Joan Guenther Advisor Achievement Award
Dr. Arthur H. Guenther loved science…He loved education…He created New Mexico MESA in 1982. As a research professor of electrical and computer engineering, professor of physics and astronomy at UNM, and Chief Scientist at the Air Force Research Laboratory, he was an advisor and mentor to hundreds of graduate students, and advisor to the Governor of New Mexico. He wanted to influence the lives of high school students in New Mexico who were interested in a bright future in STEM careers, so he worked with university representatives and state and federal government officials to bring the MESA program to New Mexico. He subsequently spent many years working as a MESA Board Member and Board Member Emeritus. His wife, Joan Guenther supported MESA in countless ways over the many years she was involved and played an important role in the success of the organization and its staff.
NM MESA and the Guenther family have established the Dr. Arthur H. and Joan Guenther Advisor Achievement Award with the expressed goal of honoring the legacy of Dr. Guenther and his wife, while simultaneously recognizing the wonderful and important work done by MESA advisors who perpetuate Dr. Guenther’s vision each year. The Guenther offspring continue to support NM MESA, including their oldest daughter TK O’Geary serving on the NM MESA Board of Directors and youngest daughter Wendy Gallegos supporting NM MESA events.
Past recipients include: Marie Booth, Avery Herrera (2025), Janice Badongen-Patal-E, Rina Viramontes (2024), Kate Sanchez, Misty Torres (2023) Celena Miranda, Monica Rodriguez Hudson (2022) Leah Olivas, Lynn Schuler (2021) Mariejune Abergos, Alysyn Merrill (2019), Luisa Castillo, Aleli Colon (2018), Deb Haggerton, Rina Viramontes (2017), Alysyn Merrill, Serri Grube (2016).
