Student Leadership Academy: Launching New Mexico’s Youth Leaders

On November 5, JAG-NM youth from across the state touched down at the NewSpace Nexus Launchpad for our annual Student Leadership Academy (SLA). This full-day experience was designed to equip New Mexico Career Association (NMCA) Officers with the tools, confidence, and mission-readiness they need to guide their chapters this year.

From the moment the Career Association Officers arrived, the energy in the Launchpad felt like pre-launch: officer groups gathered with their mentors, specialists checked in their crews, and community leaders prepared to guide youth through a series of high-impact breakout sessions.

NMCA Officers learned to navigate new challenges, explore potential career trajectories, and build connections that will help them stay the course on their professional journeys. Throughout the morning, the space buzzed with curiosity, teamwork, and anticipation for what lay ahead.

The atmosphere stayed energetic and collaborative as officers moved through workshops, leadership exercises, and hands-on sessions. Many youth left feeling more confident, more connected, and more prepared to lead their chapters back home.

Confidence Takes Flight

Youth shared that the breakout sessions were where their leadership skills truly began to lift off. Many described how working with peers from other chapters helped them sharpen communication, teamwork, and decision-making—critical tools for any mission.

One student reflected on how collaborating with their officer team “helped me communicate better,” while another shared that the entire experience “taught me a lot” and gave them a clearer view of their responsibilities. Several participants noted that meeting students from other sites gave them the confidence to open up, an essential step for any young leader preparing for takeoff.

Across the feedback, themes like adaptability, peer support, and courage emerged again and again. For many youth, the day served as a reminder that they’re not navigating this galaxy alone.

A special thank you to NewSpace Nexus for welcoming our youth into a space designed for experimentation, innovation, and exploration.

Click the image below for more info about NewSpace & their programs:

Mission Testing in Action

One of the most exciting moments of SLA was the Egg Drop Challenge—a hands-on engineering mission that put creativity and collaboration at the center of the action. Officer groups acted as spacecraft design teams, budgeting their “mission credits” and purchasing materials from employer vendors to build a safe landing capsule for their egg-astronaut.

Inside the Launchpad, teams drafted blueprints, debated design strategies, and assembled prototypes with the focus of real mission engineers. As they gathered at the designated drop zone, countdowns began, and students watched their capsules take flight.

Some landings were graceful touchdowns; others experienced a bit of turbulent re-entry. But even when things cracked under pressure, students didn’t miss a beat. They immediately began evaluating their builds and planning for their next test. The challenge captured the heart of SLA: risk-taking, innovation, teamwork, and the celebration of every attempt at launching off.

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The Ground Crew Behind Every Launch

SLA would not have reached orbit without the incredible professionals who served as mentors, guides, judges, and mission specialists throughout the day. Their expertise helped youth explore new pathways, ask deeper questions, and imagine futures as wide as the night sky.

We extend our gratitude to the organizations that powered this event:

Your involvement created new possibilities for our youth, and your encouragement helped them see their potential for takeoff on the horizon.

THANK YOU!

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A Day That Sets the Course for the Year Ahead

This year’s Student Leadership Academy gave youth the chance to build skills, deepen connections, and imagine big futures. Whether through designing a capsule for the Egg Drop Challenge, learning directly from employers, or finding their voice among peers, every student left with something new to guide them.

As officers return to their chapters, they carry with them not only knowledge but also momentum, the kind that comes from a statewide team cheering them on. With this strong launch behind them, our NMCA Officers are ready for the missions ahead, and we’re excited to see how far they’ll go in 2026.

Mission accomplished—for now.

Thank you for being part of our statewide Launchpad as we prepare New Mexico youth for the missions ahead. Next up: Washington, D.C.