HMS recently hosted the Teen Maze event in Lordsburg where more than 322 middle school and high school students participated in this every three year special event. Schools participating included: Lordsburg High School, Dugan Tarango Middle School, San Simon, Animas, and Silver High School.  

The Teen Maze is a virtual “game of life” designed ” designed to educate students about making healthy choices. This year’s event was titled – “Direction Determines Destination.” When students enter the maze, they are presented with choices in each room. Based on the decisions they make, they are issued consequences.

This is truly a “community” driven event. Several organizations from Hidalgo County each provide an educational room with a variety of topics including: education, drugs, STD’s, teen pregnancy, texting and driving, and social media. From there, students enter the “consequence” rooms – baby room, job interviews/background checks, court, JPO, hospital, community service, rehab, and jail. Students are given and pre and post evaluation to gage the level of knowledge they acquired by participating in the Teen Maze.  

HMS thanks the following organizations for their participation in the Teen Maze: HELP- NM, La Pinon, BYA (Bootheel Youth Association), Hidalgo County DWI Program, SASS (Silver Regional Sexual Assault Support Services), Lordsburg Elks Lodge #1813, Hidalgo & Luna County JPO (Juvenile Probation Office), ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement), ICAN Nutrition, Hidalgo County Magistrate Court, Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Department, Hidalgo County Detention Center, PAT (Parents As Teachers), Forward NM, NM Department of Health, El Refugio, Phantom Fireworks, NM State Police, and Healthy Kids Healthy Communities.

A special thank you is extended to the following community volunteers: Retired Judge Viramontes, Larry Martinez, Joseph Hill, Harriett Malott, Aric Conover, Bruce Kerr, and Clea Kerr.  

The Teen Maze was sponsored by: NM Elks Association, JJCS (Juvenile Justice Continuum of Services), Western Bank, Smith Ford, Animas Valley Excavation & Electric, LLC, CYRQ, and Lindsay Transportation. 

Food sponsors included: Saucedo’s Supermarket, Denny’s, Ramona’s Café, Kranberry’s Chatterbox, Flying J, Subway, and Lordsburg Hampton Inn.

Prize sponsors included: Bootheel Youth Association, Goldhill Outpost, La Pinon, Jessica Rodriquez, Sabrina Madrid, and Dollar General.

Other special sponsors included: Lordsburg Municipal Schools (use of Lordsburg High School Gym) and Lordsburg Elks Lodge #1813 (use of folding tables).  

A special thanks is extended to HMS staff member, Jessica Rodriquez, who led the coordination of the event this year and all of the HMS team for their dedication to see this event be a such a success.