This award recognizes a North Carolina business or industry whose support has strengthened science, mathematics, and technology (STEM) preK-12 education programs in either formal or informal settings. The recipient of this award will be honored at the Celebration of Science, Mathematics, and Technology. A profile of the recipient will be featured on the SMT Center Web site.
Support should:
- Promote active engagement by students in STEM activities
- Build the capacity of programs to provide all young people access to innovative STEM programs
- Foster an appreciation of the importance of STEM for future-ready students
- Build new or support existing relationships between business/industry and formal or informal STEM programs
Examples of support include, but are not limited to:
- Providing expertise to a STEM program (for example, architectural or design firm donating services to a science museum)
- Business or industry supporting an in-depth mentoring program between employees and students in STEM subjects
- Business or industry hosting internship program in STEM fields
- Advocating for challenging, engaging STEM programs to other businesses and community members
Businesses and industries can self-nominate or can be nominated by others.
Award submission requirements
The nominator is responsible for ensuring the nomination package is complete. The nomination package includes the nomination form (completed by the nominator) and letters of support from two different people. Deadline for receipt of all materials including support letters: December 1.
Components of nomination packet:
- Completed nomination form which must describe and provide examples of how the business and industry:
- Promotes active engagement by students in STEM activities
- Builds the capacity of programs to provide all young people access to innovative STEM programs
- Fosters an appreciation of the importance of STEM for future-ready students
- Builds new or supports existing relationships between business/industry and formal or informal STEM programs
- Is developmentally appropriate for target audience of program
- Provides replicable model
- Includes information on impacts the support provided had on STEM education programs, how long the support has been in place and reasons for the initial support.
- Letters of support from two individuals. The letters should make a compelling case why the business/industry should be honored. Letters should not exceed 750 words each and should be submitted using the Letter of Support Form.
Once the nomination form is submitted, you will receive an email confirming the nomination. If you do not receive an email confirmation within 24 hours, please contact the SMT Center at smt@bwfund.org or 919-991-5111.
This form cannot be saved once it is started so please have all the necessary information available before you start.