Blog
Apr 28

SMT Center Honors Champions of STEM Education in North Carolina

SMT Center Honors Champions of STEM Education in North Carolina

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – Members of the North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center’s Board of Directors announced this year’s recipients for the SMT Center Awards on Saturday at the annual SMT Celebration.

The SMT Celebration was established in 2007 to recognize and acknowledge leaders and innovators in STEM education across North Carolina.

This year’s recipients are:

Outstanding 9-16 Teacher – Bruce Boller

Bruce Boller is a science teacher at Bertie Early College High School in Bertie County.  Mr. Boller continues to refine his teaching practice so that his students are ready for career and college when they graduate. Students are learning on the ground what it takes to produce products that are usable, learning the realities of biotechnology research and development as well as real world techniques and issues related to this work.
[Announcement] [Video Profile]

Outstanding Administrator – Joe Childers

Joe Childers is the principal of Atkins High School in Winston-Salem.  He is a leader in bridging technology and the classroom.  By empowering teachers through professional development and establishing partnerships with business and community leaders, Childers has lead innovation efforts to integrate STEM into the school’s curriculum.
[Announcement] [Video Profile]

Business and Industry Award – Cisco

Cisco’s commitment to STEM and willingness to partner with others improves the education and lives of students and families in communities around the world. Cisco is a founding member of US2020, a national initiative to generate large-scale, innovative solutions to inspire the next generation of innovators.
[Announcement] [Video Profile]

Partnership Award – N.C. Section of the American Chemical Society

The North Carolina Section of the American Chemical Society is a group of professionals in chemical sciences and engineering.   The NCACS  provides a plethora of outreach opportunities to the local community related toward the chemical sciences. Chief among NC-ACS’s programs is Project SEED, a mentoring program for high school students interested in chemistry.
[Announcement] [Video Profile]

Student Leadership Award – Molly Paul

Molly Paul is a tenth grader at St. Mary’s School in Raleigh, N.C.  She has blended a passion for STEM education with an entrepreneurial spirit.  She is a member of her school’s Science Olympiad and Environmental Club and is a junior curator at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.  She volunteers at the North Carolina State University School of Veterinary Medicine where she catalogues patient data for the Turtle Rescue Team.  She established Raleigh Aquatic Turtle Adoption and STEM Leadership Camp.
[Announcement] [Video Profile]

Outstanding K-8 Teacher Award – Brad Rhew

Brad Rhew is a 8th grade science teacher at Walkertown Middle School.  Every day his classroom is alive with interactive, innovative, student-centered activities that challenge students to think critically and creatively.  His classes provides students interactive access to science that makes the subject matter relevant and real.
[Announcement] [Video Profile]

Outstanding Informal Science Educator – Jory Weintraub

Dr. Jory Weintraub’s task is to translate the mission of NESCent to advance evolutionary science and its applications to multiple and diverse audiences.  Whether to the scientific community, underserved minorities, K-12 teachers and students, and the lay public, Dr. Weintraub has established or helped establish highly successful programs.
[Announcement] [Video Profile]