Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

National STEM Scholar Class Announced for 2017

  • 07/31/17

Louisville, Ky. – Ten middle school science teachers from eight states across the country have participated in the prestigious National STEM Scholar Program, a unique professional development and networking program to provide advanced training for the teachers of aspiring middle school scientists nationwide.

In 2016, the National Stem Cell Foundation partnered with the The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at Western Kentucky University to fund competitive scholarships for science teachers motivating students at the tipping point of life-long science interest – middle school. By “training the trainers,” the program seeks to inspire the next generation of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) innovators and pioneers.

The 2017 National STEM Scholar class was hosted by The Gatton Academy from June 4 – 10, 2017 at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. This year’s National STEM Scholars were selected from applicants in 25 states and included:

Suzanne Banas, Miami, Florida – South Miami Middle Community School

Kiki Contreras, Shoreline, Washington – The Evergreen School

Katie Donlin, Byron, Minnesota – Byron Middle School

Angela Gospodarek, Gorham, Maine – Gorham Middle School

Jay Hollis, Bowling Green, Kentucky – Bowling Junior High School

John Lui, Dousman, Wisconsin – Kettle Moraine Middle School

Emily McKernan, Brushton, New York – Brushton-Moira Central School

Valerie Pumala, Cameron, Wisconsin – Cameron Middle School

Donna Shartzer, Harned, Kentucky – Breckinridge County Middle School

Dana Young, Hightstown, New Jersey – Melvin H. Kreps Middle School

Read the entire news release at www.nationalstemcellfoundation.org.

Featured

  • Phoenix School District Breaks Ground on New Prep Academy

    The Creighton Elementary School District near Phoenix, Ariz., recently broke ground on a campus replacement for Biltmore Preparatory Academy, according to a news release. The new space will allow the school to expand its enrollment by 50 percent for K–8 students and accommodate modern, collaborative learning styles.

  • S4L Announces 2026 Education Design Showcase Winners

    Spaces4Learning is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 Education Design Showcase! Now in its 27th year, the annual awards program honors innovative solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction across K–12 and higher education.

  • Arizona District Breaks Ground on Community Training, Learning Center

    The Tolleson Union High School District (TUHSD) in Tolleson, Ariz., recently broke ground on a new Training & Learning Center (TLC) for both district professionals and the community at large, according to a news release. The 90,000-square-foot facility has an estimated completion date of spring 2027.

  • Architectural Power for the Modern Campus Landscape

    For generations, an outdoor classroom only required a textbook and a patch of grass. Today, not only has the laptop replaced the printed pages, the rise of agile learning has turned campuses into study halls with students listening to lectures and researching topics from quads, gardens, and plazas. The challenge for architects and facility managers is to provide connectivity without cluttering the landscape with visual eyesores or creating safety hazards with extension cords.