AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Educators were honored at the 2008 Walter P. Chrysler "Closing the Technology Gap in Education" awards ceremony on Saturday evening sponsored by The Chrysler Foundation, in partnership with the Detroit Science Center. The award program recognizes Michigan public school teachers who have taken extra steps to stimulate students in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Now in its third year, the program recognizes teachers who inspire students to pursue careers in technical and scientific fields.
"Chrysler LLC supports education because it is vital to our state, and our industry's future, thatMichigan continues to produce the best and brightest minds in science, technology, engineering and math," said Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President - Product Development, Chrysler LLC. "Great teachers can bring out a passion for these subjects in their students that directly impacts the careers they choose, and we would like to congratulate each of these teachers for making this possible by providing an inspirational environment and challenging curriculum for their students to excel."
Of the 250 applications submitted, 10 winning schools were selected in the elementary, middle and high school categories for a total of 30 winning schools and the sum of all 30 financial awards totaled $87,000.
First, second and third-prize winners received $15,000, $7,500 and $3,000, respectively. The first place elementary school category winner was Jon Aaron Phillips of Jayno W. Adams Elementary School inWaterford, Mich. Phillips used innovation and engineering concepts in his classroom to introduce the concept of matter changing state to his students. They designed "snow creatures" first as mock-ups made out of clay, then as creations made of snow, all while measuring and monitoring how their snow creatures changed with time. The students learned to observe, measure and record data as if they were scientists working on a specific project and acquire valuable lessons in the process.
Yandal Waugh of George Washington Carver Academy inHighland Park, Mich., placed first in the middle school category. As a mathematics instructor, Waugh's rocketry program introduced the fields of aerospace and aeronautical engineering to students by incorporating physics, engineering and complex math into a fun, hands on experience for his students. The students designed, developed and tested rockets with an opportunity to launch their rockets at the end of the project. Furthermore, the school's America Rocketry Challenge Team qualified to compete in the National Finals, which has encouraged other students throughout the school to join the program.
The high school category winner, Kyle Hughes, of Clarkston High School's OSM Tech Academy, introduced a robotics club program at her school to teach students invaluable and high-level skills. Club members strive to communicate the importance of science, mathematics, engineering and technology to younger students and the community. First, students observe, then, they handle the tools before they're finally ready to operate highly complex machines.
Winners who placed fourth through tenth place received $500 grants. The awards support new educational programs in science, math, engineering and technology curriculums at each respective school. In addition, winners were honored at a reception at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum.
"Teachers have wonderfully innovative ways to get their students enthused about engineering, science and technology. We're glad to be part of recognizing outstanding teachers who seek to inspire students to pursue careers in these fields, much as we do at the Detroit Science Center," said Todd Slisher, Vice President - Science Programs, Detroit Science Center.
"We have to put the right tools in the hands of our children to help them attain the education and training they need to succeed in the future work environment ofMichigan," said Jennifer Granholm, Governor -Michigan. "These teachers help us move one step closer to achieving this goal each time they enter the classroom. I want to congratulate and thank these award recipients for their dedication to teaching and inspiring our future engineers, scientists, and mathematicians, and leaders."
Klegon presented the awards to the following teachers and their respective schools:
Elementary
First place: Jon Phillips, Jayno W. Adams Elementary,Waterford,Waterford School District
Second place: Mary Lou Krause, Post Oak Elementary School,Lansing, Lansing School District
Second place: Linda Mondol, Post Oak Elementary School,Lansing,Lansing School District
Third place: Lynette Baumann, Cherokee Elementary,Clinton Twp., Chippewa Valley Schools
Fourth to Tenth Place:
Fourth place: Erik Cliff,Central Woodland 5/6 Elementary, Ada, Forest Hills Public Schools
Fourth place: Holly Hanson,Central Woodland 5/6 Elementary, Ada, Forest Hills Public Schools
Fifth place: Cristi Jackson, Fisher Elementary,Redford,South Redford School District
Sixth place: Heather Bochenek, Fox Elementary School Macomb, Chippewa Valley Schools
Sixth place: Beverly Fanelli, Fox Elementary School,Macomb, Chippewa Valley Schools
Sixth place: Suzanne O'Brien, Fox Elementary School,Macomb, Chippewa Valley Schools
Seventh place: Kristina Rider, Brimley Area Elementary School, Brimley, Brimley Area Schools
Seventh place: Sherry Hutchins, Brimley Area Elementary School, Brimley, Brimley Area Schools
Eighth place: Jill Murphy, Ruth Fox Elementary School,North Branch,North Branch Area Public Schools
Eighth place: Lucinda Mitchell, Ruth Fox Elementary School,North Branch, North Branch Area Public Schools
Ninth place: Gary Koppelman, Blissfield Elementary School,Blissfield, Blissfield Community Schools
Tenth place: Lori Sparks, Commerce Elementary School,Commerce Twp., Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
Tenth place: Barbara Morley, Commerce Elementary School,Commerce Twp., Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
Middle School
First place: Yandal Waugh, George Washington Carver Academy,Highland Park,Highland Park Schools
Second place: Jill Amico, Avondale Meadows Upper Elementary,Rochester Hills, Avondale School District
Second place: Laura Amatulli, Avondale Meadows,Rochester Hills, Avondale School District
Third place: Jessica Kallenbach, Centennial Middle School,South Lyon, South Lyon Community Schools
Fourth to Tenth Place:
Fourth place: Steven Jacobs, Dundee Middle School, Dundee, Dundee Community Schools
Fifth place: Jeffrey Bradley, Slauson Middle School,Ann Arbor,Ann Arbor Public Schools
Sixth place: Patrick Berry, Bloomfield Hills Middle School,Bloomfield Hills,Bloomfield Hills Schools District
Sixth place: Allen Birkholz, Bloomfield Hills Middle School,Bloomfield Hills,Bloomfield Hills Schools District
Seventh place: Meredee Vaughan, Dwight Rich Middle School Magnet Academy for Math, Science, and Engineering,Lansing,Lansing School District
Seventh place: Ray Freeze, Dwight Rich Middle School Magnet Academy for Math, Science, and Engineering,Lansing,Lansing School District
Seventh place: Mary Davis, Dwight Rich Middle School Magnet Academy for Math, Science, and Engineering,Lansing,Lansing School District
Seventh place: Mary Villegas, Dwight Rich Middle School Magnet Academy for Math, Science, and Engineering,Lansing,Lansing School District
Seventh place: Bill Curtis, Dwight Rich Middle School Magnet Academy for Math, Science, and Engineering,Lansing,Lansing School District
Seventh place: Pat Pendarvis, Dwight Rich Middle School Magnet Academy for Math, Science, and Engineering,Lansing,Lansing School District
Eighth place: Dwight Sieggreen, Hillside Middle School,Northville, Northville Public Schools
Ninth place: Herb Wansitler, Grand Blanc East Middle School,Grand Blanc, Grand Blanc Community Schools
Tenth place: Mary Tarrien, Earhart Middle School,Detroit,Detroit Public Schools
High School
First place: Kyle Hughes, Clarkston High School - OSMTech Academy, Clarkston, Clarkston Community Schools
Second place: Mark Supal, Macomb Mathematics Science Technology Center, Warren, Warren Consolidated Schools
Third place: Tim Loney, Tuscola Technology Center,Caro, Tuscola Intermediate School District
Third place: Richard Tinsey, Tuscola Technology Center,Caro, Tuscola Intermediate School District
Third place: Greg Bukoski, Tuscola Technology Center,Caro, Tuscola Intermediate School District
Third place: Jason Strunz, Tuscola Technology Center,Caro, Tuscola Intermediate School District
Fourth to Tenth Place:
Fourth place: Emily Polnski, Novi High School, Novi,Novi Community School District
Fifth place: Scott Spry, Henry Ford II High School,Sterling Heights, Utica Community Schools
Sixth place: Sean Hickman, Pinckney Community High School,Pinckney, Pinckney Community Schools
Seventh place: Lori Kleinow, Monroe High School, Monroe, Monroe Public Schools
Eighth place: Geoffrey Clark, Utica High School,Utica,Utica Community Schools
Ninth place: Christine Trent, Lakeland High School, White Lake, Huron Valley Schools
Tenth place: Nick Blackmer, Hartford High School,Hartford,Hartford Public Schools
SOURCE Chrysler LLC
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