Society for Science & the Public Awards Nearly $350,000 to 66 Teachers Mentoring Students from Underserved Groups in Science and Engineering Research at Home

WASHINGTON, DC – As teachers, students and families get ready for the beginning of another academic year, the Society for Science & the Public is pleased to provide funding, training, materials and research equipment to make quality STEM learning and instruction easier and possible in the face of COVID-19 shutdowns. The Society is excited to announce this year’s Advocates, 66 leading STEM educators from middle and high schools, as well as universities, museums and nonprofits across the country, who demonstrate a profound commitment to students of different races and ethnicities in STEM and students from low-income households.

Each named educator will guide a cohort of three or more students to enter their research projects into science research competitions. In its sixth year, even amid a deadly pandemic, the Advocate Program sustains the momentum to work with and inspire the next generation of our nation’s scientists and engineers.

“At this unprecedented time, it is essential we adapt swiftly and give students planned and effective pathways to access STEM mentors and research opportunities, despite an inability for many schools to remain open in person,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of the Society for Science & the Public and Publisher of Science News. “While research labs and facilities may be closed, the Society’s Advocate Program will help ensure that students who are traditionally underserved in STEM have mentors year-round who will work with them and push them to stay on top of their STEM education, conduct research at home and have the opportunity to enter science research competitions.”

In order to meet the exceptional demands and overcome the limitations of this unusual school year, the Society has incorporated a new element to the Advocate Program, devoting $132,000 (an additional $2,000 per Advocate) to support students who are conducting research at home or in the classroom. Advocates will choose to use these monies towards the following options:

  • Research Lab Kits – Advocates will choose from several kits for their students to use at home or in the classroom, giving students the autonomy to focus on their unique research interests (e.g. chemistry kits, Arduino kits, Neuron Spikerbox Bundles, water sampling and weather experiment kits and more)
  • Safety Equipment for Classrooms – For teachers whose schools remain open, they may purchase safety equipment, such as disinfecting supplies, plexiglass and other required supplies to keep students and staff safe throughout the year
  • Tech Kits for Educators will ensure that all Advocates have the standardized ability to attend a first-class Training Institute, year-round training and sustainable student cohort calls
  • Internet Access – Advocates will have a choice of using their funding for hot spots or some form of Internet access, depending on student needs in and outside the classroom

To date, more than 2,000 students have participated in the Advocate Program, of which, 1,498 students have successfully competed in at least one science research competition. Moreover, since the program’s 2015 launch, students of Advocates are responsible for over 4,000 unique competition entries, with many students entering more than one competition each year. Ninety percent of those students are from low- income households and 70 percent are of a race or ethnicity underrepresented in STEM.

This year’s Advocates hail from 33 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico and include 15 middle school teachers; 10 teachers who work with both middle and high school students, 32 high school teachers and 9 who are affiliated with universities.

The following are 2020-2021 Lead Advocates, who will oversee groups of Advocates:

  1. McKenzie Baecker, Two Rivers Public Charter School (Washington, DC)
  2. Scotti Benton, Jasper County Middle School (Monticello, GA)
  3. Loree Harvey, Monte Vista High School (Monte Vista, CO)
  4. Vincent Joralemon, Frank McCourt High School (New York, NY)
  5. Deborah Morgan, South Sevier High School (Burrville, UT)
  6. Lorraine O’Shea, Grand Forks Public Schools (Grand Forks, ND)
  7. Heather Overkamp, C. Norcom High School (Portsmouth, VA)
  8. Carolyn Walling, Iowa City West High School (Iowa City, IA)
  9. Samuel Loftus, Livingston Collegiate Academy (New Orleans, LA) *

*Samuel Loftus is a Lead Advocate Apprentice this year and will receive an additional $1,000.

The following are 2020-2021 Advocates:

  1. Jilian Aesir, El Sausal Middle School (Salinas, CA)
  2. Sharon Ball, Patterson High School (Baltimore, MD)
  3. Kristina Bellamy , Johnny Oldman School (Hughes, AK)
  4. Ramon Benavidez, Del Valle High School (El Paso, TX)
  5. Dallas Bergstrom, Miller Career & Technology Center (Katy, TX)
  6. Elizabeth Bieri, Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School (Birmingham, AL)
  7. Leo Clark, Newburg R-II School District (Newburg, MO)
  8. Philip Clarke, Centennial High School (Gresham, OR)
  9. Cameron Cooley, Memphis Academy of Science & Engineering (Memphis, TN)
  10. Sarah Cooper, Southeast Career Technical Academy (Las Vegas, NV)
  11. Alan Daugherty, Melrose High School (Melrose, NM)
  12. Robin Driver, Eisenhower High School (Yakima, WA)
  13. Lauren Dudley, Chapman University (Orange, CA)
  14. Tyson Edwards, Venture High School (Marriott-Slaterville, UT)
  15. Kathleen Galau, Thunder Mountain High School (Juneau, AK)
  16. Samuel Garson, Friday Harbor High School (Friday Harbor, WA)
  17. Patricia Garvey, Gar-Field High School (Woodbridge, VA)
  18. Albert Harrold, Strength and Honor Mentoring and Tutoring (Florissant, MO)
  19. Meghan Hess Shamdasani, SouthTech Academy (Boynton Beach, FL)
  20. Katye Howell, William B. Travis High School (Austin, TX)
  21. Patricia Huntington, Jean Farb Middle School (San Diego, CA)
  22. Anthony Husemann, Nome Beltz High School (Nome, AK)
  23. Reshawndra Hutchins-Trapp, Clayton County Schools (Jonesboro, GA)
  24. Jeremy Jonas, Tucson High Magnet School (Tucson, AZ)
  25. Stephanie Jones, Maynard H. Jackson-Jr. High School (Atlanta, GA)
  26. Shelly Kennedy, Dekalb Middle School (Waterloo, IN)
  27. Rick Lapworth, Felix Varela High School (Miami, FL)
  28. Andrea LaRosa  Westside Middle School Academy (Danbury, CT)
  29. Phebe Martinez Fuentes, Hanna Early College High School (Brownsville, TX)
  30. Margarette Marturano, Seminole Ridge High School (Westlake, FL)
  31. Erin Mayer, Casey Middle School (Boulder, CO)
  32. Allyson McFalls, Blowing Rock Elementary School (Blowing Rock, NC)
  33. Keri Meador, Central High School (Louisville, KY)
  34. Amy Melby, Yuma High School (Yuma, CO)
  35. Pradip Misra, Bagdad High School (Bagdad, AZ)
  36. Lori Moore, Willits High School (Willits, CA)
  37. Susana Oliu, John Muir High School (Pasadena, CA)
  38. Rosalyn Parson, Friendship Collegiate Academy (Washington, DC)
  39. Brenda Perez-Goodrum, New Liberty Innovation High School (Salem, MA)
  40. Eileen Rachelle Poserio, Frazer High School (Frazer, MT)
  41. Robert Powell, Challenger Learning Center (Ferguson, MO)
  42. Cecilie Prine, Lander Middle School (Lander, WY)
  43. Nate Raynor, Mescalero Apache School (Mescalero, NM)
  44. Jeanne Richardson, Graham Junior High School (Graham, TX)
  45. Keyla Soto Hidalgo, University High School (San Juan, PR)
  46. Roger Spears, Goshen County School District No. 1 (Lingle, WY)
  47. Kendra Swain, Alabama State University (Montgomery, AL)
  48. Sharon Taylor, Glenn Levey Middle School (Southfield, MI)
  49. Paul Timm, Lyons-Decatur Northeast Public Schools (Lyons, NE)
  50. Yajaira Torres-De Jesus, Colegio Rosa Bell (Guaynabo, PR)
  51. Joshua Truitt, Hilsman Middle School (Athens, GA)
  52. Jennifer Underwood, Iowa High School (Iowa, LA)
  53. Ashland “Coby” Willis, Tucker Elementary School (Philadelphia, MS)
  54. Robin Wilson, Emmett High School (Emmett, ID)
  55. Dina Yarmus, EnvironMentors NCSE – Widener University Chapter (Chester, PA)
  56. Sara Yeh, Ray Wiltsey Middle School (Ontario, CA)
  57. Donna Youngblood, Gilmer High School (Gilmer, TX)

The Advocate Grant Program is funded by Arconic Foundation, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and Regeneron. In addition to a $3,000 stipend, each Advocate will receive an additional $2,000 as mentioned above. Eight Lead Advocates will receive an additional $2,000 to supervise cohorts of newer Advocates. These cohorts typically include six to eight Advocates and are designed to provide specialized support throughout the year to Advocates with similar needs and goals.

Advocates will also participate in a virtual Advocate Training Institute where they will learn best practices for supporting students in entering STEM research competitions and discuss strategies specific to COVID-19, meet and learn from each other and obtain training from Society staff. During the remainder of the public health emergency and the rest of their one-year terms, the Society will provide Advocates with continued support via virtual meetings and conference calls.

For additional information about the Advocate Program, visit: https://www.societyforscience.org/outreach-and-equity/advocate-program/

About Society for Science & the Public

Society for Science & the Public is dedicated to the achievement of young scientists in independent research and to public engagement in science. Established in 1921, the Society is a nonprofit whose vision is to promote the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Through its world-class competitions, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, and the Broadcom MASTERS, and its award-winning magazine, Science News and Science News for Students, Society for Science & the Public is committed to inform, educate, and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on FacebookTwitterInstagram and Snapchat (Society4Science).