Estimados amigos,

El National Science Teachers Association (www.nsta.org) ha anunciado un gran número de oportunidades de premio para reconocer la labor de educadores comprometidos e innovadores enfocados en disciplinas relacionadas a las ciencias, ingeniería, matemática y tecnología. Es una excelente oportunidad para reconocer a varios de nuestros excelentes educadores en Puerto Rico. Si conoces a alguno, por favor considera nominarla/lo. Y si usted es un educador en estas disciplinas, considere someter una auto-nominación (las mismas son permitidas).

Para más información favor leer abajo o acceder el siguiente enlace: http://www.nsta.org/about/awards.aspx

Awards and Recognitions

The 2015 award applications are open for submission. You can't win if you don't apply!

You may apply for more than one award; however, each application must be based on a unique program and process and you will be eligible to win only one NSTA award per year.

Please note that the Yager Award will be presented at the NSTA National Congress on Science Education, held each summer (not at the NSTA National Conference, held in the spring).

Click on an item in the list below to read a description of the award.

• Angela Award
• Distinguished Informal Science Education Awards
• Distinguished Service to Science Education Awards
• Distinguished Teaching Awards
• DuPont Pioneer Excellence in Agricultural Science Education Award
• Faraday Science Communicator Award
• Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers
• Ron Mardigian Memorial Biotechnology Explorer Award
• Northrop Grumman Foundation Excellence in Engineering Education Award
• NSTA Fellow Award
• NSTA Legacy Award
• PASCO STEM Educator Awards
• Robert E. Yager Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award
• Robert H. Carleton Award
• SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment Outstanding Environmental Educator of the Year
• Shell Science Teaching Award
• Sylvia Shugrue Award for Elementary School Teachers
• Vernier Technology Awards
• Wendell G. Mohling Outstanding Aerospace Educator Award

Photos from the 2014 NSTA Teacher Awards Gala (PowerPoint) 
Photos from the 2014 Shell Reception (PowerPoint)

Angela Award

Download an application

This award honors one female student in grades 5–8, who is involved in or has a strong connection to science. The award has been established in honor of Gerry Wheeler, Executive Director Emeritus, and his outstanding dedication to NSTA and lifelong commitment to science education.

Eligibility: Any female student in grades 5–8 who is a resident of the United States, US Territories, or Canada, and is enrolled in full time public, private, or home school. NSTA employees, NSTA Board and Council members, award judges, and their immediate families are NOT eligible to apply.
Award: $1,000 US EE Savings Bond or Canadian Savings Bond purchased for the equivalent issue price. The awardee will be honored at the Teacher Awards Banquet at NSTA's National Conference.

Distinguished Informal Science Education Awards

Download an application

This award honors one NSTA members who have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of science education in an informal or nontraditional school setting, such as a science-technology center, museum, or community science center.

Eligibility: NSTA members who are not classroom teachers and who have demonstrated their dedication to informal science education
Award: Formal citation, three nights’ hotel accommodation, and $500 towards expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference

Distinguished Service to Science Education Awards

Download an application

These awards honor NSTA members who, through active leadership and scholarly endeavor over a significant period of time, have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of education in the sciences and science teaching.

Eligibility: NSTA members who have shown long-term dedication to science education
Award: Formal citation, three nights’ hotel accommodation, and up to $500 towards expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference

Distinguished Teaching Awards

Download an application

This award honors NSTA members who are teachers that have made extraordinary contributions to the field of science teaching.

Eligibility: K–college-level teachers
Award: Formal citation, three nights’ hotel accommodation, and $500 toward expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference

DuPont Pioneer Excellence in Agricultural Science Education Award

Download an application

A partnership with DuPont Pioneer and the National Science Teachers Association, this award is to recognize excellence and innovation in the field of agricultural science education. One award will be awarded annually.

Eligibility: This award is open to any K–12 science teacher who incorporates innovative agricultural science activities into their existing science curriculum.
Award: The awardee will receive a $5,000 grant for their classroom/program, paid travel expenses to attend the NSTA national conference on science education, mentoring with a DuPont Pioneer scientist, classroom resources from DuPont Pioneer, and access to a DuPont Pioneer product plant or research facility. The awardee will be presented the award at the Teacher Awards Banquet at the National Conference.

Faraday Science Communicator Award

Download an application

This award, named in honor of Michael Faraday (1791–1867), the English chemist and physicist who is known for his pioneering experiments in electricity and magnetism. Through lectures and letters, Faraday led people of all ages to a greater understanding of the natural scientific laws that govern us all. The Faraday Science Communicator Award will recognize and reward an individual or organization that has inspired and elevated the public's interest in and appreciation of science.

Eligibility: Individual—The individual will not be a classroom teacher, but will work in, or have developed a compatible setting for science communication: i.e., museum, nature center, zoo, state park, aquarium, radio, television, internet, or other science-rich institutions or media. The individual may also be connected to a science setting through his or her involvement with civic organizations and child-education facilities: e.g., preK child-development centers, 4-H clubs, Girl and Boy Scouts, Girls and Boys Clubs of America, and so on.Organizational—The organization will facilitate and provide exemplary opportunities for science communication to the public. The organization will desire to instill in the public an appreciation for science through communication efforts at the local, state, and national levels.
Award: Awardee will be honored at the Awards Banquet during the NSTA National Conference on Science Education; the awardee receives an all-expense-paid trip (up to $2,500) to attend the Conference; all awardees will receive recognition in NSTA publications and will be given an opportunity to participate in a poster session during the conference

Example of narrative from past application

Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers

Download an application

The Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers provides selected K–12 teachers (up to 25) in their first five years of teaching with funds to attend the annual National Conference on Science Education. Award recipients will be mentored, tracked, and provided with continuing opportunities for meaningful involvement with NSTA and its activities.

Eligibility: To be eligible, a teacher must be within the first five years full-time at the time of application and be an NSTA member in good standing; to the extent possible, recipients must have been a student member of NSTA as a preservice teacher
Award: The award consists of up to $1,000 to be used to attend the annual National Conference; recipients will be invited to attend a variety of workshops and presentations that are of particular interest to new teachers at the annual National Conference

Archive of past conference sessions

Example of plan for attendance from past application

Read comments from Simmons Award winners

Ron Mardigian Memorial Biotechnology Explorer Award

Download an application

The Ron Mardigian Memorial Biotechnology Explorer Award will recognize and reward an outstanding high school teacher who has made biotechnology learning accessible to the classroom. This award has been established in memory of Ron Mardigian, the inspiration behind and founder of the Biotechnology Explorer program.

Eligibility: High school
Award: The award will consist of $1,000 toward expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference and $750 in Bio-Rad products. The awardee will be honored at the Awards Banquet; the awardee and one teacher guest of the awardee will be invited to dinner with members of Bio-Rad's Explorer team.

Example of narrative from past application

Northrop Grumman Foundation Excellence in Engineering Education Award

Download an application

A partnership with Northrop Grumman Foundation and the National Science Teachers Association, this award is to recognize excellence in the field of engineering education. NSTA and the Northrop Grumman Foundation recognize the importance of integrating high-quality engineering instruction into the science classroom and the critical need for making students proficient in the practices used by engineers in the field. See the NSTA Position Statement on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Section II Conceptual Shifts in the NGSS. One award will be awarded annually.

Eligibility: The applicant must be a K–12 public school science/technology teacher. Individuals must have a minimum of 3 years' teaching experience. Awardees will have exhibited excellence in engineering science education.
Award: The award consists of $5000 for classroom materials and equipment, a cash prize of $3000, and $2000 to attend the NSTA National Conference on Science Education. The awardee will be presented the award at the Teacher Awards Banquet at the National Conference.

NSTA Fellow Award

Download an application

This award recognizes NSTA members who have made extraordinary contributions to science education through personal commitment to education, specifically science teaching or science; educational endeavors and original work that position recipients as exemplary leaders in their field; significant contributions to the profession that reflect dedication to NSTA as well the entire educational community.

Eligibility: This award is open to longstanding (at least 10 years) NSTA members
Award: Awardees will be recognized at the NSTA Awards Banquet in conjunction with the NSTA National Conference and receive one night's lodging.

NSTA Legacy Award

Download an application

This NSTA award posthumously recognizes long-standing members of NSTA for significant lifelong service to NSTA and contributions to science education.

Eligibility: This award is open to long-standing members of NSTA (minimum 15 years) who have been deceased for no more than 10 years; an individual may be nominated within ten (10) years after their death; however, there may be variances to these criteria; the NSTA Awards and Recognitions Committee should be consulted in writing prior to recommending an individual more than ten (10) years after their death
Award: One or more individuals may be selected by the NSTA Awards and Recognitions Committee to be honored at the annual Awards Banquet during the NSTA National Conference; a plaque will be presented to the family of the honoree; NSTA will provide two nights' lodging, and up to $500 towards travel expenses for a family member to attend the NSTA National Conference; a permanent Legacy Award display, located at the NSTA headquarters, will include the honoree’s name.

PASCO STEM Educator Awards

Download an application

The PASCO STEM Educator awards, sponsored by PASCO scientific, in partnership with the National Science Teachers Association, recognizes excellence and innovation in the field of STEM education at middle school and high school levels.

Eligibility: The applicant must be a 6–12 STEM educator. Individuals must have a minimum of 3 years teaching experience in the STEM fields, who implement innovative inquiry-based, technology infused STEM programs. One middle level and two high school level recipients will be awarded annually.
Award: A total of 3 awardees will be selected annually. Each awardee will receive up to $1000 to cover travel expenses to attend the NSTA national conference and be part of a STEM share-a-thon workshop, a $500 monetary gift, and a $5000 certificate for PASCO scientific products. The recipient of the award will be honored during the Awards Banquet at the NSTA national conference.

Examples of narratives from past applications: Elementary | Middle | High

Robert E. Yager Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award

Download an application

The Robert E. Yager Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award will recognize six (6) full-time K–12 teachers of science who successfully use innovation and excellence in their classroom.

Eligibility: K–12 science teachers residing in NSTA's districts.
Award: $1,000 towards expenses to attend the NSTA National Congress on Science Education held each summer, and $1,000 for the awardee. An identified Yager Scholar from the six awardees will be given additional support up to $1,500, to present at a future NSTA National Conference on Science Education.

Robert H. Carleton Award

Download an application

This is the most prestigious award an NSTA member can receive. The Robert H. Carleton Award recognizes one individual who has made outstanding contributions to, and provided leadership in, science education at the national level and to NSTA in particular. It is NSTA's highest honor. This award is sponsored by the Dow Chemical Company.

Eligibility: NSTA members who are K–college-level science educators
Award: $5,000, a formal citation, and an all-expenses-paid trip to NSTA's National Conference

SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment Outstanding Environmental Educator of the Year

Learn more and apply

The SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment Environmental Excellence Awards recognizes the outstanding efforts of students, teachers, and community leaders across the country who are working at the grass roots level to protect and preserve the environment.

Eligibility: The Environmental Excellence Awards has expanded its reach to larger audiences to recognize the efforts of schools, youth groups, individuals and companies working to make a difference.

Award: $10,000 and an expense-paid trip to attend the NSTA National Conference. The deadline is November 30, 2014, for the 2014–15 school year.

For a complete application and more information on the procedures, go to the Environmental Excellence Awards website.

Shell Science Teaching Award

Download an application

This award recognizes one outstanding classroom science teacher (K–12) who has had a positive impact on his or her students, school, and community through exemplary classroom science teaching.

Eligibility: K–12 classroom science teachers
Award: $10,000 and an all-expense paid trip to attend NSTA’s National Conference; two finalists will also receive all-expense-paid trips to the conference

Sample of teaching philosophy and instructional method

Upcoming web seminar: "Developing a Competitive Application for the Shell Science Teaching Award," October 1, 2013

Archived web seminar: "Developing a Competitive Application for the Shell Science Teaching Award"

See also: Shell Science Lab Challenge »

Sylvia Shugrue Award for Elementary School Teachers

Download an application

This award honors one elementary school teacher who has established (or is establishing) an interdisciplinary, inquiry-based lesson plan. The lesson plan will fully reference sources of information and any relevant National Science Education Standards and benchmarks found in the Atlas of Science Literacy.

Eligibility: Elementary school teachers (grades K–6); applicants must be a full-time teacher with a minimum of five years of experience
Award: The award consists of $1,000 and up to $500 to attend the NSTA National Conference on Science Education; the recipient of the award will be honored during the Awards Banquet at the NSTA Conference

Example of narrative from past application

Vernier Technology Awards

Download an application

The Vernier Technology Awards will recognize and reward the innovative use of data collection technology using a computer, graphing calculator, or other handheld in the science classroom. A total of seven awards are presented: one award at the elementary level (grades K–5); two awards at the middle level (grades 6–8); three awards at the high school level (grades 9–12); one award at the college level.

Eligibility: K–college. Applicants may not have won previously at their school.
Award: Each award will consist of $1,500 towards expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference, $1,000 in cash for the teacher, and $3,000 in Vernier products.

Examples of abstracts from past applications: Elementary | Middle | High School | College

Technology Tips

Wendell G. Mohling Outstanding Aerospace Educator Award

Download an application

This award recognizes excellence in the field of aerospace education. The recipient of the award will be honored during the Awards Banquet and the Aerospace Educators Luncheon at the NSTA Conference.

Eligibility: Both K–12 teachers of science in formal education settings (e.g., elementary, middle, high school) and educators in informal education settings (e.g., museums, government, science centers) are eligible to apply in alternating years. For the 2014–15 award, only educators in a formal setting will be eligible for consideration. Individuals must be nominated for this award and have a minimum of three years teaching experience. Self-nominations will be accepted.
Award: $3,000, and $2,000 in expenses to attend NSTA’s national conference

Examples of narratives from past applications: Formal | Informal