2023 Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award Recipients
Congratulations!
2023 Don Cargill STEM Scholars
Thank you for joining GYSTC as we honor 23 recipients of our coveted Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award. This outstanding group of educators was chosen for their thoughtful engagement with their students which, over the last year, resulted in imaginative classroom lessons that taught and support science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. As parents, employers and citizens we hope all our teachers are competent, enthusiastic and caring. Our awardees certainly meet and exceed these basic criteria. But what sets them apart and what they are being cited for in these awards are two key factors.
First, they have shown a special aptitude for identifying the unique strengths and potential of their students and have conceived and executed classroom lessons that tap that promise. They have engaged and excited their students’ capacity to learn and build confidence – not only in their ability to master STEM, but to master lessons of successful living.
Second, our recipients also launched student projects whose impact reached past the classroom to involve their entire school community, parents, colleagues, and regional leaders who are STEM professionals and supporters.
Our recipients are winners! Winners for their students. Winners for their communities. Winners for our state, and winners for the teaching profession. They exemplify everything we want and hope our teachers will be. It is our duty and delight to honor them!
Congratulations,
Amanda Buice
GYSTC Executive Director
Mrs. Stephanie Coxwell
Baldwin County Schools, Midway Hills Academy
“Weathering and Erosion”
Mrs. Coxwell is a veteran teacher of six years. She currently teaches STEAM to students in grades 3rd-5th and leads the STEM Gardening Club. Other awards include the Baldwin County Pursuit of Excellence Award (2018) and Midway Hills Academy Teacher of the Year (2022-2023). Mrs. Coxwell was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for her work in the classroom integrating STEM and literacy by creating an engineering unit based on the novel Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.
Award Impact
Mrs. Coxwell plans to introduce her students to weathering and erosion with her project. In this project, students will model mechanical and chemical erosion through examples of frost wedging and acid rain. Students will also learn about mining. Students will use this knowledge and the engineering design process to code a robot to collect minerals from areas where it is unsafe for humans to go.
Mrs. Crystal Kennedy
Baldwin County Schools, Lakeview Primary School
“Bringing STEAM to Kindergarten”
Mrs. Kennedy is a veteran teacher of 15 years. She currently teaches Kindergarten and previously worked with her school’s after-school STEAM program. Mrs. Kennedy was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for her work in the classroom to engage all students in a STEM project on American Symbols.
Award Impact
Mrs. Kennedy plans to offer her students more choices through her project. In this project, students will use STEAM materials to design and model their own American Symbol. After designing, students will have the opportunity to write about their creations. By participating in these activities, the students will become better problem-solvers, critical thinkers, innovators, scientists, readers, and writers.
Mrs. Shannon Bynum
Ben Hill County Schools, Ben Hill Middle School
“Makerspace KEVA Planks”
Mrs. Bynum is a veteran teacher of 21 years. She currently teaches STEAM to students in grades 6th-8th and serves on the leadership, PBIS, and technology teams at her school. Other awards include Ben Hill Middle School Teacher of the Year (2014). Mrs. Bynum was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for her work in the classroom creating challenging STEM projects for her students, like the Cardboard House Project, that cultivates critical thinking and problem-solving.
Award Impact
Mrs. Bynum plans to expand her students’ access to Makerspace materials through her project. In this project, students will have ample materials to engage in a variety of activities about architecture, building and design, balance and proportion, and geometric forms. Mrs. Bynum’s project would allow students to pursue what they are interested in while learning to problem-solve and develop skills, talents, and mental rigor.
Mrs. Lauren Cramer
Carroll County Schools, Bay Springs Middle School
“Smart Composting”
Mrs. Cramer has been teaching for four years. She currently teaches 7th grade science and serves on the leadership team. Other awards include Bay Springs Middle School Teacher of the Year (2023-2024). Mrs. Cramer was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for her work in the classroom challenging her students to design solutions for real-world ecological problems.
Award Impact
Mrs. Cramer plans to dive deep into composting with her student through her project. In this project, students will be able to use technology to analyze the temperature, humidity, and organic components of compost. Using this data, students will be able to adjust the compost to ensure that they are selling a nutrient-rich product. Proceeds from the compost sales benefit a community service project.
Mrs. Jennifer Earnest
Carroll County Schools, Sand Hill Elementary School
“Inventorium Labs”
Mrs. Earnest is a veteran teacher of nine years. She currently teaches STEM to K-5th grade students, coaches two STEM Clubs, and leads a STEM Night at her school. Other awards include Sand Hill Elementary School Teacher of the Year (2020) and the Student Life Impact Award. Mrs. Earnest was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for her work in the classroom developing compassion and ingenuity in her students through a project where students designed a prosthetic limb for a Tegu lizard.
Award Impact
Mrs. Earnest plans to inspire her students to invent through her project. In this project, students will use Inventorium Lab equipment to explore circuits, simple machines, measurement, and force and motion. Students will get to experience the intellectual thrill of inventing something all their own, and transform the way they see themselves, their abilities, and their role in the world in the process.
Mr. Joseph Benefield
Carrollton City Schools, Carrollton Elementary School
“Growing Gardens and Young Gardeners”
Mr. Benefield is a veteran teacher of nine years. He currently teaches STEAM to K-3rd grade students and co-sponsors the Athena Club at his school. Other awards include the Bright Ideas Grant from Carroll EMC. Mr. Benefield was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for his work in the classroom teaching students how to use TinkerCAD to create plastic nosecones for model rockets.
Award Impact
Mr. Benefield plans to educate his students about all things green through his project. In this project, students will grow and maintain a school garden. Students will also learn about where food comes from and how it gets to the table.
Mrs. Teresa Bailey
Cherokee County Schools, Clark Creek Elementary STEM Academy
“Aquarium Cleaners”
Mrs. Bailey is a veteran teacher of 19 years. She currently teaches STEM to K-5th grade students and is Cherokee County District’s STEM Curriculum Designer. Other awards include the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association Teacher of Excellence Award and the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association Program Excellence Award. Mrs. Bailey was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for her work in the classroom coding with students to learn about the brightness and sizes of stars.
Award Impact
Mrs. Bailey plans to challenge her students during their ecosystems unit with her project. In this project, students will design a tool that can clean the inside of an aquarium. The tool can only be touched from the outside and must keep marine life safe in the process. Students will also use their knowledge of mathematics to calculate the percentage of the aquarium surface that has been cleaned.
Mrs. Kimberly Harrison
Cherokee County Schools, Clark Creek Elementary STEM Academy
“The Legacy We Lead”
Mrs. Harrison is a veteran teacher of 18 years. She currently teaches K-5th grade gifted students and is a co-chair on the Core STEM Committee. Other awards include Clark Creek Elementary School Teacher of the Year (2022). Mrs. Harrison was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for her work in the classroom with her interdisciplinary project “Sensory Sidewalk” where students designed and built a sensory sidewalk for their peers in the self-contained autism classroom.
Award Impact
Mrs. Harrison plans to inspire her students to be leaders through her project. In this project, students will identify a real-world problem in the school or community and design a solution using the engineering design process. Students will have the opportunity to showcase their ideas through a podcast.
Mrs. Veena Black
DeKalb County Schools, Briarlake Elementary School
“First Lego League Discover”
Mrs. Black is a veteran teacher of 21 years. She currently teaches 2nd grade students and started the pilot program “Girls Who Game” for the Dekalb County School District and Briarlake Elementary School. Other awards include the Briarlake Elementary School Teacher of the Year (2022-2023), Briarlake Elementary’s Ignite U Educator (August and September 2021), Houston, Texas Mayor’s 199 Teacher’s Day Excellence Award, Houston Northeast District Teacher of the Year (1998-1999), and Charles Eliot Elementary Teacher of the Year (1998-1999). Mrs. Black was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for her work in the classroom encouraging students to use the engineering design process and to never give up during a unit on force and motion.
Award Impact
Mrs. Black plans to expand her First Lego League Robotics to PK-2nd grade students with her project. In this project, PK-2nd grade students will be given the same opportunities to work with the First Lego League Robotics challenges as the 3rd-5th grade students. The First Lego League Discover Education STEAM Park sets will allow the younger students this experience.
Mrs. Melissa Barth
Gwinnett County Schools, Harbins Elementary School
“Growing Our Learning Gardens”
Mrs. Barth is a veteran teacher of 20 years. She currently teaches Ag STEM to K-5th grade students and coordinates the Innovation Fair at her school. Other awards include Harbins Elementary School Teacher of the Year (2020-2021). Mrs. Barth was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for her work in the classroom educating her students about severe weather and how it can impact us.
Award Impact
Mrs. Barth plans to take learning outdoors with her project. In this project, students will experience real-world problem-solving in the garden. Students will learn about pollinators, why they are in decline, and how their numbers can be increased. Students will also learn about native and non-native plants.
Mrs. Natasha Berry
Henry County Schools, Timber Ridge Elementary School
“Elementary Plant Footprint”
Mrs. Berry is a veteran teacher of 18 years. She currently teaches STEM to K-5th grade students and helps other teachers at her school design STEM lessons. Other awards include Sallas Mahone Elementary School Teacher of the Year (2019) and Valdosta City Schools Teacher of the Year (2020). Mrs. Berry was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for her work in the classroom immersing her students in STEM challenges using the 4 C’s (collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and communication).
Award Impact
Mrs. Berry plans to make connections with her students through her project. In this project, students will use a hydroponic indoor garden to learn about a variety of topics including living and nonliving things, plants, soil, the water cycle, and microorganisms. Students will also learn about various STEM careers in agriculture and horticulture.
Ms. Amanda Coggins
Houston County Schools, Thomson Middle School
“STEM Mars Rover”
Award Impact
Ms. Coggins is a veteran teacher of 11 years. She currently teaches 6th grade mathematics and is the Math Department Head at her school. Other awards include the Dr. Shah Grant Recipient (2020-2021). Ms. Coggins was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for her work in the classroom teaching math concepts through a Mars rover challenge.
Award Impact
Ms. Coggins plans to enrich her students through her project. In this project, students will design and build a Mars rover prototype that can survive in the planet’s hostile environment. Students will be required to create a design that can travel successfully down a ramp and an additional meter using only gravity. During the testing phase, students will track the distance, time, and speed of each trial. The activity promotes creative thinking, problem-solving, and perseverance.
Mrs. Ruthie Dryden
Jackson County Schools, West Jackson Elementary School
“WJES Aquaponics System”
Mrs. Dryden has been teaching for three years. She currently teaches 4th grade and mentors teachers in the University of North Georgia’s preparatory program. Other awards include the GSTA Teacher of Promise (2022-2023). Mrs. Dryden was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for her work in the classroom incorporating aquaponics into a unit about the water cycle.
Award Impact
Mrs. Dryden plans to immerse her students in ecosystems through her project. In this project, students will create a stable, sustainable aquaponics ecosystem. Students will test and control every aspect of the ecosystem from introducing organisms to the amount of sun exposure to growing plants. Students will also get the opportunity to collaborate with students in lower grade levels on this project.
Dr. Stephanie Westhafer
Jackson County Schools, West Jackson Elementary School
“Weather Wonder Station Enhancement”
Dr. Westhafer is a veteran teacher of 12 years. She currently teaches 1st grade and is the Virtual Science Specialist for the Georgia Department of Education for grades K-2nd. Other awards include the Georgia Pre-K Teacher of the Year (2018-2019). Dr. Westhafer was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for her work in the classroom engaging her students in a STEM and literacy unit on magnets.
Award Impact
Dr. Westhafer plans to help her students understand the weather with her project. In this project, students will generate questions, conduct investigations, analyze and interpret data, and develop
their own ideas about the weather as a natural phenomenon. Students will use this information to create public service announcements for their school and the surrounding community.
Ms. Sheila House
Jefferson City Schools, Jefferson Middle School
“Build a Turbine to Power a House/Robot Construction and Programming”
Ms. House is a veteran teacher of 23 years. She currently teaches engineering and technology to 6th-8th grade students and is the sponsor for the Lego League Challenge Club. Other awards include the Jefferson Middle School Star Teacher (2013). Ms. House was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for her work in the classroom using Legos to further her students’ understanding of current and circuits.
Award Impact
Ms. House plans to illuminate her students’ understanding with her project. In this project, students will complete a series of activities culminating in the construction of a wind turbine that will power an LED light for a small model house. During this project, the students will learn about circuits, electromagnets, and magnetism.
Mrs. Erin Norton
Jefferson County Schools, Louisville Academy
“Electrical Innovations of Housing Designs Before and After the Turn of the Century”
Mrs. Norton is a veteran teacher of seven years. She currently teaches 5th grade and is Google Certified for Education (Levels 1 and 2). Other awards include Louisville Academy Teacher of the Year (2021-2022) and Jefferson County Teacher of the Year (2021-2022). Mrs. Norton was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for her work in the classroom creating a real-world investigation for her students about heat energy.
Award Impact
Mrs. Norton plans to help her students appreciate the innovation of electricity with her project. In this project, students will design a house as if it had been built before the turn of the century, then make improvements with circuits. Students will add modern-day features such as elevators, security alarms, light switches, pendulums, and zip lines. These projects will be presented to the school, district, and community at a STEAM Showcase.
Mrs. Nichole Berryhill
Lanier County Schools, Lanier County Elementary School
“STEM for LCES”
Mrs. Berryhill is a veteran teacher of 24 years. She currently teaches 3rd–7th grade gifted students and assists with the STEM Night at her school. Other awards include Lanier County Elementary School Teacher of the Year for Primary, Lanier County Schools Teacher of the Year, the Pedagogy Award, and Destination Ag Lanier County Bracket Winner for 3-5. Mrs. Berryhill was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for her work in the classroom helping her students design holiday parade floats that move down the hallway tethered or by remote control.
Award Impact
Mrs. Berryhill wants to share the excitement of STEM with students beyond her classroom and plans to provide a professional learning opportunity for her fellow colleagues. Teachers will be provided with resources and training so that they can execute a STEM project in their classrooms aligned to the Georgia Standards of Excellence. She wants to open other teachers’ minds to the importance of STEM learning and the challenges it provides for students.
Mrs. Claire Ashley
Oconee County Schools, Rocky Branch Elementary School
“Enrichment with Ozobot Evos”
Mrs. Ashley is a veteran teacher of 24 years. She currently teaches STEAM to K-5th grade students and is the STEAM PLC Chair at her school. Other awards include Rocky Branch Elementary School Teacher of the Year (2004-2005). Mrs. Ashley was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for her work in the classroom creating garden-centered lessons for her students.
Award Impact
Mrs. Ashley plans to help her students understand the migration of Monarch butterflies with her project. In this project, students will program Ozobot Evos to show the migratory path of Monarch butterflies from Canada to Mexico and back. Students will also use the Ozobot Evos to learn about mathematical standards and block coding.
Mrs. Cindy Rose
Oconee County Schools, Malcom Bridge Elementary School
“Help Give the MBES STEM Program a Boost”
Mrs. Rose is a veteran teacher of 29 years. She currently teaches STEM to K-5th grade students and coaches Science Olympiad. Other awards include Malcom Bridge Elementary School Teacher of the Year (2014) and the Kim Atkins Award. Mrs. Rose was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for her work in the classroom working with students to help them understand the effects of pollution on Georgia’s beach environment.
Award Impact
Mrs. Rose plans to help her students create a pollinator garden with her project. In this project, students will learn about the life cycles of plants and animals, then create a functional space for pollinators. Students will also grow milkweed from seed to add to the garden.
Ms. Tanya Dawson
Paulding County Schools, Sara Ragsdale Elementary School
“Spheros in Space”
Ms. Dawson is a veteran teacher of 16 years. She currently teaches STEM to K-5th grade students and organizes STEM Nights for her school and neighboring schools. Ms. Dawson was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for her work in the classroom inspiring her students to invent using the engineering design process.
Award Impact
Ms. Dawson plans to boost her students’ knowledge about the solar system with her project. In this project, students will code a Sphero robot to travel to each planet on a space mat. While learning to code, the students will also learn about the order and size of the planets, and where the asteroid belt is located.
Mr. Nathan Hammack
Private School, Southland Academy
“Coding with Robots”
Mr. Hammack is a veteran teacher of 14 years. He currently teaches physical science to 8th grade students, as well as physics and geology to upper grades students. Mr. Hammack was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for his work in the classroom engaging his students with force and motion by using rockets.
Award Impact
Mr. Hammack plans to aid his students in learning how to code with his project. In this project, students will learn how to code robots. These robots will be built by the students, enhancing their knowledge of engineering and circuits.
Mr. Benjamin Huntzinger
Thomas County Schools, Thomas County Middle School
“Wheelchairs for K-9’s”
Mr. Huntzinger has been teaching for one year. He currently teaches Earth science to 6th grade students and has helped judge STEM Elementary Awards at Southern Regional Technical College. Mr. Huntzinger was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for his work in the classroom guiding his students to create custom orthotics for the disabled community.
Award Impact
Mr. Huntzinger plans to introduce his students to engineering with his project. In this project, students will design a wheelchair for an animal that cannot walk. This project will allow students to solve a real-world problem from the ground stage to prototyping.
Mr. Forrest Love
Thomas County Schools, Cross Creek Elementary School
“Cross Creek Robotics”
Mr. Love is a veteran teacher of 14 years. He currently teaches computer science to 3rd-4th grade students and is a Lego League Coach and Trainer. Other awards include STEM Teacher of the Year (2021). Mr. Love was chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar for his work in the classroom combining Legos and coding to make connections in learning with his students.
Award Impact
Mr. Love plans to improve his students’ access to materials through his project. In this project, students will be able to interact in smaller groups with LEGO Education kits. These materials are durable and reusable and will be used for many years to come.