Congratulations!
2026 Don Cargill STEM Scholars
Thank you for joining GYSTC as we honor 25 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
2026 Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award Recipients
Mr. Terran Taylor
Atlanta Public Schools, Perkerson Elementary School
“Amp Up Atlanta: Clean Energy, Strong Communities”
Terran Taylor has been teaching for 15 years and currently serves as a K-5 STEM educator at Perkerson Elementary in Atlanta Public Schools. With certifications in multiple special education areas, a Reading Endorsement, and Instructional Technology, Mr. Taylor brings a wealth of expertise to his classroom. Mr. Taylor plans to implement his project, “Amp Up Atlanta: Clean Energy, Strong Communities,” which will immerse students in designing and building smart, sustainable tiny houses powered by renewable energy sources. By using Micro:bit technology purchased with award funds, students will create circuits, test efficiency, and code systems to control lighting and fans, applying Georgia Standards of Excellence in electricity and magnetism. They will also use Tinkercad to model structures, reinforcing math skills through volume and surface area calculations. The project will culminate in a Family Engagement Night showcasing student projects, with hopes to inspire families and strengthen school-community partnerships.
Ms. Robin Morrow
Bartow County Schools, Bartow County College & Career Academy
“Taking STEM to New Heights”
Robin Morrow has dedicated 25 years to education and currently serves as a K-5 STEM leader at Bartow County Schools, housed at the Bartow County College and Career Academy. She holds multiple certifications and endorsements, including Gifted, Science, Math, and Educational Leadership , and has earned numerous accolades such as Teacher of the Year, Bartow Classroom Hero Award, and coached two top LEGO Robotics teams that advanced to the World Festival in 2023. This award will support Ms. Morrow’s project, “Taking STEM to New Heights,” which aims to expand aviation-focused learning opportunities for students from PreK through 12th grade. This initiative will enhance the Bartow County STEM Innovation Center with resources such as Microsoft Flight Simulator software, Snap Circuit Flight Deck kits, LEGO Duplo Airport sets, and aviation-themed books for elementary and middle school learners. These tools will allow students to explore aviation concepts through hands-on activities, virtual simulations, and engineering challenges, integrating math and science standards with literacy. Students will engage in activities ranging from building paper airplanes and exploring flight mechanics to piloting drones and using flight simulators. Beyond academic benefits, the project emphasizes career exploration in aviation-related fields, many of which are on Georgia’s High-Demand Career List.
Ms. Quanya Pendleton-Sears
Bibb County Schools, Heritage Elementary School
“Cloud Watchers & Weather Makers: 4th Grade Scientists in Action”
Quanya Pendleton-Sears has been teaching for four years and currently serves as a fourth-grade science teacher at Heritage Elementary in Bibb County Schools. This award will fund Ms. Pendleton-Sears’s project, “Cloud Watchers & Weather Makers: 4th Grade Scientists in Action,” which transforms Georgia’s fourth-grade weather and climate standards into an immersive, hands-on experience. The award funds will equip her classroom with authentic weather instruments (including thermometers, rain gauges, barometers, wind vanes, handheld anemometers, and individual weather journals for each student). These tools will allow students to collect and analyze real-world data such as cloud identification, data charting, and explanatory writing tasks. They will construct weather forecasts and complete a culminating project that demonstrates their ability to interpret patterns and predict weather outcomes.
Ms. Audra Esquivel
Bryan County Schools, Richmond Hill Middle School
“Density Investigation: How Deep Will It Sink?”
Audra Esquivel has been teaching for seven years and currently serves as a middle school science teacher at Richmond Hill Middle School in Bryan County. She holds certifications in 4–8 Math and Science, along with STEM and Gifted endorsements, and is currently pursuing an ESOL endorsement. Audra has been recognized as a WTOC Top Teacher and is a three-time Bright Ideas Grant recipient. This award will support Ms. Esquivel’s project, “Density Investigation: How Deep Will It Sink?” a hands-on, inquiry-based activity designed to strengthen students’ understanding of density and salinity. Students explore how density and salinity influence whether objects float or sink using density cubes and salinity probes purchased with award funds. Students will calculate density, predict outcomes, and test their hypotheses using water samples of varying salinity levels, reinforcing key science concepts while integrating math through ratio reasoning, unit conversions, and graphing relationships between salinity and water density. Students will compose lab reports, engage in peer discussions, and support claims with evidence, strengthening communication and data literacy skills. By visualizing trends and connecting their findings to ocean science and Earth systems, students will gain a deeper appreciation for the relevance of STEM in everyday life.
Ms. McKenzie Snyder
Butts County Schools, Stark Elementary School
“Increase/Decrease Warming Effects of Sunlight”
McKenzie Snyder has been teaching for seven years and currently serves as a third-grade teacher at Stark Elementary in Butts County Schools. She holds a STEM Endorsement, a Reading Endorsement, and was honored with the BCSS Blue Ribbon Award of Instructional Excellence in 2022 for her commitment to innovative teaching practices. Ms. Snyder’s project, “Increase/Decrease Warming Effects of Sunlight,” helps model heat transfer and the effects of sunlight to her third-grade students. Students will explore how sunlight impacts temperature by conducting experiments, recording data, and then applying the engineering design process (ask, imagine, plan, create, test, and improve) to create devices that either amplify or reduce warming effects. Students will use tools (such as infrared thermometers, heat lamps, and everyday materials like aluminum foil and cardboard) purchased with award funds to test and refine their designs.
Ms. Linda Rule
Carrollton City Schools, Carrollton Middle School
“Breaking Open Wonder”
Linda Rule has been teaching for seven years and currently serves as a sixth-grade science teacher at Carrollton Middle School in Carrollton City Schools. She holds endorsements in Computer Science and Reading and has earned multiple recognitions, including Teacher of the Month (August 2023) and the Sheri Davis All In Award. Through innovative lessons—such as scale modeling of the solar system—and leadership in STEM initiatives like Science Olympiad, MATE ROV, and First Lego League, she has cultivated a strong STEM culture in her school. In Ms. Rule’s award funded project, “Breaking Open Wonder”, students will break open geodes to observe mineral crystals, investigate properties such as color, luster, and hardness, and classify rocks based on formation processes. This project aligns with the Georgia Earth Science standards and reinforces understanding of the rock cycle, mineral formation, and geological environments. Students will use safety goggles and hammers to crack open geodes, turning each rock into a mini-laboratory for observation and analysis. By comparing minerals inside different geodes, students will make inferences about environmental conditions that influence mineral growth.
Mr. Keith Furstenburg
Cherokee County Schools, Free Home Elementary School
“Engineering Challenge: Build, Test, Innovate”
Keith Furstenberg brings 27 years of teaching experience and currently serves as a science and physical education teacher at Free Home Elementary School in Cherokee County. He holds advanced degrees in Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Leadership, along with an ESOL endorsement. Keith has earned numerous accolades, including the Georgia Sanford Teacher of the Year Award, and recognition for promoting health and STEM education. This award will support Mr. Furstenburg’s project, “Engineering Challenge: Build, Test, Innovate,” which engages K–5 students in designing and building bridges, vehicles, and structures. Students will follow the engineering design process while applying concepts of force, motion, and balance. Students will also learn to analyze design constraints, collect and interpret data, and iterate solutions based on testing. Activities include a bridge testing lab to simulate wind, weight, and earthquake conditions, STEM storytelling to integrate literacy, and community connections through guest speakers and virtual field trips. These experiences will deepen understanding of engineering principles while fostering resilience and a growth mindset instilling the confidence to innovate and lead in a technology-driven world.
Ms. Tammy Owen
Cherokee County Schools, Oak Grove STEAM Academy
“Passport to the Parks”
Tammy Owen has dedicated 24 years to education and currently teaches gifted K-5 students at Oak Grove STEAM Academy in Cherokee County. She holds certifications in ESOL, Gifted, STEAM, and Reading and has earned recognition as a Discovery Education Network Star Teacher, Microsoft Innovative Educator, and Teacher of the Month. This award will support Ms. Owen’s project, “Passport to the Parks,” an inquiry-based unit that transforms fourth-grade gifted students into environmental scientists exploring the interconnected systems of the U.S. National Parks. Students will form expedition teams, conduct research using park service databases, and engage in hands-on experiments that lead to student-designed investigations. Activities include creating multimedia presentations, stop-motion animations, and interactive maps to showcase ecosystem connections. Technology will be seamlessly integrated through digital research journals and virtual sessions with park rangers, extending learning beyond the classroom. Students will use tools purchased with award funds (such as flashlights, modeling clay, digital scales, cameras, and measuring tapes) to conduct experiments and document findings. By presenting their work to younger students, parents, and community partners, they will strengthen communication skills and build environmental stewardship while building a deep understanding of ecosystems and a lifelong appreciation for nature, equipped with the confidence and critical thinking abilities to tackle complex challenges.
Ms. Audrey Hughes
Clarke County Schools, Clarke Middle School
“Organ Systems Study for All”
Audrey Hughes has been teaching for 34 years and currently serves as a middle school math and science teacher at Clarke Middle School in Clarke County. She holds certifications in Middle Grades Math, Science, Social Studies, and Gifted Education. Ms. Hughes is a highly accomplished educator with numerous awards, including the Cardee Kilpatrick Chair for Middle School Teachers Award, National Energy Education Development Project Excellence in Education Award, and recognition as a National Geographic Educator of the Week. This award will help fund Ms. Hughes’ project, “Organ Systems Study for All,” which provides seventh-grade students with hands-on experiences to understand the structure and function of human and animal organ systems. Award funding will be used to purchase human torso models with organs that can be removed and replaced via magnets, along with frog organ models, and accompanying digital resources. With the award funded materials, students will engage in laboratory studies, dissections, and digital simulations, reinforcing scientific inquiry and critical thinking. By integrating technology and hands-on models, the project will leave students with a strong foundation in biology.
Ms. Sarah Middleton
Cobb County Schools, Eastvalley Elementary School
“Hoot, Hunt, Discover: Owl Pellets in STEM”
Sarah Middleton has been teaching for 11 years and currently serves as a K–5 STEM teacher at Eastvalley Elementary School in Cobb County. She holds ESOL, Gifted, and STEM endorsements, as well as Tier 1 Educational Leadership certification. Ms. Middleton is a Certified Microsoft Innovative Educator and a two-time participant in the Cobb County STEM Teacher Leadership Academy. This award will support Ms. Middleton’s project, “Hoot, Hunt, Discover: Owl Pellets in STEM,” which provides fourth-grade students with a hands-on experience to explore predator-prey relationships, animal adaptations, and ecosystems. Over multiple sessions, students will dissect real owl pellets using award funded consumables like tweezers, toothpicks, and magnifying glasses to identify bones and other remains to infer the owl’s diet and its role in the food web. To extend learning, students will use Scratch Jr. to code the owl’s role in the ecosystem, integrating technology with science.
Mr. Don Hamil
Dawson County Schools, Dawson County Middle School
“Code You Can Touch: Bringing Digital Design to Life with 3D Printing”
Don Hamil has been teaching for 17 years and currently serves as a middle school computer science educator at Dawson County Middle School. He holds certifications in Engineering and Technology, English (6–12), and Gifted Education, and was recognized as Teacher of the Year in 2010–2011. Mr. Hamil is passionate about integrating technology and hands-on learning to prepare students for future careers in STEM. His innovative approach includes projects like model rocketry, which combines simulation software, CAD design, and digital fabrication, and leadership of the school’s Technology Club, where students explore coding, robotics, and 3D printing. This award will assist in funding Mr. Hamil’s project, “Code You Can Touch: Bringing Digital Design to Life with 3D Printing,” which bridges computer science and engineering design by allowing students to transform coded 3D models into tangible objects. Students will create meaningful products such as keychains, game pieces, and custom prototypes, documenting their process and presenting their work during a “Design Showcase.” This process reinforces computational thinking, spatial reasoning, and mathematical concepts while fostering creativity and persistence. These funds will enable students to engage in the full design cycle—coding, testing, fabricating, and refining—without delays caused by limited equipment. The addition of two new 3D printers will allow students to work in small collaborative groups, compare results, and make real-time design adjustments.
Dr. Amy Tankersley
Dawson County Schools, Kilough Elementary School
“Sustainable School Garden & Hydroponics Lab”
Dr. Amy Tankersley has been teaching for 13 years and currently serves as a K-5 STEM educator at Kilough Elementary School in Dawson County. She holds certifications in Middle Grades Math, Social Studies, Reading, and Language Arts, as well as Gifted Education and Elementary Education. She was recognized as Kilough Elementary’s Teacher of the Year in 2022. This award will expand Dr. Tankersly’s project, “Sustainable School Garden & Hydroponics Lab,” which provides students with opportunities to explore plant science, environmental sustainability, and agricultural technology. Students will design and maintain traditional garden beds and a hydroponic growing system inside the school greenhouse while using digital sensors to monitor water pH, nutrient levels, and temperature, collecting and analyzing data to compare soil-based and hydroponic growth methods. Materials funded by the award include hydroponics kits, LED grow lights, sensors, seeds, and irrigation supplies, creating a lasting resource for future classes with both the greenhouse and hydroponics lab serving as a hub for ongoing STEM exploration. Beyond academic skills, the project promotes environmental stewardship and resource management, helping students understand sustainable food production and its impact on communities.
Ms. Aisha Chadwick
Dekalb County Schools, Chapel Hill Elementary School
“Chicken Coop and Sustainability Initiative”
Aisha Chadwick has been teaching for 18 years and currently serves as a K-5 STEM educator at Chapel Hill Elementary in DeKalb County. She holds certifications in Middle Grades Math, Elementary Education, Gifted Education, and STEM Education. Ms. Chadwick has earned numerous accolades, including Teacher of the Year for Chapel Hill Elementary (2024–2025) and recognition as an Amazon Future Engineer Teacher of the Year and Teacher Ambassador. This award will fund Ms. Chadwick’s project, “Chicken Coop and Sustainability Initiative,” in which students will research, design, and construct a functional chicken coop on campus. Students will manage daily care routines, including feeding, watering, and egg collection, integrating these tasks into lessons on life science, ecology, and renewable resources. This hands-on, interdisciplinary program plans to teach students about environmental stewardship, sustainable food systems, and STEM principles. Materials funded by the award include lumber, chicken wire, feeders, bedding, and feed, ensuring the coop is safe, functional, and durable. Once operational, students will analyze data on egg production, feed consumption, and plant growth, connecting the chicken coop to the school’s composting and gardening programs. This closed-loop system illustrates sustainability in action, showing how waste can become a resource for growing food. By engaging in the full cycle of sustainability—from animal care to composting and gardening—students will develop a deeper understanding of ecological systems and human impact, inspiring them to become thoughtful, responsible problem-solvers. Beyond academic benefits, the initiative promotes leadership and environmental awareness. Student teams such as the Eco Club will oversee ongoing care, supported by partnerships with local farms and organizations like the Food Well Alliance.
Ms. Lacy Williams
Elbert County Schools, Elbert County Primary School
“Building Big Dreams: Engineering for Every Learner”
Lacy Williams has been teaching for 25 years and currently serves as a K–2 STEM teacher at Elbert County Primary School. She holds a Gifted Education certification and has earned numerous accolades, including Elbert County Primary School Teacher of the Year, District Teacher of the Year, and P5 Mentor Teacher of the Year for Northeast Georgia. Ms. William’s project, “Building Big Dreams: Engineering for Every Learner,” - which provides larger-scale building materials to make engineering activities accessible for all students. This project offers opportunities to design and build bridges, towers, and simple machines with larger blocks that will help students focus on problem-solving and creativity rather than struggling with fine motor challenges. Activities will include open-ended design challenges, such as building the tallest stable tower or creating a bridge that supports a specific weight, promoting collaboration, communication, and persistence. Materials funded by the award also include storage solutions to keep resources organized and accessible, especially for those in special education resource classes. Materials purchased with this award will allow students to explore engineering concepts like balance, stability, and symmetry in a sensory-friendly, physically manageable way. By making STEM learning inclusive and engaging, this award will empower students to develop confidence, teamwork, and a sense of accomplishment through tangible success.
Ms. Keri Claxton
Emanuel County Schools, Swainsboro Primary School
“Hatching Eggs: Learning About the Life Cycle of a Chicken”
Keri Claxton has been teaching for 18 years and currently serves as a K-2 STEAM educator at Swainsboro Primary School in Emanuel County. She holds degrees in Early Childhood Education and advanced certifications in reading and math, and was recognized as Swainsboro Primary School’s Teacher of the Year in 2021. This award will fund Ms. Claxtons’s project, “Hatching Eggs: Learning About the Life Cycle of a Chicken,” which provides students with an opportunity to observe and understand the life cycle of living organisms. Using incubators and brooders, students will monitor the development of chicks over a 21-day period, observing changes from embryo to hatchling and caring for the chicks as they grow. Materials funded by the award include three egg incubators, two brooders, and bedding, ensuring a safe and effective learning environment. These materials allow students to collect data, make predictions, and apply problem-solving strategies, potentially extending the project schoolwide, offering teachers the opportunity to check out incubators and brooders for use in their classrooms. Students will practice observation, measurement, and data analysis while developing responsibility and empathy through animal care.
Ms. Celia Ayenesazan
Gwinnett County Schools, Hull Middle School
“Illuminated Quilts Light the Way”
Celia Ayenesazan has been teaching for six years and currently serves as a special education math and science educator at Hull Middle School in Gwinnett County. She holds certifications in Special Education (General Curriculum), Science, and Math, along with endorsements in STEM, ESOL, Online Teaching, and Reading. Celia has earned recognition as an EcoRise Teacher Ambassador and participated in prestigious programs such as the Smithsonian Teacher Innovator Institute and the Museum of Mathematics Rosenthal Institute. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes inclusive, hands-on learning experiences that integrate art, technology, and mathematics to make complex concepts accessible for all learners (for example, the Georgia Model Water Tower Competition and STEAM club projects). This award will fund Celia’s project, “Illuminated Quilts Light the Way,” a STEAM initiative that combines art, math, and technology allowing students to explore the cultural and historical significance of quilting while applying mathematical concepts such as ratios, proportions, and geometry to design quilt blocks using soft circuitry. Students will incorporate soft circuitry by using materials purchased with award funds, like Chibitronics LED kits, conductive fabric tape, and resistor stickers, creating quilts that light up and tell stories. The project will impact all students, including those with disabilities, by providing multiple entry points for success through tactile, visual, and collaborative activities. Students will showcase their illuminated quilts during STEM Nights and project-based learning events hoping to empower other students to see themselves as innovators capable of blending tradition with innovation.
Ms. Kristen Bowen
Jackson County Schools, North Jackson Elementary School
“The ‘Less Stress’ STEM Bin Solution”
Kristen Bowen has been teaching for four years and currently serves as a fourth-grade educator at North Jackson Elementary School in Jackson County. She holds ESOL and Reading endorsements and is completing her Master’s degree in Instructional Technology, Media, and Design with certification in School Library Media. Ms. Bowen has been an active member of the County Design Team for all four years of her career and currently serves on the County Curriculum and Assessment Action Team. Her passion for STEM education is evident through initiatives like the STEAM Summer Camp, which she has led for two years, and her role as a Science Olympiad coach. This award will fund Ms. Bowen’s project, “The ‘Less Stress’ STEM Bin Solution,” which provides organized, reusable STEM tubs for grades K–5. Each tub will contain common STEM materials along with grade-specific supplies aligned to Georgia science standards. Offering teachers a ready-to-use system that saves preparation time and ensures consistent, hands-on STEM instruction across all grade levels. Materials will be stored in clear Ziploc baggies within labeled tubs, making them easy to check out and return. Each tub will include laminated cards with directions, vocabulary, and short challenges that integrate science and literacy, promoting inquiry and cross-curricular connections. By providing accessible, organized resources, this award will transform science instruction into an engaging, stress-free experience for teachers and students alike.
Ms. Alyssa Benner
Oconee County Schools, Dove Creek Elementary School
“Flow to Grow: Hands-On Learning with Erosion”
Alyssa Benner has been teaching for 13 years and currently serves as a fifth-grade educator at Dove Creek Elementary School in Oconee County. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, along with Gifted and ESOL endorsements. Alyssa was also honored with the Freida M. Thomas Teacher of Promise Award in Clarke County. This award will support Ms. Benner’s project, “Flow to Grow: Hands-On Learning with Erosion,” which uses erosion stream tables. This project will allow students to design and conduct experiments to observe how weathering, erosion, and deposition shape landforms over time. By adjusting variables such as slope, water flow, and materials, students will see firsthand how rivers meander, oxbows form, and sediment is deposited. While fifth-grade students are the target audience for this project, the materials purchased with the award funds will impact students across multiple grade levels. Younger students will explore simplified demonstrations to build foundational understanding of water movement and landform changes. Lessons will emphasize inquiry and collaboration, with students recording data, making predictions, and communicating findings through science journals and group discussions.
Ms. Linda W. Kurtz
Paulding County Schools, Irma C. Austin Middle School
“Engineering with Power Tools: Building Real-World Skills”
Linda Kurtz has been teaching for 17 years and currently serves as an Engineering and Technology educator at Irma C. Austin Middle School in Paulding County. She holds certifications in Early Childhood Education, Gifted Education, and Engineering and Technology, and has earned recognition as a NOAA Teacher at Sea, Merge Edu Ambassador, and Tynker Blue Ribbon Educator. Through initiatives like architectural engineering projects and STEM nights focused on college and career pathways, Ms. Kurtz has inspired students to see themselves as future engineers and problem-solvers. This award will support Ms. Kurtz’s project, “Engineering with Power Tools: Building Real-World Skills,” which introduces middle school students to authentic engineering experiences using industry-standard tools. By incorporating cordless drills and tool sets, into design challenges, students will move beyond small-scale models to create functional, real-world projects. This project will provide opportunities to design, build, and troubleshoot projects that require precision and collaboration. Students will learn to operate tools safely, follow technical instructions, and apply engineering concepts to solve challenges such as structural integrity and material selection. These experiences mirror professional engineering environments, preparing students for future STEM careers and fostering transferable skills like communication, time management, and perseverance.
Dr. Serene Dumas Lee
Savannah Chatham County Public School District, Hubert Middle School
“Milkshake Shop Capstone”
Dr. Serene Dumas Lee has been teaching for four years and currently serves as a middle school educator at Hubert Middle School in Savannah Chatham County Public School District. She holds certification in Business Education and is completing her STEM endorsement through Middle Georgia RESA. Dr. Lee has earned recognition with the Golden Phoenix Award for her dedication and resilience as an educator. This award will help support Dr. Lee’s project, “Milkshake Shop Capstone,” an innovative, interdisciplinary experience that integrates science, math, and business management. Students will work in collaborative teams to design and operate a milkshake business via computer simulation. They will research flavors, calculate ingredient costs, set menu prices, and determine profit margins while exploring the science of mixtures and solutions. By blending STEM with entrepreneurship, this award will empower students to think critically, collaborate effectively, and envision themselves as innovators capable of creating value in their communities.
Mr. Samuel Sacks
Savannah Chatham County Public School District, New Hampstead K-8
“Garden and Classroom Composting Initiative”
Samuel Sacks has been teaching for seven years and currently serves as a K-5 STEAM educator at New Hampstead K-8 in Savannah Chatham County Public School District. He holds certifications in Elementary Education, Gifted Education, and STEM Education and was recently honored as his school’s Teacher of the Year (2024–2025). This award will fund Mr. Sacks’ project, “Garden and Classroom Composting Initiative,” which introduces students to sustainability and nutrient cycling through two complementary composting systems: outdoor compost rollers and indoor vermicomposting bins. First and second graders will engage with outdoor compost tumblers by adding organic waste, turning compost, and observing decomposition over time. In the classroom, students will maintain a vermicomposting system, tracking worm behavior and analyzing nutrient-rich castings. Materials funded by the award include large compost tumblers, a vermicomposting bin, red wiggler worms, and compost starter, creating a sustainable resource for ongoing STEM instruction. By combining outdoor and indoor composting, this award will help students understand ecosystems, decomposition, and the importance of reducing waste.
Ms. Shelee McCorkle
Schley County Schools, Schley County Elementary School
“Fish Feed the Farm: Exploring Aquaponics and Sustainable Agriculture in STEAM Lab”
Shelee McCorkle has been teaching for 18 years and currently serves as a K-5 STEAM educator at Schley County Elementary. She holds certifications in Elementary Education, STEM, Gifted, Reading, and Special Education and has earned numerous accolades, including Walmart Teacher of the Year and multiple state-level awards for creativity and innovation in education. This award will help fund Ms. McCorkle’s project, “Fish Feed the Farm,” which introduces fifth-grade students to aquaponics—a sustainable system where fish, plants, and beneficial bacteria work together to create a balanced ecosystem. Students will assemble and maintain aquaponic setups, selecting plants to grow and caring for betta fish. They will monitor water quality, track plant growth, and analyze environmental changes using tools such as digital pH meters, thermometers, and Google Sheets for data collection. The project will impact and extend learning school-wide during Agriculture Week, where students will showcase their systems as part of a “Sustainable Farming in Action” station. Materials funded by the award include five aquaponic systems, ensuring a permanent feature in the STEAM Lab that benefits all students from first through fifth grade. By transforming abstract concepts into tangible experiences, this award will foster curiosity, critical thinking, and environmental stewardship, empowering students to see how innovation and sustainability intersect in real-world contexts.
Ms. Samantha Sturrup
Thomas County Schools, Thomas County Middle School
“Digging into Data: Analyzing Soil Health with STEM Tools”
Samantha Sturrup has been teaching for 12 years and currently serves as a middle school science educator at Thomas County Middle School. She holds certification in Middle Grades Science and has led initiatives such as LEGO Robotics Club, where her teams have advanced to state competitions. This award will fund Ms. Sturrup’s project, “Digging into Data,” which engages sixth-grade students in investigating soil health through the use of digital tools and data analysis. Students will work in research teams to collect soil samples from various locations around the school campus using soil pH probes, stainless steel soil core samplers, and soil testing kits purchased with award funds. They will measure pH, moisture, and temperature levels, analyze soil texture and nutrient content, and record their findings in Google Sheets to create graphs and charts that reveal patterns in soil health. Students will learn to calibrate instruments, design tests, and interpret quantitative data, reinforcing STEM skills while meeting Georgia Standards of Excellence for scientific investigation and resource management.
Ms. Briana Howell
Thomasville City Schools, MacIntyre Park Middle School
“Designing Rube Goldberg Energy Machines through Digital Creativity”
Briana Howell has been teaching for four years and currently serves as a science teacher at MacIntyre Park Middle School in Thomasville City Schools. This award will fund Briana’s project, “Designing Rube Goldberg Energy Machines through Digital Creativity,”. Students will investigate energy transformations and the law of conservation of energy by designing digital prototypes of Rube Goldberg machines—complex chain-reaction systems that perform simple tasks through elaborate sequences of motion and energy transfer. Using materials funded by the award, which include 10 Wacom Intuos drawing tablets, students will sketch and annotate their designs, labeling energy conversions and illustrating how motion flows through the system. This technology allows students to iterate and refine their designs in real time, mirroring professional engineering practices and providing authentic exposure to STEM careers. The project culminates in student presentations where they explain the scientific principles behind their designs, reinforcing conceptual understanding and communication skills.
Dr. Kendel Purvis
Turner County Schools, Turner County Middle School
“From Page to Prototype: Engineering Through Literature”
Kendel Purvis has been teaching for 10 years and currently serves as a STREAM educator at Turner County Middle School. She holds certifications in Agricultural Education (6–12), Art (P–12), Gifted Education, and Educational Leadership. This award will help fund Kendel’s project, “From Page to Prototype: Engineering Through Literature,”. Students will read age-appropriate fiction and nonfiction texts connected to science and technology and then apply their learning by designing and building prototypes inspired by the stories. The unit will culminate in a “Story to STEAM Showcase,” where families and community members can view student projects and hear students explain the science and creativity behind their designs. By integrating literacy with STEM, this award will help students see reading as a gateway to innovation, strengthen critical thinking, and inspire curiosity about real-world problem-solving.