2026 Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award
The Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award honors Georgia educators who inspire curiosity and innovation in STEM classrooms. Established in 2019 during GYSTC’s 30th Anniversary, this award celebrates teachers who create engaging learning environments that prepare students for future opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Renamed in 2022 to honor GYSTC co-founder Don Cargill, the award reflects his vision of fostering creativity and independent thinking to shape new industries and possibilities. Recipients receive $500 to enhance their STEM classrooms, continuing Cargill’s legacy of empowering the next generation of STEM students.
Important Dates to Remember:
The 2026 Don Cargill STEM Scholar Application period opens on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
The 2026 Don Cargill STEM Scholar Application deadline has been extended to Monday, October 27, 2025.
2026 Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award Recipients will be notified on Friday, November 21, 2025.
The 2026 Awardees will be recognized at an time and location to be determined.
Application Requirements:
A STEM Scholar should be:
- A teacher who demonstrates a passion and determination to provide students, parents, or educators with innovative and challenging STEM experiences, for example:
- Improvements on student success, classroom, school, district, or state STEM data.
- Engagement in receiving or delivering STEM professional development opportunities.
- Engagement in family or parent activities that promote STEM education.
- Engagement with local, state, or national STEM organizations.
- A certified classroom teacher in kindergarten through 8th grade.
- A dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled teacher who is planning to continue in active teaching status for at least two years.
- A teacher who inspires students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn.
- A teacher who has the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues.
- A teacher who can provide a minimum of two letters of recommendation for this award.
Application Requirements (Download our application checklist here):
- Be a certified K-8 educator in Georgia.
- Have never been selected as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar.
- Teach in a STEM Content Area. (For example, science, math, computer science, Agriculture, STEM, robotics, etc.)
- Have completed the Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award Application - Microsoft Form.
- Submit the Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award Lesson/Project Descriptions.
- Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award Application Project Description Form (from the linked fillable PDF)
- Submit a minimum of two letters of recommendation that support your application.
- The recommendations may come from administration, colleagues, coordinators, or others who know of your efforts and effectiveness as an emerging STEM scholar. The recommendations should describe your effectiveness as a STEM teacher and your ability to excite and energize your students with respect to future STEM opportunities.
- Submit a high-resolution professional headshot:
- Please attach a high-resolution professional headshot (preferably the photo taken by your school for the yearbook) of yourself to be used for publicity purposes should you be chosen as a Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award winner.
- Submit the Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award Project Spending Summary
- Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award Application Project Spending Summary (from the linked fillable PDF)
** Please email ALL the following items to gystc@kennesaw.edu to effectively submit your Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award Application. **
The 2026 Don Cargill STEM Scholar application period has ended for this year's award cycle. Please join us next year in September 2026 for the 2027 award cycle.