In 2020, the National Science Foundation awarded bwin体育大学 with a $1 million Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship grant. This grant supported the creation of an enhanced program to prepare STEM teachers to be highly qualified to teach biology, 化学, 数学, and physics in high-need science and 数学 classrooms.
With the Noyce Grant in hand, Geneva planned to recruit and retain 22 Geneva students over the span of five years who were majoring in biology, 化学, 工程, 数学, 或物理. These students would also add secondary education to their plans of study, allowing them to qualify for the Noyce Grant. 在接受, each student is required to commit to teaching in a high-needs school district for four years after graduation to have the loan by the Noyce Grant forgiven.
“Science and 数学 teachers have historically been in high demand. The National Science Foundation's Noyce Grant encourages Geneva students to major in these academic areas and provides enrichment and support to them as they fulfill their callings of faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor.” -Dr. Adel Akins, Former Chair of Education Department, Noyce Grant Principal Investigator
Now, three years into this program, how have students benefited? The Noyce Grant has provided $445,963 in scholarships to 14 Geneva students.
这14个学生, including 11 graduates who are actively employed in their field as teachers, 包括:
These students each have contributed to their fields at large, 和bwin体育bwin体育, through their research and work on campus. Our Noyce Scholars have worked on literature reviews, 辅导学生, serving as teaching assistants and lab assistants, worked with faculty on various teaching and research projects, helped put on bwin体育大学 events related to their study, 还有更多.
Two events these students help direct and execute are STEAM Night and STEM day. 今年的STEAM之夜, under the direction of Kathy 奥斯丁, over 200 elementary children attended and went to 15 different STEAM exploration stations. 73 Geneva students and Noyce Scholars were involved in the planning, 示范, and teaching for the event. 干一天, another annual Geneva event, also under the direction of Kathy 奥斯丁, included active participation and STEM experimentation for 80 middle school-level students from Urban Impact Summer Camp. This event was planned and led by 6 sophomore Geneva STEM majors.
The most recent Noyce Scholars have also conducted research with a faculty member in the following areas:
Through exemplary service and academics, these students are making a difference on campus, 在他们的社区里, and now in schools throughout the country.
Amy (McAfoose) Kurtz ’22, a graduate of this program, says, “My favorite part of being in the program was learning applicable strategies for my career as a 数学 teacher. In many of my education classes, the strategies taught were focused more on ELA, 但是在这个项目中, we had STEM professors dedicated to teaching us how to effectively teach 数学 and science to all students."
This cooperation between our education department and STEM faculty on campus helps to create a collaborative, thriving learning environment that enriches each student’s college experience and prepares them for their careers.
We are thankful for our staff and faculty who serve on the Noyce Grant management team to make this experience a reality for our students. The management team includes: