Tag - Amgen Award

Amgen Award – $5,000 for You and $5,000 for Your School

When it comes to supporting science educators, the Amgen Corporation is at the top of the list. The Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence honors innovative teachers who are making a difference in science education. It has been my honor over the past five years to participate in the Colorado awards presentation and I also served on the panel of judges several years back. The award is just as it reads… $5,000 for you and $5,000 for your school. Applicants must work in communities in which Amgen has key operating sites including California, Colorado, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Washington and Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec).

Learn More About the Amgen Award

Amgen, a biotechnology pioneer, discovers, develops, manufactures and markets important human therapeutics for serious illnesses. Amgen is committed to dramatically improving people’s lives – not only through the therapeutics we deliver to patients but also through supporting programs that advance science literacy throughout North America.

Amgen Award 2005 – Amazing Science Teachers Share Their Secrets

We all have attended our share of awards banquets and recognition dinners, but tonight’s celebration was like none I have ever attended. Tonight I received the honor of getting to speak to the 2005 Colorado recipients of the Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence and the many honored guests who turned out to celebrate the achievements of two amazing teachers. Bob Dorsett of Meeker High School in Meeker, Colorado, and Mary Ann Varanka Martin of Estes Park High School in Estes Park, Colorado, each took home a cash award of $5,000 for their personal use and $5,000 awarded to their school.

Bob Dorsett has a list of accomplishments a mile long, but I was most impressed with his ability to motivate and inspire students to think like scientists. One of the many letters that accompanied his nomination was written by a student who explained that Dr. Dorsett only has two rules in his class. “Rule #1 is to think like a scientist and Rule #2 is to treat all living beings with respect.” Oh, by the way, the “doctor” title is an M.D. That’s right, he left the medical profession to teach science. Amazing!

Mary Ann Varanka Martin exhibits strong leadership
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How would you like $10,000?

Amgen, the world’s largest biotechnology company, has opened nominations for the 2005 Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence. Amgen realizes the critical role teachers play in motivating students to explore science and pursue science-related careers, as well as in helping create science-literate communities. Amgen will be rewarding two outstanding Colorado science teachers, grades K-12, who have taught three or more years of science-focused curriculum.

The Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence will result in the following benefits to the winning teachers and their schools:

• An unrestricted cash award of $5000 to the winning teacher
• A restricted $5000 cash grant to the recipient’s school for the expansion and/or enhancement of a school science program, science resources or teacher professional development
• Recognition at an awards banquet and within Amgen corporate materials
• Access to a forum for sharing best practices with other Amgen award-winners from around the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

For nomination criteria please visit www.amgen.com/teacherawards. Qualifying nominations must be postmarked by January 31, 2005.