STEM Innovation Award Recipients Announced

Pete CodellaNews

The STEM Action Center will hold its third annual STEM Innovation Awards in partnership with Utah Technology Council as part of the Utah Innovation Awards dinner on Thursday, April 20, 2017. Five individuals will be recognized for their contributions to STEM education statewide.

The STEM Innovation Awards recognize Utah students, teachers, counselors, administrators and mentors who are excelling in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Nominations were open to the general public from February to March of this year. The STEM Action Center team and the STEM Action Center Board, through a rigorous process, selected this year’s awardees:

  • Kathy Liu, student at West High School
  • Dawn McNiel, 5th grade teacher at Mountainville Academy
  • John Donley, CTE Coordinator and principal/administrator for Weber School District
  • Jill Wood, Day Camp Director with the YMCA of Northern Utah
  • Mark Jones, Counselor at West Jordan Middle School

Dr. Tamara Goetz, executive director of the Utah STEM Action Center, along with Richard Nelson, president and CEO of Utah Technology Council will present the award.

“It is an honor to be able to be able to recognize and celebrate the amazing efforts that these individuals have contributed to students, teachers, parents and our community,” Dr. Goetz said.  “They have made a difference in so many lives, and we know that our student awardee will carry on this good work as an ambassador of STEM education.”

The teacher, counselor, principal and mentor will be recognized and will receive a trophy and a $2,000 grant for STEM projects, while the student will receive a trophy and an iPad Mini.