Trailblazing STEM Educator Award

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AIAA and Challenger Center have launched the Trailblazing STEM Educator Award. The award will celebrate five K-12 educators who go above and beyond to inspire the next generation of explorers and innovators in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Award Recipients

2024

  • Jennifer L Donais
    Amesbury Middle School
    Awarded
    Award: 2024 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award
    AIAA Citation: For her years working in the community to prepare students for STEM careers through innovative curricula, activities, and immersive events.
  • Sarah Leonard
    Appoquinimink School District
    Awarded
    Award: 2024 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award
    AIAA Citation: For creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all students to learn, grow, and be inspired by STEM.
  • Darryl Newhouse
    Foshay Learning Center LAUSD
    Awarded
    Award: 2024 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award
    AIAA Citation: For igniting in his students a passion for engineering through robotics and technology and establishing an engineering pathway for middle and high school students.

2023

  • Caroline M Little
    Visitation School
    Awarded
    Award: 2023 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award
    AIAA Citation: For creatively breaking down complex STEM principles into easy-to-understand lessons and connecting her students to real-world examples through personal experiences.
  • Aymette Medina
    Odyssey Academy
    Awarded
    Award: 2023 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award
    AIAA Citation: For connecting students' learning experiences within the classroom to the real world
  • Taylor C Whisenant
    Athens Renaissance School
    Awarded
    Award: 2023 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award
    AIAA Citation: For developing and leading a robotics program with teams spanning K-12 grades.

2022

  • Emily Springer
    American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
    Awarded
    Award: 2022 Trailblazing STEM Award
    AIAA Citation: AIAA Citation
  • Mrs Jackie Blumer
    Greenville Jr. High School
    Awarded
    Award: 2022 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award
    AIAA Citation: For embedding engineering challenges and current aerospace activities into the class curriculum, as well as serving as the AIAA St. Louis Section STEM Chair
  • Mrs Jennifer L Cheesman
    Zuni Hills Elementary School
    Awarded
    Award: 2022 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award
    AIAA Citation: For exceptional skill in taking high-level concepts and implementing them in fun and engaging ways with inclusive teaching strategies.
  • Dr Kellie Taylor
    Hawthorne Elementary School
    Awarded
    Award: 2022 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award
    AIAA Citation: For sharing a passion for hands-on STEM education with students and colleagues, connecting them to space education through real-world STEM experiences. 
  • Mrs Katrina Williams
    Ames Community School District
    Awarded
    Award: 2022 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award
    AIAA Citation: For enthusiastic pursuit of out-of-this-world K-12 educational experiences, and ingenious connections between real-world STEM topics, classroom education, and students' imaginations, appealing particularly to underrepresented groups