LOS ANGELES, April 22, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Foundation has announced the scholarship recipients of its Earthwatch Educator Program, an innovative environmental education program for teachers across the country.
Twenty-two educators from eight states in which the company operates have been selected to participate in an Earthwatch expedition focused on climate change or oceans preservation. The teachers will transfer their experiences to their classrooms and shared with students year after year.
"Helping to provide teachers real-world experience is one of the ways that we can spark student interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematic careers," said Sandra Evers-Manly, president of the Northrop Grumman Foundation. "We are proud to partner with Earthwatch and to mark Earth Day with the announcement of our 2010 participants in this educator program."
The Northrop Grumman Foundation partnered with Earthwatch Institute to develop two expeditions that will provide educators with a hands-on, immersive professional development opportunity that they will share with their students—wielding a positive impact on the students' understanding of math and science, and helping to inspire the next generation of environmental ambassadors.
Ten of the teacher awardees have been assigned to an expedition that will help preserve the coastal ecology of the Bahamas, while 12 others are joining an expedition that will monitor climate change at the edge of the Arctic. The Bahamas expedition teams will focus on research sites at the archipelago's southern islands of Long Island, Great Exuma and Great Inagua. The Arctic project will take teachers to Churchill, Canada, on the coast of the Hudson Bay near the geographical center of the North American continent.
The scholarship recipients were selected through a competitive application process. All middle school teachers from respective communities were eligible to apply. The applicant's geographic region, potential contribution to the research, and follow-up curriculum plans were all taken into consideration. Criteria used to assign educators to expeditions included interests, skills, and availability, along with project need.
"As exciting as it is to hear about the teachers' research experiences in various places around the world, it can be even more exciting to watch the ripple effect that takes place when they return from their Earthwatch expedition—in their classroom and communities," said Ed Wilson, CEO and president of Earthwatch. "We're thrilled with Northrop Grumman Foundation's support of this important program at a time when we need action, not apathy in the face of the world's most pressing environmental challenges."
Teachers supporting the Arctic program are:
- Lisa Abel, Vance Middle School, Bristol, Tenn.
- Robert Dent, Jack Jouett Middle School, Charlottesville, Va.
- Sheryl Dufour, Seneca Ridge Middle School, Sterling, Va.
- Angela Greene, Tecumseh Middle School, New Carlisle, Ohio
- Luann Hoyseth, Rachel Carson Middle School, Herndon, Va.
- Carol Kraft, Rockford Environmental Science Academy, Rockford, Ill.
- James Locke, Manhattan Beach Middle School, Manhattan Beach, Calif.
- Sindy Main, Freeport Junior High School, Freeport, Ill.
- Susan Milos, Manchester GATE Elementary, Fresno, Calif.
- Jane Roberts, Western Branch Middle School, Chesapeake, Va.
- Julie Stayner, Gainesville High School, Gainesville, Mo.
- Kevin Tambara, Bert Lynn Middle School, Torrance, Calif.
Participants in the Bahamas project are:
- Sharon Andrews, Challenge Center at Garfield Elementary, Sioux Falls, S.D.
- Cheryl Buettner, River Springs Charter School, Temecula, Calif.
- Tamarah Dishman, Spring Ridge Middle-STEM Academy, Lexington Park, Md.
- Melanie East, Wilson Middle School, Albuquerque, N.M.
- Michael Ford, Loudoun County Public Schools, Ashburn, Va.
- Robin Goldman, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, Berkeley, Calif.
- Barret Graf, Carver Middle School, Los Angeles
- Kristin Joivell, Juniata Valley Elementary School, Alexandria, Pa.
- Taya Lazootin, Perris Elementary School District, Perris, Calif.
- Scott Nguyen, Dana Middle School, Hawthorne, Calif.
Earthwatch (www.earthwatch.org) is one of the world's leading environmental organizations. We use a unique model of citizen science, matching volunteers with researchers to investigate some of the greatest environmental challenges facing our planet. Earthwatch is dedicated to creating an environmental legacy through scientific research projects, education and learning opportunities and engaging people in field research.
The Northrop Grumman Foundation supports diverse and sustainable programs for students and teachers. These programs create innovative education experiences in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.