34 Teachers and Schools Across North America Receive $10,000 Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence

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Jun 22, 2010, 04:11 ET

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., June 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) today announced the 34 science teachers in the United States (U.S.), Canada and Puerto Rico who are this year's recipients of the 18th annual Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence. The award recognizes extraordinary teachers in grades K-12 whose dedication to students has had a significant impact on the learning and interest of the future generation of scientists.

Since the program's inception in 1992, Amgen has awarded more than $2.5 million to educators who have made exceptional science-teaching contributions and who have achieved demonstrated results in student learning in communities where Amgen operates. In 2010, Amgen received nearly 250 applications for the Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence and winners were honored at special ceremonies in their respective Amgen communities or during surprise presentations at their schools.

"Amgen believes in the enduring value of science education and is committed to supporting programs that encourage bright young minds to explore a future in science," said Joe Miletich, senior vice president of research and development at Amgen. "We applaud this year's award recipients for their dedication to delivering quality science education to tomorrow's innovators."

The 2010 award recipients are:

California
Anne Artz, Preuss School UCSD, La Jolla
Kristen Burke, Taylor Elementary School, Santa Maria
John Burns, Ramona Junior High, Chino
James Dann, Menlo School, Atherton
Jose Rivas, Lennox Math, Science and Technology Academy, Lennox
Ericka Senegar-Mitchell, Junipero Serra High School, San Diego

Colorado
Scott Brungardt, Erie Middle School, Erie
Kristi Ekern, Fall River Elementary, Longmont
Patricia Loeblein, Evergreen High School, Evergreen
Erin Mayer, Oberon Middle School, Arvada

Kentucky
Aggie Adwell, Luhr Elementary, Louisville
Craig DaRif, duPont Manual High School, Louisville
Amy James, South Oldham High School, Crestwood
Amanda Ratliff, Paintsville High School, Paintsville

Massachusetts
Jenifer Gilbert, Pierce Middle School, Milton
Paul McGuinness, Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, Cambridge
Anne Olmsted, Neighborhood House Charter School, Dorchester
Cheryl Sanderson, Summer Street Elementary School, Lynnfield

Rhode Island
Carrie Clegg, Hampden Meadows Elementary School, Barrington
Kristen Deschene, Western Coventry Elementary School, Coventry
Erin Escher, Portsmouth Middle School, Portsmouth
Catherine Hibbitt, Lincoln School, Providence

Washington
Ann Autrey, River's Edge High School, Richland
Kareen Borders, Key Peninsula Middle School, Lakebay
Sadie Brumley, Gold Bar Elementary, Gold Bar
Meredith Gannon, Sacajawea Elementary School, Vancouver

Puerto Rico
Imarlys Cajigas Lopez, Winnie's Active Learning Kids School, Mayaguez
Jorge Melendez, Secundaria Montessori de Puerto Rico, San Juan
Ana Paris Tapia, Maria L. Gomez School, Toa Baja
Maria Rivera Torres, Cupey Maria Montessori School, San Juan

Canada
Erika van Oyen, Glenmore Elementary, Kelowna, British Columbia
Linda Phillips, Donald A. Wilson Secondary School, Whitby, Ontario
Toni McArthur, Huron Park Secondary School, Woodstock, Ontario
Jean-Marc Perreault, Ecole Secondaire de la Rive, Lavaltrie, Quebec

The 34 selected winners will receive the following benefits:

An unrestricted cash award of $5,000 USD or $5,000 CAD; and
A restricted $5,000 USD or $5,000 CAD cash grant to the recipient's school for the expansion or enhancement of a school science program, science resources, or the professional development of the school's science teachers;

Along with the award applications, teachers were asked to submit an innovative science lesson plan which had been successfully introduced in their classroom. Amgen will post select winning lesson plans to its Web site to promote the sharing of this knowledge with educators across the country to bolster excellence and innovation in science teaching.

Amgen partnered with the University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Education to judge the teaching awards in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The School's Department of Curriculum and Instruction is consistently recognized as a leader in education, and their expertise aided in the selection of the strongest possible winners.

Nominations are solicited every fall with winners selected based on the following criteria: innovative science lesson plan, creativity and effectiveness of teaching methods; and the plan for the use of grant money to improve science education resources in their schools.

For more information about this year's winners and the program, please visit http://www.amgen.com/citizenship/aaste.html.

About Amgen

Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis and other serious illnesses. With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people's lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and our vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com.