December Deadlines Looming for 15 NSTA Teacher, Student Awards

Deadlines are nearing for 15 awards and grants from the National Science Teacher Association for K–12 teachers and students in the sciences.

There are 14 teacher awards open for applications/nominations and one award open to female students in grades 5–8. The deadlines for most are Dec. 15, 2021, with the remaining deadlines being December 17.

Corteva Agriscience Excellence in Agricultural Science Education Award

The Corteva Agriscience Excellence in Agricultural Science Education Award aims to recognize excellence and innovation in the field of agricultural science education. It is open to any K–12 science teacher who incorporates innovative agricultural science activities into their existing science curriculum. One grant will be awarded annually; application deadline is Dec. 15, 2021.

The awardee will receive a $5,000 grant for their classroom/program, and expenses paid to attend the NSTA national conference on science education, mentoring with a Corteva scientist, classroom resources from Corteva, and access to a Corteva product plant or research facility. The awardee will be presented the award during a virtual Teacher Awards Ceremony.

For eligibility details and application/nomination instructions, view the Award Details or the NSTA Awards and Programs page.

Distinguished Informal Science Education Awards

The Distinguished Informal Science Education Awards honor NSTA members who have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of science education in an informal or nontraditional school setting, such as a science-technology center, museum, or community science center.

The awards are open to applications from NSTA members who are not classroom teachers and who have demonstrated their dedication to informal science education. Each award includes a formal citation, three nights’ hotel accommodation, and $500 towards expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference.

Application deadline is Dec. 15, 2021. For more details and application instructions, view the Award Details or the NSTA Awards and Programs page.

Distinguished Service to Science Education Awards

The Distinguished Service to Science Education Awards honor NSTA members who, through active leadership and scholarly endeavor over a significant period of time, have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of education in the sciences and science teaching. Each award includes a formal citation, three nights’ hotel accommodation, and up to $500 towards expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference. To be eligible, applicants must be current NSTA members who have shown long-term dedication to science education.

Application deadline is Dec. 15, 2021. For more details and application instructions, view the Award Details or the NSTA Awards and Programs page.

Distinguished Teaching Awards

These awards honor NSTA members who, through active leadership and scholarly endeavor over a significant period of time, have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of education in the sciences and science teaching.

Applicants must be NSTA members who have shown long-term dedication to science education. Each award includes a formal citation, three nights’ hotel accommodation, and up to $500 towards expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference.

Application deadline is Dec. 15, 2021. For more information and application instructions, view the Award Details or the NSTA Awards and Programs page.


Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers

The Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers honors NSTA-member teachers who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of science teaching. To be eligible, a teacher must have taught less than five years full-time at the time of application and must be an NSTA member in good standing. To the extent possible, recipients must have been a student member of NSTA as a preservice teacher.

The award consists of up to $1,000 to be used to attend the annual National Conference. Recipients will be invited to attend a variety of workshops and presentations that are of particular interest to new teachers at the annual National Conference.

Application deadline is Dec. 15, 2021. For more information and application instructions, view the Award Details or the NSTA Awards and Programs page.

Northrop Grumman Foundation Excellence in Engineering Education Award

The Northrop Grumman Foundation Excellence in Engineering Education Award recognizes excellence in the field of engineering education. NSTA and the Northrop Grumman Foundation recognize the importance of integrating high-quality engineering instruction into the science classroom and the critical need for making students proficient in the practices used by engineers in the field. See the NSTA Position Statement on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Section II Conceptual Shifts in the NGSS. One award will be awarded annually.

Applicants must be a K–12 public school science/technology teacher with a minimum of three years' teaching experience. Awardees will have exhibited excellence in engineering science education.

The award consists of $5,000 for classroom materials and equipment, a cash prize of $3,000, and $2,000 to attend the NSTA National Conference on Science Education. The awardee will be presented the award at the Teacher Awards Banquet at the National Conference.

Application deadline is Dec. 15, 2021. For more information and application instructions, view the Award Details or the NSTA Awards and Programs page.

NSTA Fellow Award

This award recognizes NSTA members who have made extraordinary contributions to science education through personal commitment to education, specifically science teaching or science; educational endeavors and original work that position recipients as exemplary leaders in their field; and/or significant contributions to the profession that reflect dedication to NSTA as well the entire educational community.

The NSTA Fellow Award is open to longstanding (at least 10 years) NSTA members. Awardees will be recognized at the NSTA Awards Banquet in conjunction with the NSTA National Conference and receive one night's lodging.

Application/nomination deadline is Dec. 15, 2021. For more information and application instructions, view the Award Details or the NSTA Awards and Programs page.

NSTA Legacy Award

The NSTA Legacy Award posthumously recognizes long-standing members of NSTA for significant lifelong service to NSTA and contributions to science education. The award is open to long-standing members of NSTA (minimum 15 years) who have been deceased for no more than 10 years; an individual may be nominated within 10 years after their death.

One or more individuals may be selected by the NSTA Awards and Recognitions Committee to be honored at the annual Awards Banquet during the NSTA National Conference; a plaque will be presented to the family of the honoree, and NSTA will provide two nights' lodging, and up to $500 towards travel expenses for a family member to attend the NSTA National Conference. In addition, a permanent Legacy Award display at the NSTA headquarters will include the honoree’s name.

Nomination deadline is Dec. 15, 2021. For more information and nomination instructions, view the Award Details or the NSTA Awards and Programs page.

Robert E. Yager Exemplary Teaching Award

The Robert E. Yager Exemplary Teaching Award annually recognizes six full-time K–12 teachers of science who successfully use innovation and excellence in their classroom. Any K–12 science teacher residing in NSTA's districts is eligible for the award.

Each honoree will receive $1,000 towards expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference on Science Education, and $1,000 for the awardee. The awardees will be invited to attend and present at their grade band share-a-thon at the National Conference on Science Education, to attend the district director meet-and-greet, and to participate in their NSTA District Director Leadership retreat. The awardees will be named at the Teacher Awards Banquet at the National Conference.

Application deadline is Dec. 15, 2021. For more information and application instructions, view the Award Details or the NSTA Awards and Programs page.

Robert H. Carleton Award

NSTA’s highest honor, the Robert H. Carleton Award recognizes one individual who has made outstanding contributions to, and provided leadership in, science education at the national level and to NSTA in particular.

Applicants must be NSTA members who are K–college-level science educators. The award includes a $5,000 grant, a formal citation, and an all-expenses-paid trip to NSTA's National Conference.

Application/nomination deadline is Dec. 15, 2021. For more information and application instructions, view the Award Details or the NSTA Awards and Programs page.

Shell Science Teaching Award

The Shell Science Teaching Award recognizes one outstanding classroom science teacher (K–12) who has had a positive impact on his or her students, school, and community through exemplary classroom science teaching. One award is given annually.

Applications are open to any K–12 classroom science teacher. Each award includes a $10,000 grant and an all-expense paid trip to attend NSTA’s National Conference; two finalists will also receive all-expense-paid trips to the conference.

Application/nomination deadline is Dec. 17, 2021. Get tips and recommendations from past Shell Science Teaching Award winners.

For more information, or to watch archived web seminars on completing a competitive application, and find links to apply or nominate, view the Award Details or the NSTA Awards and Programs page.

Shell Urban Science Educators Development Award

This award provides support to seven diverse educators in pursuit of professional development, and serves to increase the science educator talent pool of minority educators to meet the education work force challenge of the future.

To be eligible, applicants must be K–12 classroom science teachers in an urban setting. Additionally, classroom science teachers at the elementary, middle or high school level who are part of underrepresented ethnic groups are eligible.

Each award includes $1,800 to be used to attend the annual NSTA National Conference on Science Education, and recipients will be invited to attend a variety of workshops and presentations that are of particular interest to urban teachers at the annual National Conference.

Application/nomination deadline is Dec. 17, 2021. For more information and application instructions, view the Award Details or the NSTA Awards and Programs page.

Sylvia Shugrue Award for Elementary School Teachers

The Sylvia Shugrue Award for Elementary School Teachers honors one elementary school teacher who has established (or is establishing) an interdisciplinary, inquiry-based lesson plan that will fully reference sources of information and any relevant National Science Education Standards and benchmarks found in the Atlas of Science Literacy.

Applicants should be full-time elementary school teachers (grades K–6) with a minimum of five years of experience. Each award consists of a $1,000 grant and up to $500 to attend the NSTA National Conference on Science Education; the recipient will be honored during the Awards Banquet at the NSTA Conference.

Application/nomination deadline is Dec. 15, 2021. For more information and application instructions, view the Award Details or the NSTA Awards and Programs page.

Vernier Technology Awards

The Vernier Technology Awards recognize the innovative use, or potential use, of data-collection technology (e.g. probes or sensors) interfacing with a computer, graphing calculator, or handheld in the science classroom. Seven awards will be presented in the following categories: one elementary (grades K–5) award; two middle level (grades 6–8) awards; three high school (grades 9–12) awards; and one college award.

Applicants must be teachers of science in grades K–college classrooms that reside in an NSTA district. Applicants may not have won previously at their school.

Each award consists of a $1,000 cash prize; $3,000 in Vernier products; and up to $1,500 towards expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference on Science Education. Awardees will be honored at the Awards Banquet during the NSTA conference.

Application/nomination deadline is Dec. 15, 2021. For more information and application instructions, view the Award Details or the NSTA Awards and Programs page. The NSTA Awards page also includes examples of abstracts from past winning applications for each grade level.

Angela Award

The Angela Award honors one female student in grades 5–8 who is involved in or has a strong connection to science. The award has been established in honor of Gerry Wheeler, Executive Director Emeritus, and his outstanding dedication to NSTA and lifelong commitment to science education.

Applicants/nominees should be a female student in grades 5–8 who is a resident of the United States, U.S. Territories, or Canada, and is enrolled in full-time public, private, or home school. NSTA employees, NSTA Board and Council members, award judges, and their immediate families are ineligible.

Each award includes $1,000 U.S. EE Savings Bond or Canadian Savings Bond purchased for the equivalent issue price, and the awardee will be honored at the Teacher Awards Banquet at NSTA's National Conference.

Application/nomination deadline is Dec. 15, 2021. For more information and application instructions, view the Award Details or the NSTA Awards and Programs page.

Featured