Each year, the Space Coast Science Education Alliance (SCSEA) honors the top science teachers in Brevard County. The Exemplary Science Teacher Award is given in recognition of teachers who go above and beyond to foster a love of learning and develop science literacy among their students. This year, four teachers received the distinguished award.
“It is a true honor to celebrate four of the most dedicated and talented science teachers in Brevard County,” says Kevin Smith, president, SCSEA. “We are grateful for their contributions and the opportunity to recognize their hard work.”
The 2024 Exemplary Science Teacher Award winners are:
Elizabeth Youngs, Viera High School
Nicole Nelson, South Lake Elementary School
Alexandria Wicker, DeLaura Middle School
Kayla Wildenthaler, Mila Elementary School
(Left to right) Alexandria Wicker, DeLaura Middle; Elizabeth Youngs, Viera High (Hall of Fame Inductee); Kayla Wildenthaler, Mila Elementary; Nicole Nelson, South Lake Elementary. Photo credit: Sherri Shields
EnergyWhiz was held on Saturday, April 20th, 2024. Listed below are the award winners for the competitions: Critter Comfort Cottage, Energy Inspired Art, Junior Solar Sprint, and Solar Energy Cook-off.
CRITTER COMFORT COTTAGE (C3)
Best Design
Elementary (3-5) Division
1st – Team Turtle-Tastic, Sally Ride Elementary, Orlando Teacher: Beatriz Berriz
Abraham Lincoln Middle School Takes Top Prize at Florida Regional Middle School Science Bowl
University of Central Florida’s FSEC® Hosts Competition
Winners of the Florida Regional Middle School Science Bowl, Abraham Lincoln Middle School’s Team 1: (Left to right) Andrew Xu, Gavin Xie, Jesse Deng, Daniel Wei, Jaganesh Ramkrishnan. Coach: Paul Busheme
Cocoa, Fla. – On Saturday, February 24, Abraham Lincoln Middle School of Gainesville, Fla., won first place at the Florida Regional Competition of the National Middle School Science Bowl®. The competition took place at the University of Central Florida’s Florida Solar Energy Center® (FSEC®) in Cocoa.
Abraham Lincoln Middle School’s Team 1 was among 10 teams from Florida schools who competed in the fast-paced question-and-answer contest in which students answer questions about Earth, physical, life, and general sciences, and math. Each team is made up of four students, a student alternate, and a teacher who serves as an advisor and coach.
Abraham Lincoln Middle School’s sixth grade science teacher, Paul Busheme, brought two teams to the Florida Regional Middle School Science Bowl. “The kids this year were really, really excited. We had a lot of students who wanted to participate, but because of the two-team limit, we had to go through a process. We had like 50 plus kids trying out for the team,” says Busheme. This was his first time bringing teams to the science bowl.
This is also the first year that American Heritage School’s sixth and eighth grade honors science teacher, Ashley Ventrella, has brought a team to the science bowl, and she’s elated with their performance. “We utilize our lunch daily to work on content and strategy. Their commitment and drive are what motivate me to be their coach and mentor them in competitions. Next year, we’ll have two teams competing,” says Ventrella.
Abraham Lincoln Middle School Team 2 builds tower out of straws for the Engineering Challenge.
Abraham Lincoln Middle School’s Team 2 placed second and also won the Engineering Challenge, an unofficial event at the science bowl. The challenge was to design the highest tower out of straws. “The challenge kept the teams engaged when it wasn’t their time to participate,” says Guytri Still, former middle school teacher and National Science Bowl mentor. “It was interesting to see how each team tackled the challenge. I’ve seen it time and time again, whether it’s an engineering challenge or the science bowl, teams who work together have the best outcomes,” says Still.
The Abraham Lincoln Middle School Team 1 will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to participate in the National Science Bowl, scheduled for April 28th – May 2, 2024. The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science manages the National Science Bowl® and sponsors the NSB finals competition. The Department of Energy’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. FSEC hosts one of 50 regional middle school competitions, and this year’s event was sponsored by JinkoSolar.
Final Results of the Florida regional competition:
1st Place in the Academic Portion – Abraham Lincoln Middle School, Team 1 (Gainesville, FL)
2nd Place in the Academic Portion – Abraham Lincoln Middle School, Team 2 (Gainesville, FL)
3rd Place in the Academic Portion – American Heritage School (Delray Beach, FL)
Six outstanding science teachers received the distinguished Exemplary Science Teacher Award from the Space Coast Science Education Alliance (SCSEA) last week at a dinner honoring their achievement. The award is given in recognition of Brevard County teachers who go above and beyond to foster a love of learning and develop science literacy among their students.
“When SCSEA started this program 25 years ago, it was to encourage exemplary science teachers to keep up their great work, and for the community to say thank you for the sacrifices that teachers and their families make. That goal remains the same,” said Susan Schleith, SCSEA treasurer and FSEC educator. “Our outstanding science teachers are the key reason Brevard is among the top Florida school districts in science education.”
The dinner was hosted by UCF’s Florida Solar Energy Center®, where FSEC Deputy Director, Philip Fairey, addressed the teachers with some notable remarks. “The scientific method is rigorous—requiring defensible evidence-based results. Science is not a belief as some claim. Rather, it is a method of discovery that has significantly improved human existence over time. And this is what you do—you teach our children what science is and why it is so important.”
Congratulations to all of the award winners at this year’s EnergyWhiz! This year’s event was held on Earth Day, April 22, 2023 at FSEC, an energy research center at the University of Central Florida, in Cocoa, Florida.
