Sandy Springs Education Force Wins Georgia STEM Award

Recognized for bringing STEM education to aspiring engineers, designers, and scientists in Sandy Springs, the Sandy Springs Education Force, in collaboration with the Georgia Tech Research Institute, has won the 2014 Georgia STEM Education Award.

The Georgia STEM Education Awards, led by the Technology Association of Georgia and the TAG Education Collaborative, recognizes schools, programs, and companies for outstanding efforts and achievements in supporting and promoting STEM — Science, Technology, Engineering and Math — education in Georgia.

SSEF Executive Director Irene Schweiger accepted the award on behalf of GTRI & SSEF.

“We so appreciate the work of our SSEF Board members, the STEM committee and GTRI for creating an award winning event recognized by the Technology Association of Georgia,” she added. “We are so excited to bring this award home to our Sandy Springs community.”

Selected among 170 nominees, SSEF was awarded for its work in partnership with GTRI in presenting a comprehensive and community-wide STEM event. Winning in the Extracurricular Programs Category, SSEF’s cutting-edge exhibits, career options and dynamic discussions in Energy, the 2014 STEM Event provided a wide array of opportunities for over 3,000 students, educators, and community leaders.

More specifically through SSEF’s support, North Springs Charter High School invited 600 of its students to interact with 20 innovative exhibits. Additionally, 20 Georgia Tech students presented their own scientific work through interactive sessions. This opportunity allowed high school students to speak with new researchers about their current scientific studies.

The STEM programs continued several weeks later at Riverwood International Charter School. As part of the school’s career fair, SSEF shared 15 exhibits featuring health science careers, technical schools, and companies demonstrating the direct path from academic studies to successful careers. Additionally, SSEF offered outreach exhibits, programs and speakers to all Sandy Springs Middle and Elementary schools throughout the month of February as well as awarded STEM grants to six Sandy Springs schools.

The Georgia STEM Education Award winners were announced during a special awards gala on Sept. 26 held at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center. The event was sponsored in part by Promethean and Cisco Systems, Inc.

“It is so gratifying to see STEM education gaining momentum throughout the state of Georgia,” said Michael Robertson, executive director of TAG-Ed. “In order for our students to be prepared for tomorrow’s careers, they must first acquire strong analytical and problem solving skills through rigorous coursework in school. The programs highlighted today are leading the way in this effort and sharing best practices that will prepare our students for the challenges ahead. “

Learn more information about TAG and the Third Annual Georgia STEM Education Awards by visiting its website.

(Photo: From left to right, Chris Chavez, metro president of DeVry University in Atlanta; Leigh McCook of GTRI; Ava Wilensky, SSEF board bember; Jeff Evans, GTRI; Irene Schweiger, SSEF executive director; Julia Bernath, SSEF board member & Fulton County Schools Board member; and Ted Wells, chief strategy officer at STEMconnector. Credit: Sandy Springs Education Force)