Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award
Provenance: Avery Swearer, Carleton College
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Award Recipients |
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The Award
Outstanding Earth Science Teacher (OEST) awards are given for "exceptional contributions to the stimulation of interest in the Earth Sciences at the pre-college level." Any teacher or other K-12 educator who covers a significant amount of earth science content with their students is eligible. Ten national finalists are selected, one from each NAGT regional section. Some sections also recognize state winners. Individuals may apply themselves or nominate a colleague for the award.
The Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Awards program was adopted by NAGT in 1971. Devised to honor pre-college teachers of earth science, the program has the following specific objectives:
- Identify excellence in teaching
- Appropriately recognize and reward excellence in teaching
- Stimulate higher levels of teaching performance
- Establish NAGT as a strong support organization for pre-college education, and
- Via active statewide and sectional programs, build a solid state, regional, and national liaison with administrators of pre-college earth science education.
Sectional winner awards include:
- 10"x13" plaque from NAGT
- 2 year complimentary membership in NAGT
- From GSA: $700 travel money to attend a GSA Annual or Section Meeting, a 3-year K-12 Teacher Membership, and a 3-year membership in GSA's Geoscience Education Division
- Copy of Over The Mountains and an Earth Science Week kit from American Geosciences Institute
- One-year membership and subscription to EOS and Physics Today from AGU
- One-year subscription to The Professional Geologist from AIPG
- One-year membership and subscription to the Earth Scientist from NESTA
- Copy of The 150th Anniversary of the 1869 Powell Expedition—USGS Participation in the Sesquicentennial Colorado River Exploring Expedition and Reflections from the ~1,000-mile Journey down the Green and Colorado Rivers from the USGS
There are also a variety of awards for state winners, section runners-up, and honorable mentions.
State winner awards include:
- 9" x 12" plaque from NAGT
- two-year complimentary membership in NAGT (including a subscription to the Journal of Geoscience Education), from NAGT
- One-year membership or renewal and Journal "The Earth Scientist" from National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA)
- The 150th Anniversary of the 1869 Powell Expedition—USGS Participation in the Sesquicentennial Colorado River Exploring Expedition and Reflections from the ~1,000-mile Journey down the Green and Colorado Rivers publication from the US Geological Survey
- one-year K-12 Teacher membership in the Geological Society of America (GSA) and a one-year membership in GSA's Geoscience Education Division
- Earth Science Week kit from the American Geological Institute
You should expect to receive these perks over the months following the announcement of the award winners. In addition to the awards listed above, awardees receive a complimentary luncheon ticket to the GSA Award Luncheon, if attending the GSA Connects Annual Meeting. Recipient information will also be published in the fall edition of In The Trenches.
Award Recipients
2022 Section & State Recipients
Read bios for the 2022 Section and State Winners.
Section Winners
- Central Section: Yvonne Garrison
- Eastern Section: Wendy Grimshaw
- Far Western Section: Lorraine Cathey
- Midcontinent Section: No Award in 2022
- New England Section: Joanna Latham
- North Central Section: No Award in 2022
- Pacific Northwest Section: Kerry Lockwood
- Southeastern Section: Amanda Savrda
- Southwest Section: No Award in 2022
- Texas Section: No Award in 2022
State Winners
- Alabama: Amanda Savrda
- Louisiana: Sandra Saye Foucqueteau
- Maryland: Sara Snook
- Mississippi: Veronica Wylie
- North Carolina: Stefan Klakovich
- Nevada:Michele Laverty
- New York:Zachary Miller
- Oregon: Nichole Erwin
- South Carolina: Christopher Willis
- Virginia: Wendy Grimshaw
- Wisconsin:Beth Allcox
OEST State and Section winners are strongly encouraged to take an active role in NAGT, NESTA, and all other organizations that support the OEST Award Program.
Past Recipients
2021 Section & State Recipients
Read bios for the 2021 Section and State Winners.
Section Winners
- Central Section: Christopher Bolhuis
- Eastern Section: James "JR" Bunner
- Far Western Section: Dr. Nicholas "Nilo" Bill
- Midcontinent Section: Angela Thomas
- New England Section: Kara Ratigan
- North Central Section: No Award in 2021
- Pacific Northwest Section: No Award in 2021
- Southeastern Section: Monika Moorman
- Southwest Section: No Award in 2021
- Texas Section: No Award in 2021
State Winners
- Alabama: No Award in 2021
- Florida: Monika Moorman
- Georgia: No Award in 2021
- Kentucky: No Award in 2021
- Louisiana: Erin Nevala
- Mississippi: Gail Davis
- New York: Theresa Smith
- North Carolina: Brandon Dillman
- Pennsylvania: J Atkins
- South Carolina: Hannah Quinley
- Tennessee: No Award in 2021
- Virginia: No Award in 2021
- West Virginia: James "JR" Bunner
2020 Section & State Recipients
Read bios for the 2020 Section and State Winners.
Section Winners
- Central Section: Anthony Thomas
- Eastern Section: Bonnie Keller
- Far Western Section: No Award in 2020
- Midcontinent Section: Angie Nelson
- New England Section: Tara O'Brien
- North Central Section: Spencer Cody
- Pacific Northwest Section: Steve Tebor
- Southeastern Section: Covey Denton
- Southwest Section: Rachel Arbor
- Texas Section: No Award in 2020
State Winners
- Alabama: Katy Montgomery Souder
- Florida: Zane Hurley
- Georgia: R. Scott Harris
- Kentucky: Cayeann Cowan
- Louisiana: Garrah Leshe
- Mississippi: Emily Dill
- New York: Kevin Nohejl
- North Carolina: Covey Denton
- Pennsylvania: Donna Kertis
- South Carolina: Heidi Haug
- Tennessee: Kari Hughes
- Virginia: Kristina Brody
- West Virginia: Alicen Adkins
2019 Section & State Recipients
Read bios for the 2019 Section and State Winners.
Section Winners
- Central Section: Dr. Michael J. Smith
- Eastern Section: Christopher Bowring
- Far Western Section: Sergio de Alba
- Midcontinent Section: No Award in 2019
- New England Section: Susan Meabh Kelly
- North Central Section: No Award in 2019
- Pacific Northwest Section: Renee Drummond
- Southeastern Section: Andrea Starks
- Southwest Section: Hank Shoop
- Texas Section: Isabel Anaya
State Winners
- Alabama: Ricky Conte
- Alaska: Renee Drummond
- California: Kevin Lesback
- Connecticut: Lindsay Waack
- Florida: Maggie Paxson
- Georgia: Deborah Lynn Sheppard
- Indiana: John Hesser
- Michigan: Sarah Geborkoff
- Minnesota: Jill Holz
- Mississippi: Brooke Dodd
- New Jersey: Matthew Fichter
- New York: Christine Scavone
- North Carolina: Marta Toran
- Ohio: Michael Koenig
- Oregon: Jim Hartmann
- Pennsylvania: Andrea Mangold
- South Carolina: Kimberley Norris-Jones
- Tennessee: Andrea Starks
- Virginia: Christopher Bowring
- Washington: Alice Ryan
- West Virginia: Angela McKeen
2018 Section & State Recipients
Read bios for the 2018 Section and State Winners.
Section Winners
- Central Section: Collin Reichert
- Eastern Section: Tom Gazda
- Far Western Section: Diane Tom-Ogata
- Midcontinent Section: Angie D Nelson
- New England Section: Melanie Cutler
- North Central Section: Natalie Davis-McGrath
- Pacific Northwest Section: Jeff Karlin
- Southeastern Section: Phillip Cox
- Southwest Section: David Thesenga
- Texas Section: Sabrina Ewald
State Winners
- Arizona: Matt Haverty
- California: Leonard Bloch
- Colorado: Stephanie Seevers
- Georgia: Brenda Paul
- Idaho: Marc Brousseau
- Illinois: Andrew Peterson
- Kentucky: Cayeann Cowan
- Louisiana: Lacey Hoosier
- Minnesota: Dan Gruhlke
- New Mexico: Anna Suggs
- New York: Tom Gazda
- North Carolina: Phillip Cox
- Oregon: Connie Robbins
- Puerto Rico: Elizabeth Torres-Rodriguez
- South Carolina: Robin Wright
- Tennessee: Jana Young
- Virginia: Jeanette Dellinger
- Wisconsin: Dennis Rohr
2017 Section & State Recipients
Read bios for the 2017 Section and State Winners.
Section Winners
- Central Section: Jill Weaver
- Eastern Section: Kathleen Tait
- Far Western Section: Dieuwertje Kast
- Midcontinent Section: No Award in 2017
- New England Section: Laura Preston
- North Central Section: No Award in 2017
- Pacific Northwest Section: Robert Doherty
- Southeastern Section: Annette Bartlett
- Southwest Section: Ben Graves
- Texas Section: No Award in 2017
State Winners
- Alabama: Virginia Hall
- Arizona: Allison McIntosh
- Colorado: Annette Calabretta
- Delaware: Lindsay Lancaster
- Florida: Leigh Arnold
- Georgia: Catherine Warren
- Idaho: Heather Swanson
- Kentucky: Thomas Reed
- Louisiana: Ann Robichaux
- Michigan: Sherry Claflin
- Minnesota: Denine Voegeli
- Mississippi: Tammie Bright
- New Mexico: Turtle Haste
- New York: Rebecca Remis
- Ohio: Karly Lyons
- Oregon: Celia Hampton
- Pennsylvania: Kathleen Tait
- South Carolina: Marc Alexander
- Virginia: Rebecca Musso
- West Virginia: Bryan Schuerman
- Wisconsin: Robert Shannon
2016 Section & State Recipients
Read bios for the 2016 Section and State Winners.
Section Winners
- Central Section: Troy J. Simpson
- Eastern Section: No award in 2016
- Far Western Section: Laura Branch
- Midcontinent Section: Will Squires
- New England Section: Joan Kadaras
- North Central Section: Sharla Hanzlik
- Pacific Northwest Section: Jonathan Hill
- Southeastern Section: Lindsay Knippenberg
- Southwest Section: Matt Affolter
- Texas Section: Sabrina Ewald
State Winners
- Alabama: Kathryn Busby
- Arizona: Pradip Misra
- Colorado: Jessica Kindel
- Florida: Mohamed Kabani
- Georgia: Stephen Csukas
- Louisiana: Holly Payton
- Maryland: Meaghan Richardson
- Minnesota: Jody Bergeson
- Mississippi: Shelby J. "Dixie" Houchen
- New Mexico: Gary Bodman
- North Carolina: Lindsay Knippenberg
- Ohio: DeAnn O'Toole
- Oregon: Karen Shelton
- South Carolina: Deborah Ezell
- Tennessee: John Griffin
- Texas: Belinda Jacobs
- Utah: Kirk Wright
- Washington: Dustin Smith
2015 Section & State Recipients
Read bios for the 2015 Section and State Winners.
Section Winners
- Central Section: Michele Svoboda
- Eastern Section: John Russell
- Far Western Section: Ryan Hollister
- Midcontinent Section: No award in 2015
- New England Section: Rodney Ward
- North Central Section: Ann Anderson
- Pacific Northwest Section: Andrew Bagley
- Southeastern Section: Susan Oltman
- Southwest Section: Rob Reisener
- Texas Section: No award in 2015
State Winners
- Alabama: Michelle Peterson
- Florida: Christine Danger
- Georgia: Susan Oltman
- Idaho: Kenneth Berger
- Illinois: Joe Schoen
- Indiana: Heather Hall
- Iowa: Brandon Fritz
- Louisiana:Lisa Swenson
- New York: Kenneth Abbott
- North Carolina: Rebekah Fuerst
- Ohio: Beth Holmes
- Oregon: Christopher Carlton
- Pennsylvania: Blake Colaianne
- South Carolina: Jennifer Pitman
- Wisconsin: Adam Keeton
2014 Section & State Recipients
Read bios for the 2014 Section and State Winners.
Section Winners
- Central Section: Ella Bowling
- Eastern Section: Victoria Gorman
- Far Western Section:No award in 2014
- Midcontinent Section: No award in 2014
- New England Section: Rita Chang
- North Central Section: No award in 2014
- Pacific Northwest Section: Dale Lehman
- Southeastern Section: Lisha Hylton
- Southwest Section:No award in 2014
- Texas Section: Lawrence Witt
State Winners
- Alabama: Wendy Bramlett
- Alaska: Darren Kellerby
- Georgia: Donna Governor
- Illinois: Keni Rienks
- Indiana: Martha Hoyt
- New Jersey: James Miller
- New York: Mark Percy
- North Carolina: Mark Townley
- Ohio: Paul Genzman
- Oregon: Laura Orr
- Pennsylvania: Michael Baer
- South Carolina: Lisha Hylton
- Washington: Randy Taylor
- Wisconsin: Beth Spear
2013 Section & State Recipients
Read bios for the 2013 Sectional and State Winners.
Section Winners
- Central Section: Mary Lestina
- Eastern Section: Russel H Kohrs
- Far Western Section: Herman Hilkey
- Midcontinent Section: Kathy Rusert
- New England Section: Erica Wallstrom
- North Central Section: Rod Benson
- Pacific Northwest Section: Helen Farr
- Southeastern Section: Olivia Boykin
- Southwest Section: Cheryl L. B. Manning
- Texas Section: Gary Poole
State Winners
- Alabama: Alison Starr
- Alaska: Jonathan Smith
- Arizona: Jeremey Williams
- Georgia: Nancy Adgate
- Louisiana: Lacey Hoosier
- New Jersey: Steven Carson
- New York: Michael Wing
- North Carolina: Mary Catherine Mills
- Texas: Katie Wagner
- Virginia: Russel H Kohrs
2012 Section Recipients
- Central Section: No award in 2012
- Eastern Section: Dr. Edward Cohen
- Far Western Section: No award in 2012
- Midcontinent Section: No award in 2012
- New England Section: Ray Pavlik
- North Central Section: No award in 2012
- Pacific Northwest Section: Marie Carver
- Southeastern Section: Kevin McMahon
- Southwest Section: No award in 2012
- Texas Section: No award in 2012
Read bios for the 2012 Sectional and State Winners
2011 Section Recipients
- Central Section: No Award in 2011
- Eastern Section: Rosemarie Sanders
- Far Western Section: No award in 2011
- Midcontinent Section: No award in 2011
- New England Section: Karen A. Saul
- North Central Section: No award in 2011
- Pacific Northwest Section: Frank R. Hladky
- Southeastern Section: Valerie Willis
- Southwest Section: Bonnie B. Dodge
- Texas Section: Michael R. Brunt
Read bios for the 2011 Sectional and State Winners
2010 Recipients
- Central Section: De Anna Tibben
- Eastern Section: Heather H. McArdle
- Far Western Section: Nick Crooker
- Midcontinent Section: No award in 2010
- New England Section: Jennifer Judkins
- North Central Section: No award in 2010
- Pacific Northwest Section: Chris Hedeen
- Southeastern Section: Bryan E. Freeman
- Southwest Section: Laura Lukes
- Texas Section: No award in 2010
Read bios for the 2010 Sectional and State Winners
2009 Award Recipients
- Central Section: Dennis Dougherty
- Eastern Section: Shelly Anne Witham
- Far Western Section: Laura Hollister
- Midcontinent Section: Richard Snyder
- New England Section: Elisa D'Amore
- North Central Section: No award in 2009
- Pacific Northwest Section: Roger Groom
- Southeastern Section: Cliff Hudson
- Southwest Section: Deborah Morgan
- Texas Section: No award in 2009
Read bios for the 2009 Sectional and State Winners
2008
- Central Section: Teresa Lee Huckleberry
- Eastern Section: John D. Moore
- Far Western Section: Anna Foutz
- Midcontinent Section: No Award in 2008
- New England Section: Gregg Wachtelhausen
- North Central Section: No Award in 2008
- Pacific Northwest Section: Jeff Hashimoto
- Southeastern Section: Tina Coleman
- Southwest Section: Suzi Shoemaker
- Texas Section: No Award in 2008
2007
- Central Section: Paul Varsho
- Eastern Section: Debra Faulkner
- Far Western Section: Diane Kelsey
- Midcontinent Section: No Award in 2007
- New England Section: David Eatough
- North Central Section: No Award in 2007
- Pacific Northwest Section: Clay Good
- Southeastern Section: Patricia Royle
- Southwest Section: Carol Ticho
- Texas Section: No Award in 2007
2006
- Central Section: Aaron Spurr, Price Lab School — Northern University High School, Cedar Falls, IA
- Eastern Section: Walter "Len" Sharp, Liverpool High School, Liverpool, NY
- Far Western Section: David Meade, New Jerusalem Charter School, Tracy, CA
- Midcontinent Section: No Award in 2006
- New England Section: Marguerite Murphy, Georges Valley High School, Thomaston, ME
- North Central Section: No Award in 2006
- Pacific Northwest Section: Jodie Harnden, Sunridge Middle School, Pendleton, OR
- Southeastern Section: Bryan Byrne, Cox Middle School, Columbia, TN
- Southwest Section: No Award in 2006
- Texas Section: Christopher Marchall, The Colony High School, The Colony, TX
2005
- Eastern Section: Bernard Picklo, Bradford, PA
- New England Section: Anita Honkonen, Sudbury, MA
- Pacific Northwest Section: Lynda Sanders, Coos Bay, OR
- Southeastern Section: Rose Lummus, Dyersburg, TN
- Southwest Section: Christine Donovan, Tucson, AZ
- Texas Section: Heather Marshall, Frisco, TX
2004
- Eastern Section: Mary Sue Burns, Marlinton, WV
- Far Western Section: Noah Hughes, Sonora, CA
- Pacific Northwest Section: Pat Ellis, Richland, WA
- Southeastern Section: Tina King, Mt. Juliet, TN
- Southwest Section: Tony Occhiuzzi, Tempe, AZ
2003
- Central Section: Craig Wolter
- Eastern Section: Glenn Dolophin, Birmingham, NY
- Far Western Section: Joan Hacken Carter, San Jose, CA
- New England Section: Shelly F. Snyder, S. Burlington, VT
- Pacific Northwest Section: Shawn E. Doan, Bellingham, WA
- Southeastern Section: Christine Henry, Knoxville, TN
- Southwest Section: Rita Grusemeyer, Santa Teresa, NM
- Texas Section: Michael Milburn, McKinney, TX
2002
- Eastern Section: Christine Anne Royce, Scranton, PA
- East-Central Section: Natalie Drummond, Ft. Wayne, IN
- New England Section: Hannah W. Neville, Erving, MA
- Pacific Northwest Section: Tammie Schrader, Cheney, WA
- Southeastern Section: Jane Luhn
- Southwest Section: Darell A. Speer, Fort Collins, CO
- Texas Section: Rick A. Ford
2001
- Central Section: Joy Reeves, Chicago, IL
- Eastern Section: Steve Kluge, North Salem, NY
- Far Western Section: Tom Hollis, Los Osos, CA
- New England Section: James Sammons, North Kingstown, RI
- North Central Section: Barry Olson, Harwood, ND
- Southeastern Section: Virginia Cooter, Greeneville, TN
- Texas Section: Dr. Aileen Wajtal Duc, Plano, TX
2000
- Eastern Section: Dr. Tom Arnold
- East-Central Section: Kimberly A. Mullen, Columbus, OH
- Far Western Section: Ted Reeves
- Midcontinent Section: Melinda Rose Thomas, Atkins, AR
- New England Section: Will Kiendzior, Shelburne Falls, MA
- Pacific Northwest Section: Linda Selvig
- Southeastern Section: Andrea Walker, New Orleans, LA
- Texas: Shannon Miller, Kingsland, TX
1999
- Eastern Section: George "Gib" Brown, Plattsburg, NY
- New England Section: Patricia Millet
- North Central Section: William (Rick) Stevens, Minot, ND
- Southeastern Section: Ilona Sunday, Columbia, SC
1998
- Central Section: Mark Sackett, Maple grove, MN
- Eastern Section: David Baker, Highland Falls, NY
- East-Central Section: James Ray Duxbury, Marchallville, OH
- Far Western Section: Jim Ryono, Torrace, CA
- New England Section: Patrick Carey, Agawam, MA
- Pacific Northwest Section: Sherry Schaff, Forks, WA
- Southeastern Section: Jane Skinner, Knoxville, TN
- Texas Section: Robert Nierste, Pilot Point, TX
1997
- Central Section: Karen Wignall, Des Moines, IA
- Eastern Section: Richard Taylan, Hyde Park, NY
- Far Western Section: Wendy Van Norden, North Hollywood, CA
- Midcontinent Section: James Clark, Wichita, KS
- New England Section: Peter Leddy, Norton, MA
- Southeastern Section: Margaret Olson, College Park, GA
- Southwest Section: Benning Wentworth, Colorado Springs, CO
- Texas Section: Victoria Selznick, Bowman, TX
1996
- Central Section: Phil Schweitzer, Shawano, WI
- Eastern Section: Lindsay Killen, Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada
- Midcontinent Section: Monica Davis, Little Rock, AR
- New England Section: Virginia "Ginger" Winslow, Hingham, MA
- Texas Section: Randy Kilian-Smith, San Antonio, TX
1995
- Central Section: Hector Ibera, West Branch, IA
- Eastern Section: Thomas McGuire
- East-Central Section: Irene Baron, Zanesville, OH
- Far Western Section: Naidah Gamurot, Makakil, HI
- Midcontinent Section: Randall Rose, Overland Park, KS
- New England Section: George "Skip" Price, South Deerfield, MA
- Southeastern Section: Janet Graff, Shreveport, LA
- Southwest Section: Mike DeYoung, Rehoboth, NM
- Texas Section: Suzette Lucyle Groce Beasley, San Antonio, TX
Make a Nomination
To nominate a teacher for this award, please complete the online nomination form associated with the nominee's Section, linked below. You can find information on which section you live in by checking out the Sections Page. Nominations are due by March 31st.
Nomination Forms and Contact Info for Each Section
While the deadline for each year's nominations is March 31, nominations may be submitted at any time during the year.
National Program Contact: