Initial Publication Date: February 7, 2024 | Revision: September 15, 2026
DOIThis page currently has no DOI, but you may request a DOI be assigned. | Cite this
- First Publication: February 7, 2024
- Reviewed: June 10, 2025 -- added list of 2024 awardees
- Revision: September 15, 2026 -- updated with 2025 winners
DOIThis page currently has no DOI, but you may request a DOI be assigned. | Cite this
National Association of Geoscience Teachers. (2024, February 7). Past OEST Recipients. https://nagt.org/nagt/awards/oest/past_oest_winners.html
Past OEST Recipients
2025 Section & State/Province Recipients
Section Winners
- Eastern Section: Carolina E. Castro-Skehan
- Far Western Section: Jessica Stellmann
- North Central Section: Dana Smith
- Northeastern Section: Greg Stott
- Pacific Northwest Section: Emily L. Carson
- Rocky Mountain Section: Heidi Bankoff
- South Central Section: Stacy M. Ferrell
- Southeastern Section: Rebekah L. Stanton
State/Province Winners
- Alabama: Shawn Schlumpf
- California: Jessica Stellmann
- Colorado: Heidi Bankoff
- Eastern Texas: Stacy M. Ferrell
- Georgia: Eileen Fennelly
- Illinois: Fred Fortman
- Minnesota: Dana Smith
- Mississippi: Alisha Halford
- Nevada: Mary Beth Paladino
- New Hampshire: Greg Stott
- New York: Caroline E. Castro-Skehan
- North Carolina: Carrie Jones
- Oklahoma: Dr. Angie Thomas
- Oregon: Amy Umbarger
- Tennessee: Rebekah L. Stanton
- Wisconsin: Carol Ochsner
- Washington: Kyauna Turner
2024 Section & State/Province Recipients
Section Winners
- Eastern Section: David W. Curry
- Far Western Section: Kellyn Hardin
- North Central Section: No Award in 2024
- Northeastern Section: Anna V. Cotton
- Pacific Northwest Section: Bryon Free
- Rocky Mountain Section: Lesley Urasky
- South Central Section: Tabetha Hollin
- Southeastern Section: Alicia (Ali) Pressel
State/Province Winners
- Alabama: Cinthia Moore
- Arizona: Lisa Chavez
- British Columbia: Clayton Fox
- California: Kellyn Hardin
- Colorado: Matt Thomas
- Florida: Alicia (Ali) Pressel
- Georgia: Christine Wallace
- Montana: Tom Caffrey
- New Jersey: Simone Cella Miller
- New York: Michael Fodera
- North Carolina: Joshua Roberts
- Oregon: Bryon Free
- Pennsylvania: David W. Curry
- South Carolina: Jimmy Woods
- Virginia: Madeleine Rushing Yiznitsky
- Wyoming: Lesley Urasky
Show 2023
Hide2023 Section & State/Province Recipients
Read bios for the 2023 Section and State/Province Winners.
Section Winners
- Central Section: Kate Krischke-Grobart
- Eastern Section: David R. Amidon
- Far Western Section: No Award in 2023
- Midcontinent Section: No Award in 2023
- New England Section: Sarah F. Faulkner
- North Central Section: No Award in 2023
- Pacific Northwest Section: Hillary Brown
- Southeastern Section: Tammie Hodnett Marlow
- Southwest Section: No Award in 2023
- Texas Section: No Award in 2023
State/Province Winners
- Alabama: Scott Coonfare
- Florida: Katherine Stoltz
- Georgia: Nicole Marte
- Indiana: Jon Schrage
- Iowa: Mallory Wills-Howe
- Louisiana: Lacey Hoosier
- Minnesota: Melissa (Missie) Olson
- Michigan: Andy Epton
- Mississippi: Tammie Hodnett Marlow
- New Hampshire: Michele Cusack
- New York: Joseph C. Perry
- North Carolina: Charlene Horton
- South Carolina: Amy Umberger
- Tennessee: Gregory Smith
2022 Section & State/Province Recipients
Read bios for the 2022 Section and State/Province 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/Province 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
2021 Section & State/Province Recipients
Read bios for the 2021 Section and State/Province 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/Province 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/Province Recipients
Read bios for the 2020 Section and State/Province 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/Province 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/Province Recipients
Read bios for the 2019 Section and State/Province 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/Province 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/Province Recipients
Read bios for the 2018 Section and State/Province 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/Province 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/Province Recipients
Read bios for the 2017 Section and State/Province 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/Province 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/Province Recipients
Read bios for the 2016 Section and State/Province 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/Province 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/Province Recipients
Read bios for the 2015 Section and State/Province 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/Province 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/Province Recipients
Read bios for the 2014 Section and State/Province 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/Province 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/Province Recipients
Read bios for the 2013 Sectional and State/Province 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/Province 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 Award Recipients
- 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 Award Recipients
- 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 Award Recipients
- 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 Award Recipients
- 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 Award Recipients
- 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 Award Recipients
- 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 Award Recipients
- 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 Award Recipients
- 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 Award Recipients
- 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 Award Recipients
- 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 Award Recipients
- 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 Award Recipients
- 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 Award Recipients
- 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 Award Recipients
- 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