Tuesday, June 22, 2010

34 Teachers and Schools Across North America Receive $10,000 Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., June 22, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) today announced the 34 science teachers in the United States (U.S.), Canada and Puerto Rico who are this year’s recipients of the 18th annual Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence. The award recognizes extraordinary teachers in grades K-12 whose dedication to students has had a significant impact on the learning and interest of the future generation of scientists.

Since the program’s inception in 1992, Amgen has awarded more than $2.5 million to educators who have made exceptional science-teaching contributions and who have achieved demonstrated results in student learning in communities where Amgen operates. In 2010, Amgen received nearly 250 applications for the Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence and winners were honored at special ceremonies in their respective Amgen communities or during surprise presentations at their schools.

"Amgen believes in the enduring value of science education and is committed to supporting programs that encourage bright young minds to explore a future in science," said Joe Miletich, senior vice president of research and development at Amgen. "We applaud this year’s award recipients for their dedication to delivering quality science education to tomorrow’s innovators."

The 2010 award recipients are:

      California
      Anne Artz, Preuss School UCSD, La Jolla
      Kristen Burke, Taylor Elementary School, Santa Maria
      John Burns, Ramona Junior High, Chino
      James Dann, Menlo School, Atherton
      Jose Rivas, Lennox Math, Science and Technology Academy, Lennox
      Ericka Senegar-Mitchell, Junipero Serra High School, San Diego
      
      Colorado
      Scott Brungardt, Erie Middle School, Erie
      Kristi Ekern, Fall River Elementary, Longmont
      Patricia Loeblein, Evergreen High School, Evergreen
      Erin Mayer, Oberon Middle School, Arvada
      
      Kentucky
      Aggie Adwell, Luhr Elementary, Louisville
      Craig DaRif, duPont Manual High School, Louisville
      Amy James, South Oldham High School, Crestwood
      Amanda Ratliff, Paintsville High School, Paintsville
      
      Massachusetts
      Jenifer Gilbert, Pierce Middle School, Milton
      Paul McGuinness, Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, Cambridge
      Anne Olmsted, Neighborhood House Charter School, Dorchester
      Cheryl Sanderson, Summer Street Elementary School, Lynnfield
      
      Rhode Island
      Carrie Clegg, Hampden Meadows Elementary School, Barrington
      Kristen Deschene, Western Coventry Elementary School, Coventry
      Erin Escher, Portsmouth Middle School, Portsmouth
      Catherine Hibbitt, Lincoln School, Providence
      
      Washington
      Ann Autrey, River's Edge High School, Richland
      Kareen Borders, Key Peninsula Middle School, Lakebay
      Sadie Brumley, Gold Bar Elementary, Gold Bar
      Meredith Gannon, Sacajawea Elementary School, Vancouver
      
      Puerto Rico
      Imarlys Cajigas Lopez, Winnie's Active Learning Kids School, Mayaguez
      Jorge Melendez, Secundaria Montessori de Puerto Rico, San Juan
      Ana Paris Tapia, Maria L. Gomez School, Toa Baja
      Maria Rivera Torres, Cupey Maria Montessori School, San Juan
      
      Canada
      Erika van Oyen, Glenmore Elementary, Kelowna, British Columbia
      Linda Phillips, Donald A. Wilson Secondary School, Whitby, Ontario
      Toni McArthur, Huron Park Secondary School, Woodstock, Ontario
      Jean-Marc Perreault, Ecole Secondaire de la Rive, Lavaltrie, Quebec

The 34 selected winners will receive the following benefits:

• An unrestricted cash award of $5,000 USD or $5,000 CAD; and
  
  

• A restricted $5,000 USD or $5,000 CAD cash grant to the recipient’s school for the expansion or enhancement of a school science program, science resources, or the professional development of the school’s science teachers;

Along with the award applications, teachers were asked to submit an innovative science lesson plan which had been successfully introduced in their classroom. Amgen will post select winning lesson plans to its Web site to promote the sharing of this knowledge with educators across the country to bolster excellence and innovation in science teaching.

Amgen partnered with the University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Education to judge the teaching awards in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The School’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction is consistently recognized as a leader in education, and their expertise aided in the selection of the strongest possible winners.

Nominations are solicited every fall with winners selected based on the following criteria: innovative science lesson plan, creativity and effectiveness of teaching methods; and the plan for the use of grant money to improve science education resources in their schools.

For more information about this year’s winners and the program, please visit http://www.amgen.com/citizenship/aaste.html.

About Amgen

Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science’s promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis and other serious illnesses. With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people’s lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and our vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com.

CONTACT:

Amgen, Thousand Oaks

Kristen Davis, (805) 447-3008 (media)

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SOURCE Amgen

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