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THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. , June 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN ) today announced the 34 science teachers in the United States , Canada and Puerto Rico who are this year's recipients of the 19th annual Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence. The award recognizes extraordinary science teachers at the kindergarten through 12th grade level who significantly impact their students through exemplary science teaching and who achieve demonstrated results in student learning in communities where Amgen operates.
With a longstanding commitment to science education, Amgen established the teacher awards program to promote and encourage science teaching excellence in public and private schools. Since the program's inception in 1992, Amgen has awarded more than $3 million to educators who have made exceptional science-teaching contributions.
"At Amgen, we are committed to supporting programs that encourage bright young minds to explore a future in science," said Joseph P. Miletich , M.D., Ph.D., senior vice president of research and development at Amgen. "We applaud this year's exceptional winning teachers who are inspiring their students to be excited about learning and science."
In 2011, Amgen received more than 360 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. The 2011 award recipients are:
California Jessica Davis , Film and Theatre Arts Charter High School in Los Angeles Brian Grigsby , Shasta High School in Redding Craig Madison , El Verano School in Sonoma John McDaniel , Nevada Union High School in Grass Valley Casey O'Hara, Carlmont High School in Belmont Paul Swain , Albiani Middle School in Elk Grove
Colorado James DePue , Wray High School in Wray Lynn Gilbert , Conrad Ball Middle School in Loveland Jennifer Nass-Fukai , Overland High School in Aurora Roberta Tanner , Loveland High School in Loveland
Kentucky Jane Crumbaker , McLean County Middle School in Calhoun Keri Dowdy , Sedalia Elementary School in Mayfield Daniela Ehemann , Highlands High School in Fort Thomas Crista Williford , North Oldham High School in Goshen
Massachusetts Boris Korsunsky , Weston High School in Weston Wai Chin Ng , Josiah Quincy Elementary School in Boston Rosemary Rak , Taunton High School in Taunton Laura Stella , Wood Hill Middle School in Andover
Puerto Rico Linda Clark Mora , Escuela Elemental Universidad de Puerto Rico in San Juan Gladys Davila Hernandez , Escuela Secundaria UPR in San Juan Pamela Rivera Mercado , Escuela Intermedia Alfonso Diaz Lebron in Juncos Gilberto Sanchez Garcia , Escuela Superior Pedro Falu Orellano in Rio Grande
Rhode Island Anthony Borgueta , Barrington Middle School in Barrington Shannon Donovan , Scituate High School in North Scituate Mary Frances Hanover , Providence Country Day School in East Providence Joanne Kearns , Reservoir Avenue School in Providence
Washington Margaret Carter , Wapato Middle School in Wapato Robert Ettinger , Mercer Middle School in Seattle Tyler Rice , Mt. White Swan High School in White Swan Lois Sherwood , Port Townsend High School in Port Townsend
Canada John Munro , High Road Academy in Chilliwack, British Columbia Tracey O'Toole, Whitney Public School in Toronto, Ontario Amy Park , Heritage Heights School, in DeWinton, Alberta Andrea Venditti , Rosemere High School in Rosemere, Quebec
The 34 selected winners will receive the following benefits:
Amgen partnered with the University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Education to judge the teaching awards in the United States 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 were solicited in the fall of 2010 and winners were 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 .
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, bone disease 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)