Arizona Innovation Heroes Awards

Through its Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Initiative, Science Foundation Arizona has recognized K-12 and postsecondary teachers and students who are making significant strides in STEM education. STEM education provides Arizona students the fundamental skills to succeed in today’s global economy.

The Innovation Heroes Awards reward students and teachers who are shining examples of innovation in STEM learning. Innovation Heroes have benn co-sponsored by Science Foundation’s STEM Initiative private partners, Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation and the Rodel Foundations. Science Foundation Arizona has presented these awards throughout the academic year to Innovation Heroes statewide.

See our recent winners listed below.

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Innovation_Heroes_NOMINATION_FORM.pdf

OUR INNOVATION HEROES

William Mellyn and Mark Sandomir

Chemistry teachers at Mesa's Mountain View High School, Mellyn and Sandomir teach college preparatory honors and advanced placement chemistry, using a rigorous curriculum that challenges students to work to their potential by holding them all to the same high standard.

Andrew Lettes

As a Bioscience teacher at Pueblo Magnet High School in Tucson, Andrew Lettes created a program that drives students to sharpen their academic skills and become community leaders while also tackling hands-on bioscience projects.

Brison Torbert

Brison created an innovative pre-engineering program at Liberty High School that challenged and motivated students in science and engineering and provided the opportunity to earn dual high school and college credits while participating in the courses.

Michael Marbut

A sixth-grade teacher at Laguna Elementary School, Michael believes “the grass is always greener” by applying math and science principles towards planting and maintaining lawns along with establishing habitats for plants and animals on the school grounds.

Sylvia Grace

A pre-engineering teacher at Desert Ridge High School in Mesa, Sylvia challenges her classes to conceptualize, design, prototype and market devices that have real-life relevance, and then brings in working engineers and college professors to give feedback to her students.

Faridodin “Fredi” Lajvardi

A robotics and engineering educator at Carl Hayden High School, Fredi,together with adviser Dr. Karen Suhm, incorporate advanced technology to challenge students and encourage them to excel toward exciting careers in engineering and technology.

Jonathan Harris

A student at Carl Hayden High School, Jonathan is praised for his contributions to the school’s Falcon Robotics Team and the construction of a three-dimensional viewing system allowing for better depth perception in monitoring under-water robot tasks.

Sandra Trevino

A Buena High School math teacher, Sandra uses pasta and life-sized graphs with human data points to teach concepts in pre-calculus and trigonometry and engage her students in learning math and science skills.

Christine Sapio

Christine has an infectious energy that encourages Coconino High School’s robotics students, (the “CocoNuts”) to tackle Sapio’s challenging STEM curriculum and provides a safe place for the students to explore risk and succeed.

Vitas Zukowski

A student at Coconino High School, Vitas is known for his dedication to the “CocoNuts” robotics and engineering team, and for using his skills in advanced sciences and chemistry to help classmates and younger students.