Genzyme-Life Technologies
Biotech Educator Award

The Genzyme-Life Technologies Biotech Educator Award was established in 2004 by the Biotechnology Institute and is co-sponsored by Genzyme Corporation and Life Technologies Corporation. The program identifies outstanding biotechnology Teacher-Leaders who have participated in the Institute’s National Biotechnology Teacher-Leader Program. These teachers serve as models for their colleagues and lead the improvement of biotechnology education. They represent a premier group of biotechnology teachers who bring the excitement, promise, and cutting-edge research of biotechnology to their classrooms. They provide an impressive array of expertise to help improve teaching and learning while becoming more deeply involved in activities such as curriculum materials selection, research, and teaching other teachers.

Eligibility

certified teachers who are assigned to Grades 9 to 12 science classrooms in a public or private school
teachers with at least five years of teaching experience.
National Biotechnology Teacher-Leader Program alumni.
teachers who are full-time employees of their school districts.
previous first, second, and third-place Biotech Educator Awardees are not eligible.

Round I

A selection committee from the Washington, DC, area comprised of scientists, teacher representatives, science educators (museums, nonprofits), industry representatives, and community leaders reviews the application packets in Round I and makes recommendations to the Biotechnology Institute for up to 10 finalists to attend the national competition based upon

proven leadership and excellence as a teacher,
commitment to furthering the teaching of biotechnology by outreach to other teachers and,
development of innovative way(s) to teach biotechnology.

Round II

A panel of judges will decide the winners. Each finalist will have a ten-minute opportunity to provide a short presentation and discuss his or her Teacher-Leader experience with the judging panel. The judges will carefully review the application of each finalist. The panel will identify the first, second, and third place awardees in the national competition.

The Award

The Genzyme-Life Technologies Biotech Educator Award includes:

1. Awards

First Place: $10,000 (US).
Second Place: $5,000 (US).
Third Place: $2,500 (US).
Honorable Mention for the remaining seven finalists: each will receive a $1,000 gift certificate from Invitrogen.
Each finalist will receive a personalized plaque identifying him/her as a Biotechnology Institute Biotech Educator Awardee.
Round trip airfare to the Institute's Conference on Biology Educaiton and lodging for three nights and meals.
Complimentary full admission to the BIO International Convention.
Complimentary admission to the Biotechnology Institute’s Biotechnology Education Awards Banquet

2. Recognition:

An awards presentation at the Biotechnology Institute’s Biotechnology Education Awards Banquet.
Opportunity to present in the Best Practices Day of the National Biotechnology Education Teacher-Leader Program.
The first place winner will be recognized at a plenary luncheon of the BIO International Convention.

2008 Genzyme-Invitrogen Biotech Educator Awardees

2008 Genzyme-Invitrogen Biotech Educator Award finalists with
US Education Secretary Margaret Spellings (center) and
Paul Hanle, president of the Biotechnology Institute (second row, right)

First Place honoree Jay Vavra (center) of High Tech High School, San Diego, CA,
with Pete Leddy (left) of Invitrogen and Michael Wyzga of Genzyme.

First-place honoree Jay Vavra (center) is flanked by second-place honoree
Myron Blosser (right) of Eastern Mennonite School in Harrisonburg, VA,
and Simon Holdaway of The Loomis Chaffee School of Windsor.

2007 Genzyme-Invitrogen Biotech Educator Awardees

2007 Genzyme-Invitrogen Biotech Educator Award finalists


First Place LeeAnn Vaughan, Omaha North High School, Omaha, Nebraska Second Place John Sharkey, Parma High School, Parma, Idaho	Vaughan (center) with Michael Wyzga (left) of Genzyme and Pete Leddy of Invitrogen (right). Sharkey (center) with Michael Wyzga (left) of Genzyme and Pete Leddy of Invitrogen (right).

Third Place Kristina Doss, Carlmont High School, Belmont, California	Doss with Michael Wyzga (left) of Genzyme and Pete Leddy of Invitrogen (right).

2006 Genzyme-Invitrogen Biotech Educator Awardees

2006 Genzyme-Invitrogen Biotech Educator Award Finalists

First Place Kathryn Eilert Middleton High School Middleton, WI	Eilert with Pete Leddy of Invitrogen (left) and Michael Wyzga of Genzyme.

Second Place Docia Generette Bailey High School Jackson, MS	Generette with Pete Leddy of Invitrogen (left) and Michael Wyzga of Genzyme.

Third Place Deborah Wasylik Dr. Phillips High School Orlando, FL	Wasylik with Pete Leddy of Invitrogen (left) and Michael Wyzga of Genzyme.