Dow, CH2M and Smithsonian commit to prepare and inspire STEM educators

MIDLAND, Mich., June 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A group of 38 teachers from eight states will benefit from world-class training as a partnership between The Dow Chemical Company, CH2M, and the Smithsonian Science Education Center is renewed for another year. Participants in the 2017 Dow-CH2M Smithsonian Teacher Scholar Program will participate in the six-day Smithsonian Science Education Academies for Teachers (SSEATs) in Washington, D.C., then continue on a year-long growth experience tailored to expanding science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) excellence.

Since 2007, Dow has supported about 275 teachers through partnership with the Smithsonian Science Education Center, part of the Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum, education, and research complex. Renewing the involvement of Dow's strategic business partner CH2M allows employees from both companies to contribute to the teachers' growth experience.

"Without question, the Teacher Scholar Program is having a tremendous impact on teachers and, ultimately, students in our key communities across the country," said Meredith Morris, Dow's Global Education Leader. "Dow is committed to building the workforce of tomorrow through impactful collaborations, and we are proud to partner with CH2M and the Smithsonian to bring this program to life for our teachers."

The Teacher Scholar Program aligns closely with Dow's 2025 Sustainability Goals, through which the Company collaborates with like-minded partners to advance the well-being of humanity by helping lead the transition to a sustainable planet and society. CH2M is a natural teammate, and through the CH2M Foundation, the company works with organizations in its operating countries to develop sustainable communities, promote STEM education and foster employee engagement.

"We're excited to build upon our aligned Global Citizenship strategies with Dow and the Smithsonian Science Education Center to provide this unique opportunity to deserving teachers in our local communities," said Ellen Sandberg, Executive Director, CH2M Foundation. "This program demonstrates to our educators that they are highly valued and critical to the success of our students, while encouraging young people to pursue science and engineering careers."

Each Teacher Scholar Program participant will attend, at no cost, one of three SSEATs professional development academies in Washington, D.C. The academies include: Biodiversity (June 18-23); Energy's Innovations and Implications (July 9-14); and Earth's History and Global Change (July 30-August 4). This year, for the first time, the Smithsonian will collaborate with the National Museum of African American History and Culture to develop one day of programming for the Energy's Innovations and Implications academy. The program will focus on the museum's LEED (Leadership and Energy in Environmental Design) Gold certification, and participants will have an opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes look at the museum's sustainability measures, including a green roof and water recycling system, and view the facility through the eyes of one of the museum's architects and a structural engineer.

"We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Dow and CH2M to bring our program of scientific discovery and advanced professional development to teachers. This experience affords teachers the opportunity to engage in authentic STEM experiences by working directly with scientists and other experts, and bring the exciting learnings back to their local classrooms," said Carol O'Donnell, Director of the Smithsonian Science Education Center. "We are grateful to both companies for their commitment to empowering teachers to prepare and inspire the next generation of our STEM workforce."

This year's participants include two teachers from the Lighthouse Academy at Eagle Village, a groundbreaking facility in west Michigan that provides troubled teenagers with counseling, treatment, and leadership and life skills training to ready them for returning home or to a foster, adoptive, or independent living arrangement.

After the program in Washington, participating teachers will meet in teams at their home locations throughout the school year. Dow and CH2M will organize opportunities for the teachers to maintain their connection and receive additional support tailored to each community. Substantial support will come from Dow STEM Ambassadors, an organization of employee volunteers who share their passion for science through community outreach in dozens of Dow sites around the world. STEM Ambassadors will provide a rich variety of experiences including safety procedures, technical briefings, classroom demonstrations, and career talks, supporting Dow's 2025 Sustainability Goal of Engaging Employees for Impact.

The following teachers from Dow and CH2M communities have been selected to participate this year:

California:

• Julie Hubbard, Liberty High School, Brentwood, CA.
• Myesha Mebane, Pittsburg Unified School District, Pittsburg, CA.
• Gordon Miller, Shore Acres Elementary, Mt. Diablo Unified School District, Bay Point, CA.
• Lynda Ramos, Kimball School, Antioch Unified School District, Antioch, CA.
• Danielle Voegtlin, Dozier-Libbey Medical High School, Antioch Unified School District, Antioch, CA.
• Linda Wilhelm, Valley View Middle School, Pleasant Hill, CA.
• Frank Zrinski, Antioch Unified School District, Antioch, CA.

Delaware:

• Samuel Fawks, P.S. DuPont Middle School, Brandywine School District, Wilmington, DE.

Illinois:

• Allison Egert, Montini Catholic School, McHenry, IL.
• Joanne Maher, Gavin South Middle School, Ingleside, IL.

Louisiana:

• Tyne Bankester, Math and Science Academy - West, Iberville Parish, Plaquemine, LA.
• Mary Ellen Day, Iberville Math and Science Academy East, Iberville Parish, St. Gabriel, LA.
• Tyler Dufrene, Hahnville High School, St. Charles Parish Public Schools, Boutte, LA.
• Rebecca Gerdes, West Baton Rouge Parish, Port Allen, LA.
• Ashley Hebert, Lakewood Elementary School, St. Charles Parish Public Schools, Luling, LA.
• LaShina Jordan, ReNEW Dolores T Aaron Academy, Recovery School District, New Orleans, LA.
• Joan Philip, Hahnville HS, St. Charles Parish Public Schools, Boutte, LA.
• Jim Shoff, Twin Oaks Elementary, East Baton Rouge Parish Schools, Baton Rouge, LA.

Michigan:

• Veena Cole, Beal City Schools, Mt. Pleasant, MI.
• Nathan Kade, Freeland Elementary, Freeland Community School District, Freeland, MI.
• John D. Pierce, Lighthouse Academy - Eagle Village Campus, Hershey, MI.
• Jessica Provoast, Bay City Public Schools, Bay City, MI.
• Lynn Rogers, Saginaw City Schools, Saginaw, MI.
• Molly Somers, Freeland Community School District, Freeland, MI.
• Erica Sprague, Meridian Junior High, Meridian Public Schools, Sanford, MI.
• Nathan Walker, Lighthouse Academy - Eagle Village Campus, Hershey, MI.

Pennsylvania:

• Michele Andre, Pottstown School District, Pottstown, PA.
• Jeremy Wolf, Palisades High School, Kintnersville, PA.

Texas:

• Shelia Bean, West Columbia Elementary, Columbia-Brazoria ISD, West Columbia, TX.
• Haley Bell, Columbia-Brazoria ISD, West Columbia, TX.
• Irenna Garapetian, A.P. Beutel Elementary, Brazosport ISD, Lake Jackson, TX.
• Lyndsey Gilbertson, Angleton High School, Angleton ISD, Angleton, TX.
• Patricia Hall, Westside Elementary, Angleton ISD, Angleton, TX.
• Joni Markgraf, Madge Griffith, BISD, Clute, TX.
• Javier Montiel, Brazosport ISD, Freeport, TX.
• Jennifer Nicholas, Brazosport Independent School District, Lake Jackson, TX.
• Kourtney Ward, Barrow Elementary School, Columbia Brazoria ISD, Brazoria, TX.

Wisconsin:

• Deanna Schroeder, Edgerton Elementary School, Whitnall School District, Hales Corners, WI.

Learn more about SSEATs and the Smithsonian Science Education Center.

Explore Dow's commitment to building the workforce of tomorrow.

Discover CH2M's STEM education and global citizenship strategy.

About CH2M:
CH2M leads the professional services industry delivering sustainable solutions benefiting societal, environmental and economic outcomes with the development of infrastructure and industry. In this way, CH2Mers make a positive difference providing consulting, design, engineering and management services for clients needing world-class solutions in environmental; industrial and advanced facilities; transportation; and water markets, from iconic infrastructure to global programs like the Olympic Games.

Ranked among the World's Most Ethical Companies and top firms in environmental consulting and program management, CH2M in 2016 became the first professional services firm honored with the World Environment Center Gold Medal Award for efforts advancing sustainable development. Connect with CH2M at www.ch2m.com; LinkedIn; Twitter; and Facebook.

About Dow
Dow combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from material, polymer, chemical and biological science to help address many of the world's most challenging problems, such as the need for fresh food, safer and more sustainable transportation, clean water, energy efficiency, more durable infrastructure, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's integrated, market-driven portfolio delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in 175 countries and in high-growth sectors such as packaging, infrastructure, transportation, consumer care, electronics, and agriculture. In 2016, Dow had annual sales of $48 billion and employed approximately 56,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 7,000 product families are manufactured at 189 sites in 34 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

About the Smithsonian Science Education Center
The mission of the Smithsonian Science Education Center is to transform and improve the learning and teaching of science for K-12 students in the United States and throughout the world. Established in 1985 as the National Science Resources Center (NSRC) under the sponsorship of two prestigious institutions—the Smithsonian Institution and the National Academy of Sciences—the Smithsonian Science Education Center is dedicated to the establishment of effective science programs for all students. To contribute to that goal, the Center has developed and published a comprehensive K-8, science curriculum program: Science and Technology Concepts™ (STC Elementary and Secondary); and, it supports the systemic needs of schools, districts, and states through its Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER) model, proven to be efficacious in a large 5-year randomized control trial funded by the US Department of Education. To learn more visit: http://ssec.si.edu.

SOURCE CH2M

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