Empowering Mentors, Inspiring Innovators: Society for Science Invests $228,000 to support 70 STEM Educators Mentoring the Next Generation

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Society for Science (the Society) has selected 70 extraordinary educators for its 2025–2026 Advocate Program. This program provides training, stipends and year-round support to mentors assisting students to enter science fairs and other research competitions. This year, the Society is awarding a total of $228,000 in funding, with 61 Advocates each receiving $3,000 and nine Lead Advocates each receiving $5,000. Lead Advocates mentor and support their educator cohorts, while all Advocates work to increase the number of students they guide through independent research projects and STEM competitions each year.

"Congratulations to the 2025 Advocates. Their relentless dedication to mentoring students is transforming how STEM is taught and experienced. By providing educators with resources and support to guide their students in scientific research and ultimately competing in STEM competitions, we empower the next generation to solve the world's most intractable problems," said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of Society for Science and Executive Publisher of Science News. "At Society for Science, we are shaping a future where students will not just learn science, but they will lead it."

The Society's Advocate Program is dedicated to broadening student access to science and technology by empowering educators to mentor students in building essential research skills and a confidence in their own STEM ability. As classrooms integrate AI, data science and other emerging technologies, educators play a pivotal role in preparing students to solve urgent global challenges, invent transformative solutions and shape the future of science.

A cornerstone of the Advocate Program is the Advocate Training Institute, an intensive summer professional development experience. This year's sessions covered cultivating student curiosity, building and promoting a high school research program, as well as fostering scientific integrity and ethical research practices. From newcomers learning the ropes to seasoned leaders expanding their reach, Advocates are setting ambitious goals to increase student participation in STEM competitions, guiding students from research question to competition entry while managing logistics and deadlines.

Advocates this year hail from 34 states and Puerto Rico. Twenty-two mentor middle school students, thirty-eight mentor high school students, and ten mentor students across all grade levels. This year's Advocates reach students across a diverse range of geographic locations, with 59 in public schools, 2 in private schools and 9 in charter or other types of schools.

In total, 439 teachers from 47 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and the Mariana Islands have participated in the program. Since its inception in 2015, the Advocate Program has been a key part of the Society's outreach initiatives, building and connecting a national community of STEM and research educators.

To date, Advocates have supported more than 8,335 students during their participation in the program, of which 6,039 students have successfully competed in at least one science research competition. During the 2024-2025 cycle, 76% percent of student mentees participated in science competitions at the local and/or national level. Overall, students of Advocates are responsible for over 11,000 unique competition entries, with many students entering more than one competition.

This year's Advocate Program is made possible by Arconic Foundation, Battelle, DoD STEM through the Defense STEM Education Consortium, and Regeneron.

The following are this year's 2025–2026 Advocates:

2025–2026 Lead Advocates:

1.    Janirette Chaves Rodriguez, University High School (Orange City, FL)
2.    Emily Dawson, Mark Bills Middle School (Peoria, IL)
3.    Chance Duncan, Russellville High School (Russellville, AR)
4.    Susie Fisher, Tongue River Middle School (Ranchester, WY)
5.    Sam Hartpence, Pathfinder High School (Lander, WY)
6.    AJ Mallozzi, Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR)
7.    Alfred Olivas, INSIGHTS Science Discovery (El Paso, TX)
8.    Garrick Purdie, Duplin Early College High School (Kenansville, NC)
9.    Paul Timm, Lyons-Decatur Public Schools (Lyons, NE)

2025 – 2026 Advocates:

10.  Jonas Almerino, Sallie B. Howard School of Arts and Science (Wilson, NC)
11.  Lance Atkinson, Rialto Unified School District (Rialto, CA)
12.  Janice Badongen Patal-e, Espanola Valley High School (Espanola, NM)
13.  Anna Barrientos, Harmony Science Academy-Carrollton (Carrollton, TX)
14.  Caitlin Bonham, Chicago Public Schools (Chicago, IL)
15.  Tiffany Bookal, Gwinnett County Public Schools (Norcross, GA)
16.  Ronald Brillantes, Porcupine School (Porcupine, SD)
17.  Shanna Brown, Milwaukee Public Schools (Milwaukee, WI)
18.  Benjamin Buchanan, Warren Central High School (Indianapolis, IN)
19.  Shaneka Bullins, Palmdale High School (Palmdale, CA)
20.  Kate Cameron, Delta High School (Pasco, WA)
21.  Jalavender Clowney, Saluda Trail STEAM Middle School (Rock Hill, SC)
22.  Geizi Dejka, San Juan College High School (Farmington, NM)
23.  Brittany Devlin, Southeast High School (Bradenton, FL)
24.  James Dowd III, Ardsley High School (Ardsley, NY)
25.  Mark Eastburn, Princeton High School (Princeton, NJ)
26.  Ryne Emerick, Lebanon High School (Lebanon, MO)
27.  Meaghan Ferris, Meadow Park Middle School (Beaverton, OR)
28.  Shauna Garbe, Barratt Elementary (American Fork, UT)
29.  Steven Gaskill, Knudson Academy of the Arts (Las Vegas, NV)
30.  Lamberto Geolin Jr., Ramah Middle/High School (Ramah, NM)
31.  Cecelia Gillam, Benjamin Franklin High School (New Orleans, LA)
32.  Lori Grabarkewitz, ISD 318/Robert J. Elkington Middle School (Grand Rapids, MN)
33.  Willman Henriquez Osorio, George L. Carrington Middle School (Durham, NC)
34.  Kathy Hockman, Jule F. Sumner High School (Riverview, FL)
35.  Wayne Howse, Locust Fork High School (Locust Fork, AL)
36.  Oktay Ince, Horizon Science Academy Columbus High School (Columbus, OH)
37.  Tyza Faith A. Iwag, Raton High School (Raton, NM)
38.  Sunday Iwalaiye, Prince George's County Public Schools (Laurel, MD)
39.  Carol Jones, Pine Ridge Middle School (West Columbia, SC)
40.  Abraham Kamara, Tulsa Public Schools (Tulsa, OK)
41.  Andrea Kennedy, LC Swain Community Middle School (Greenacres, FL)
42.  Tayler Kriss, CCSD 26JT (Center, CO)
43.  Olivia Kuper, North Greene High School (Greeneville, TN)
44.  Niegel La Borde, Summit Academy Charter School (Brooklyn, NY)
45.  Jennifer Langston, Paragould School District (Paragould, AR)
46.  Kris Larsh, McLish Middle School (Stonewall, OK)
47.  Rita Leary, Ashburn Elementary School (Chicago, IL)
48.  Karla Lomax, DeKalb Alternative School (Stone Mountain, GA)
49.  Karen Maninang, Harvest Preparatory Academy (Yuma, AZ)
50.  Josephine Mesina, International High School at Largo (Upper Marlboro, MD)
51.  Brandy Mickelson, Wind River Middle School (Pavilion, WY)
52.  Shawn Mitchell, DuVal High School (Lanham, MD)
53.  Sam Northey, SPPS Online High School (St. Paul, MN)
54.  Wayne Oelfke, Fort White High School (High Springs, FL)
55.  Suneetha Panda, Central High School Bibb County (Macon, GA)
56.  Cris Anthony Rabino, Zuni High School (Zuni, NM)
57.  Kristine Record, MET Professional Academy (Peoria, AZ)
58.  Tiska Rodgers, Kennett High School (Kennett, MO)
59.  Laura Rosado, Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola (San Juan, PR)
60.  Elda Sandoval, Heatherbrea (Phoenix, AZ)
61.  Latasha Sheffield, Athol High School (Athol, MA)
62.  Cassy Smith, Decatur High School (Decatur, GA)
63.  Claire Diane Tabanas, Desert Sunrise High School (Maricopa, AZ)
64.  Kandice Taylor, Kirksey Middle School (Jackson, MS)
65.  Leanne Thele, Perry County District 32 (Perryville, MO)
66.  Silvia Valencia, Crowley ISD (Fort Worth, TX)
67.  Jeanettra Watkins, Homewood-Flossmoor High School (Flossmoor, IL)
68.  David White, Kingsview Middle School (Germantown, MD)
69.  James Winkler, Clare Public Schools (Clare, MI)
70.  Jill Wood, Raleigh County Schools (Coal City, WV)

Explore the profiles of this year's Advocates here:  https://www.societyforscience.org/stem-outreach-programs/advocate-program/meet/2025-26/

About Society for Science

Society for Science is a champion for science, dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Established in 1921, Society for Science is best known for its award-winning journalism through Science News and Science News Explores, its world-class science research competitions for students, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, and its STEM Outreach programming that seeks to ensure that all students have an opportunity to pursue a career in STEM. A 501(c)(3) membership organization, Society for Science is committed to inform, educate and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (Society4Science).

Media Contact: 
Aparna K. Paul (she/her)
Director of Communications
Society for Science
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SOURCE Society for Science