Warsaw Science and Math Teachers go to the Head of the Class

WARSAW, Ind., Nov. 12, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Dane A. Miller believes in strengthening Warsaw and the neighboring Indiana community of Winona Lake through economic, philanthropic and educational efforts.  Today, education was in the limelight. 

Two weeks ago, Dr. Miller was honored as the 2010 August M. Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year, a prestigious award given by BioCrossroads for exceptional achievements by an entrepreneurial, research, corporate, medical, academic or philanthropic individual who has made unique contributions to the development and promotion of Indiana's life sciences sector.

As part of the award, and for their efforts to prepare and advance the next generation of Indiana life sciences champions, four outstanding Warsaw Community Schools science and mathematics teachers will receive professional development "championship grants" from BioCrossroads through the Kosciusko County Community Foundation on behalf of Dr. Miller.

"We established our award in 2008 to recognize those who have had a significant, signature impact on Indiana's life sciences success, and there is no one more fitting to be called a champion than Dr. Miller," said David Johnson, president and CEO of BioCrossroads.  "Dr. Miller's achievements in education, his accomplishments as an entrepreneur and industry leader, and his extraordinary generosity in commitment to community are a wonderful example for young people all over the state.  We're glad to see his award inspire the next generation through honoring these gifted teachers and their students."

Edgewood Middle School mathematics teacher Lorinda Kline and eighth grade science teacher Ben Barkey are two of the championship grant recipients.  Kline was the first runner up as Indiana State Teacher of the Year in 2010 and believes that teachers and students should strive for excellence.  Barkey enjoys teaching through hands-on learning for his science students, including building LEGO® robots and working on a conservation fish breeding project.  He was also a 2008 Charlotte M. Boener Award recipient, which is awarded to an outstanding instructor with a passion for innovative science teaching. 

Lakeview Middle School science teachers Mark McCollum and Dan Wray were also honored with the grants.  McCollum was the 2006 Warsaw Teacher of the Year, and brings his great love for modern space flight to his classroom.  Wray has been a teacher for more than 20 years and is involved in the Space Exploration Educators and Spaceward Bound, which plans planetary analog field research expeditions.  He brings that interest into his classroom to excite his students about science.

As the founder and former CEO of Biomet, Dr. Miller has always stressed the importance of education, particularly in science and math.  "The jobs of the future, particularly those in Indiana, will have an emphasis in science and math as our economy continues to be technology- and innovation-driven.  It's incumbent on us to make those subjects fun and interesting and engage our students at an early age.  Luckily, we have some fantastic teachers in the Warsaw Community Schools system that are igniting a fire for learning in those areas."

"On behalf of the Warsaw Community Schools, I want to thank BioCrossroads for acknowledging the significant work by outstanding educators in our system," said Warsaw Community Schools Superintendent Craig Hintz, Ed. D.  "I'll borrow the late Peter Drucker's words, 'The best way to predict the future is to create it.' We look forward to strategically creating a future where all students achieve."  

About BioCrossroads

BioCrossroads (www.biocrossroads.com) is Indiana's initiative to grow, advance and invest in the life sciences, a public-private collaboration that supports the region's research and corporate strengths while encouraging new business development.   BioCrossroads provides money and support to life sciences businesses, launches new life sciences enterprises (Indiana Health Information Exchange, Fairbanks Institute for Healthy Communities, BioCrossroadsLINX,  Datalys Center and OrthoWorx) expands collaboration and partnerships among Indiana's life science institutions, promotes science education and markets Indiana's life sciences industry. 

SOURCE BioCrossroads