2008 Siemens Teacher Scholarships Awarded

ISELIN, N.J., March 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Siemens Foundation today announced the winners of the 2008 Siemens Teacher Scholarships, the third year of a collaboration between the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and the Siemens Foundation. The program encourages students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that plan to pursue teaching careers in science and math. It also provides them with an interactive classroom experience through the Siemens Foundation's Siemens Science Day program, which has reached 36,000 students nationwide with the help of Siemens employees in the past two years. Through Siemens Science Day, Siemens Teacher Scholarship winners are sharing their passion for science with elementary school students and leading experiments developed by Scholastic.

"We believe it is important not only to encourage future science and math teachers with scholarships, but to also give them an early opportunity to enter the classroom and experience the joy of discovery with elementary students," said Jeniffer Harper-Taylor, Vice President of the Siemens Foundation and graduate of Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., one of the country's 85 HBCUs. "By providing the tools and resources to students who have expressed a genuine interest in teaching math and science, we get a step closer to increasing the number of teachers and role models for our next generation of leaders," she said.

On February 12, 2008, Siemens Teacher Scholarship recipient Kraven Cook, a senior at Mississippi Valley University, led a Siemens Science Day for 24 students at Davis Elementary School in Greenwood, Mississippi. Teams were instructed to create a chamber with simple materials such as straws, popsicle sticks and masking tape to protect a raw egg from breaking when dropped from a 10 foot distance. "I explained to the students that they had just experienced the first step of becoming engineers and scientists," he said, noting that the experiment helped students explore how designs can be engineered to protect against the impact of gravity.

"We are proud to join forces with Siemens in developing a new generation of math and science educators for the future," said Dwayne Ashley, CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund. "By investing in the development of new science teachers, we are investing in the future pipeline of young men and women who will be inspired to explore, analyze and probe the unknown. Teachers are influential in the lives of their students and having the support and resources needed to connect their classrooms to real science and industry is priceless," he said.

The Siemens Foundation is providing $1 million in scholarships over five years to undergraduate and graduate students through the Siemens Teacher Scholarships. The funds are administered by the TMCF and UNCF, with each organization receiving $500,000 to be awarded to students accepted to any one of America's 85 Historically Black Colleges and Universities that are members of the two organizations. Student recipients are selected by the two organizations. This year, 31 students will receive scholarships to help supplement his or her higher education costs toward a teaching degree in math and science. To date about 120 students have received scholarship awards. As bachelor degrees awarded in science, technology, engineering and math decline, HBCUs play a vital role in meeting America's need to increase and diversify science professionals.

"Through technology, mathematics and science, we have the privilege of transportation, electronics, medical supplies, clean air and water," said 2008 Siemens Teacher Scholarship recipient Janelle Bratton, a junior at Benedict College. "As teachers, it is imperative for us to be educated in these areas in order to teach effectively and prepare our students for the future. The Siemens Teacher Scholarship will be an open door to my future as a teacher and will help me finish my education with confidence."

    A complete list of the 2008 Siemens Teacher Scholarships winners follows:

    2008 TMCF Siemens Teacher Scholarships (23)
    -- Moma Abushanab, Texas Southern University (Interdisciplinary
       Studies/Early Childhood Education)
    -- Janine Bates, Alabama Agriculture & Mechanical University (Mathematics
       Education)
    -- Jerib Carson, Medgar Evers College (Education/Science)
    -- Kraven Cook, Mississippi Valley State University (Elementary Education)
    -- Yancey Dawson, Southern University (Electrical Engineering)
    -- Keira Ebanks, Florida A&M University (Biological/Agricultural Systems
       Engineering)
    -- Felicia Ekpo, Langston University (Biology)
    -- Annie Errilienne, University of the Virgin Islands (Elementary
       Education)
    -- India Fowler, Coppin State University (Mathematics)
    -- Jacinthia Greaux, University of Virgin Islands (Marine Biology)
    -- Carl Harvin, Coppin State University (Mathematics)
    -- Jennifer Kenney, University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Technology
       Education)
    -- David Lawton, Albany State University (Early Childhood Education)
    -- Crystal Morgan, Florida A&M University (Elementary Education)
    -- Kenie Moses, Southern University A&M in Baton Rouge (Electrical
       Engineering)
    -- Equisha Newsome, Lincoln University (Secondary Education in Biology)
    -- Amber Patrick, Albany State University (Early Childhood Education)
    -- Carlton Seward, Winston Salem State University (Elementary Education)
    -- Rico Smith, Harris Stowe State University (Secondary Education
       Mathematics)
    -- Lorinda Weinrich, Harris Stowe State University (Secondary Education
       Science)
    -- Mervin Woodlin Jr., Virginia State University (Math Education)
    -- Brooke Womack, Lincoln University, (Health Science)
    -- Shaneka Zakers, University of the Virgin Islands (Elementary Education)

    2008 UNCF Siemens Teacher Scholarships (8)
    -- Torey Boseman, Fisk University (Education)
    -- Janelle Bratton, Benedict College (Education)
    -- Anthony Broughton, Benedict College (Education)
    -- Lauren Buford, Spelman College (Biology)
    -- Jason Calloo, Benedict College (Engineering)
    -- Jessica Greene, Fisk University (Chemistry)
    -- Andrea Hill, Clark Atlanta University (Biology)
    -- Christanny Lawson, Benedict College (Computer Science)

The Siemens Foundation

Established in 1998, the Siemens Foundation contributes nearly $4 million dollars annually in support of Math, Science and Technology education from grade school to graduate school. Based in Iselin, New Jersey, the Foundation's signature programs -- the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology, the Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement, and the Siemens Teacher Scholarships -- recognize exceptional achievement in science, math, and technology. By supporting outstanding students today, and recognizing the teachers and schools that inspire their excellence, the Foundation helps nurture tomorrow's scientists and engineers. The Foundation's mission is based on the culture of innovation, research, and educational support that is the hallmark of Siemens' U.S. operating companies and its parent company, Siemens AG. For more information, visit www.siemens-foundation.org.

    Alex Aizenberg
    Weber Shandwick
    212-445-8414
    aaizenberg@webershandwick.com

    Andrew Bard
    Weber Shandwick
    212-445-8368
    abard@webershandwick.com

    Valerie Francois
    Siemens Foundation
    732-590-5292
    valerie.francois@siemens.com