Good Morning Everyone,
We want to increase the number of applications in a short time frame, approximately six weeks. The application itself takes less than 12 hours to write so that is not an issue. We would like you to contact teachers who you know are in need of lab resources and teach an underserved population. Please send them the application and the publicity blurb which I have attached. I can also send you a copy of a winning narrative if you feel that will help .
Last year we did not receive applications from these states: CT, VT, ME, DE, ND, SD, OK, MT, WY, NE, AK, MI, WI, and DC. Shell would like us to increase the number of applications received. We only had 125 last yer.
But we need to reach deserving teachers in all states and Canada.
Thank you for your help to keep this competition moving forward.
Sincerely
Ruth Ruud
Shell Lab Challenge Head Judge
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SHELL SCIENCE LAB CHALLENGE
A PROGRAM OF NSTA
CHALLENGE SUMMARY
Shell and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) have partnered to recognize outstanding middle and high school programs for their exemplary approaches to science lab instruction utilizing limited school and laboratory resources.
The Shell Science Lab Challenge will showcase the work of teachers, representing their schools, who submit innovative, replicable strategies to deliver quality lab experiences with limited equipment/resources, and award teachers/schools with additional tools, resources, and rich professional development opportunities needed to support high-quality science teaching and strengthen their existing capabilities.
AWARD
One Grand Prize Winning School will receive a lab makeover support package valued at $20,000.
4 National Finalist schools will each receive a lab makeover support package valued at $8,500.
18 district winner schools will each receive a lab makeover support package valued at $3,000.
Prizes include Shell cash grants, NSTA memberships, NSTA Learning Center subscriptions, support to attend NSTA Conferences on Science Education, and donated science lab equipment.
The Grand Prize Winner and 4 National Finalists will be honored at the Teacher Awards Gala at NSTA’s National Conference on Science Education in Boston, Massachusetts, April 3 – 6, 2014.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants may be individual teachers or teams of teachers of science in grades 6-12, in the United States and Canada, representing their schools.
A teacher is limited to one application per year (whether submitting as an individual or team applicant).
A school may submit an unlimited number of applications.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
The Shell Science Lab Challenge Judging Panel will review applications (due December 20, 2013) and select up to 54 district finalists (3 in each of 18 NSTA Districts). District finalists will be asked to provide additional responses, including a 3·5 minute video(due January 28, 2014) t hat displays the school’s current science laboratory facilities and provides further explanation of how winning equipment/resources would make a difference in the applicant’s science teaching and in the learning experience for students. The Judging Panel will review the district finalist submissions and select 18 district winners. The Shell Science Lab Challenge National Judging Panel subcommittee will select a Grand Prize Winner and four National Finalists from the pool of district winners.
See the complete program announcement here: ShellLabChallenge2014