Call For Applications: The Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence (AASTE)

Science Teachers in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec Encouraged to Apply

MISSISSAUGA, ON. (Nov. 19, 2009) – Amgen today announced that applications for the 19th Annual Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence (AASTE) are now being accepted. The AASTE is designed to recognize and honour teachers who demonstrate exemplary science teaching and who achieve demonstrated results in student learning at the K-12 level.  

Applications must be submitted by Feb. 5, 2010 to be valid.  Winners will be notified between April and June 2010. 

In Canada, the four selected winners will each receive the following benefits:

·         An unrestricted cash award of $5,000 CAD
·         A restricted $5,000 CAD cash grant to the recipient’s school for the expansion or enhancement of a school science program, science resources, or the professional development of the school’s science teachers

In 2009, Amgen honoured 34 outstanding teachers in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada with the AASTE, including the following from Canada: 

British Columbia
David Riendl, York House School in Vancouver, British Columbia

Alberta
Jane Diner, Old Scona Academic School in Edmonton, Alberta

Ontario
Glenn Wagner, Centre Wellington District High School in Fergus, Ontario

Quebec
Chantale Maheaux, École secondaire de l’Horizon in Saint-Jean Chrysostome, Quebec

“Amgen Canada is excited for another successful year of the AASTE program,” says Dr. Daniel Billen, Vice President and General Manager, Amgen Canada. “Amgen is proud to honour extraordinary teachers who continue to advance science education in the classroom and inspire our next generation of scientists.”

With a longstanding commitment to science education, Amgen established the teacher awards program to promote and encourage science excellence in public and private schools.  Since the program’s inception in 1992, Amgen has awarded nearly $2.5 million to educators who have made exceptional science-teaching contributions and who have significantly impacted the lives of their students. 

Applicants are required to submit an innovative lesson plan that they have successfully incorporated into their classroom and that can be shared with other teachers. A panel of independent judges will select the winners based on the following criteria: creativity and effectiveness of teaching methods; innovative lesson plan; and the plan for the use of grant money to improve science education resources in their schools.

A select number of the lesson plans submitted by 2010 AASTE Award winners will be posted to Amgen’s Web site, with the intent that other teachers will benefit from these innovative materials.  Select lesson plans from 2007 through 2009 AASTE Award winners are available for download at no cost; educators are encouraged to review and implement any of these plans into their own curriculum. 

Those interested in applying should visit http://www.amgen.com/citizenship/aaste.html for more information.  The application can be completed online and French and Spanish applications are available in PDF format.  Applications must be submitted by Feb. 5, 2010 to be valid.  Winners will be notified in between April and June 2010. 

As a leader in innovation, Amgen Canada understands the value of science. With main operations located in Mississauga, Ontario’s vibrant biomedical cluster, and its research facility in Burnaby, British Columbia, Amgen Canada has been an important contributor to advancements in science and innovation in Canada since 1991. The company contributes to the development of new therapies or new uses for existing medicines in partnership with many of Canada’s leading health-care, academic, research, government and patient organizations.

About Amgen
Amgen discovers, develops and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science’s promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses. With a broad and deep pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people’s lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and our vital medicines, visit www.amgen.ca.


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CONTACT:    

Natasha Bond                                    
Amgen Canada                                  
(905) 285-3007                                   
natasha.bond@amgen.com

Fiona Robinson / Ethan Pigott
Hill and Knowlton Canada
(416) 413-4737 / (416) 413-4744
Fiona.robinson@hillandknowlton.ca / Ethan.pigott@hillandknowlton.ca