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Amgen recently named 34 science teachers in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico as recipients of the 19th annual Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence.

The awards recognize science teachers who "significantly impact their students through exemplary science teaching and who achieve demonstrated results in student learning in communities where Amgen operates," according to the company.

Amgen received more than 360 applications for the Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence in 2011. The company partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education to judge the awards. Winners were selected based on three key criteria: an innovative science lesson plan, the creativity and effectiveness of teaching methods, and the plan for the use of grant money to improve science education resources in their schools.

The 34 winners will each receive an unrestricted cash award of $5,000 USD or $5,000 CAD, plus a restricted $5,000 USD or $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.

The 2011 award recipients are:

California

Jessica Davis, Film and Theatre Arts Charter High School, Los Angeles

Brian Grigsby, Shasta High School, Redding

Craig Madison, El Verano School, Sonoma

John McDaniel, Nevada Union High School, Grass Valley

Casey O'Hara, Carlmont High School, Belmont

Paul Swain, Albiani Middle School, Elk Grove

Colorado

James DePue, Wray High School, Wray

Lynn Gilbert, Conrad Ball Middle School, Loveland

Jennifer Nass-Fukai, Overland High School, Aurora

Roberta Tanner, Loveland High School, Loveland

Kentucky

Jane Crumbaker, McLean County Middle School, Calhoun

Keri Dowdy, Sedalia Elementary School, Mayfield

Daniela Ehemann, Highlands High School, Fort Thomas

Crista Williford, North Oldham High School, Goshen

Massachusetts

Boris Korsunsky, Weston High School, Weston

Wai Chin Ng, Josiah Quincy Elementary School, Boston

Rosemary Rak, Taunton High School, Taunton

Laura Stella, Wood Hill Middle School, Andover

Puerto Rico

Linda Clark Mora, Escuela Elemental Universidad de Puerto Rico, San Juan

Gladys Davila Hernandez, Escuela Secundaria UPR, San Juan

Pamela Rivera Mercado, Escuela Intermedia Alfonso Diaz Lebron, Juncos

Gilberto Sanchez Garcia, Escuela Superior Pedro Falu Orellano, Rio Grande

Rhode Island

Anthony Borgueta, Barrington Middle School, Barrington

Shannon Donovan, Scituate High School, North Scituate

Mary Frances Hanover, Providence Country Day School, East Providence

Joanne Kearns, Reservoir Avenue School, Providence

Washington

Margaret Carter, Wapato Middle School, Wapato

Robert Ettinger, Mercer Middle School, Seattle

Tyler Rice, Mt. White Swan High School, White Swan

Lois Sherwood, Port Townsend High School, Port Townsend

Canada

John Munro, High Road Academy, Chilliwack, British Columbia

Tracey O'Toole, Whitney Public School, Toronto, Ontario

Amy Park, Heritage Heights School, DeWinton, Alberta

Andrea Venditti, Rosemere High School, Rosemere, Quebec

Since the program's inception in 1992, Amgen has awarded more than $3 million to educators through the Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence.

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