Hawai‘i Pacific University is set to empower the next generation of educators in science and technology fields with a generous $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. This grant aims to foster the growth of students with a passion for teaching STEM subjects, especially in those communities that are too often left out of the conversation on science education. According to a report by KITV, Dr. Jennifer Walsh, Hawai‘i Pacific University’s Senior Vice President, expressed gratitude for the grant and the university's partnership with the Hawai‘i Department of Education.
The program is designed to not only offer financial support but to also gently push its scholars to commit to teaching in high-need schools for two years. These selected students, who will begin their journeys as Noyce scholars starting in fall 2024, can look forward to receiving $18,000 annually to aid their studies, as reported by Maui Now. With this grant, 12 Hawai‘i Pacific University students will have the opportunity to become change agents in an educational sector that has struggled to equitably represent all of its participants.
Dr. Eugene Guillian, Hawai‘i Pacific University Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator of the grant, underscored the importance of this initiative. "At the moment, the STEM field is highly specialized, and professionals in this area are rarely encouraged to become K-12 educators,” Dr. Guillian told Maui Now. He explained that this program is set to address the social aspects such as environmental issues and identity building which are paramount to engaging underrepresented groups in STEM fields.
The Noyce Teacher Scholarship at Hawai‘i Pacific University tremendously values forming strong bonds with several high-need school districts in Hawai‘i, including McKinley and Farrington high schools, as well as Washington and Kalākaua Middle Schools. These alliances are strategic not only to help elevate future educators but to ensure the presence of mentors and resources necessary for the blossoming of younger students. Dr. Guillian himself, who transitioned from a research track to a career committed to teaching, told KITV about the pressures to pursue research over educating high school students—a path he initially felt compelled to follow.
Hawai‘i Pacific University will plow ahead with the selection of the first group of Noyce Scholars in the approaching fall semester, with subsequent cohorts set to embark on this journey in 2025 and 2026. This integrated approach, intertwining university coursework with real-world teaching experiences, promises to not only provide education but instill a lifelong passion for pedagogy in the realms of scientific inquiry. For those interested in learning more or applying to this program that is set to build bridges to futures full of potential, more information can be requested via email to Dr. Eugene Guillian at [email protected].
