AUBURN HILLS ? DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund and New Detroit Science Center last week announced the winners of the Closing the Technology Gap in Education Awards, which recognizes Michigan public school educators who have taken extra steps to stimulate students in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math.

With this new program, the auto maker hopes to further encourage

students to pursue careers in technical fields, and eventually fill

future jobs in the auto industry workforce.

“Through our Closing the Technology Gap in Education awards

competition, we are shining a spotlight on educators who demonstrate their passion and enthusiasm for creatively teaching students science, math, engineering and technology,” said Eric Ridenour, Chrysler Group Chief Operating Officer. “At Chrysler Group, we look for the best and the brightest, and we want to help encourage young people to enter fields that require technical backgrounds. It’s imperative for the success of our economy and our future workforce.”

Gov. Jennifer Granholm served as the honorary chair for the awards

program and congratulated the educators “for going above and beyond in the classroom to ignite and excite the imagination of our kids in science and math, engineering and technology.”

Thirty schools received cash prizes totaling $87,000. A total of 10

prizes were awarded for each school level: elementary, middle/junior and high school. First through third-prize winners received $15,000, $7,500 and $3,000, respectively, while winners who placed fourth through 10th place received $500 honorariums. The grants will go to the schools to help build and strengthen existing STEM curriculums.

Ridenour presented the awards to the following teachers and their

respective schools:

Elementary

Chris McAuliffe, Oxbow Elementary School, White Lake, First Place; Linda Keteyian, Higgins Elementary School, Detroit, Second Place; Richard Tabor, Amerman Elementary School, Northville, Third Place,

Rebecca Briggs, Fourth Place; Haviland Elementary School, Waterford, Fifth Place; Monica Nick, Jefferson Elementary School, Redford, Sixth Place; Cindy Carson, Doherty Elementary School, West Bloomfield, Seventh Place; Trina Byerley and Alyssa Mason, Weston Elementary School, Imlay City, Eighth Place, Suzanne O’Brien, Fox Elementary School, Macomb, Ninth Place; Annette Kirschenmann, Forest Park Elementary School, Eastpointe, Tenth Place, Julie Carlson, Tammy Nemetz, Sarita Shetenhelm and Debbie Storms, Star Elementary, Hastings.

Middle School

Harry Istok, Malow Junior High School, Shelby Township, First Place; Dwight Sieggreen, Hillside Middle School, Northville, Second Place;

Donna Tarsavage, Helen Keller Middle School, Royal Oak, Third Place;

Robert Green, Edward “Duke” Ellington Conservatory of Music and Art,

Detroit, Fourth Place; June Teisan, Harper Woods Middle School, Harper Woods Fifth Place; Alycia Meriweather, Farwell Middle School, Detroit, Sixth Place; Chuck Schepke, Roscomomon Middle School, Roscommon, Seventh Place; Laura Glish, Baker Middle School, Troy, Eighth Place,

Carl Zoolkoski, Liz Dallou, April Dobbs, Christine Kutchen and Beth

Simon, Oakview Middle School, Oakland Twp., Ninth Place; Patricia Ann McNinch, Mayville Middle School, Mayville, Tenth Place.

High School

Kate Fanelli, Beacon Day Treatment Center, Inkster, First Place; Deborah Hasselschwert, Laker High School, Pigeon, Second Place;

Colin Freel, Rogers City High School, Rogers City, Third Place;

Jennifer Petty Gottlieb, Troy Athens High School, Troy, Fourth Place;

Melissa Faitel Cragg, Lamphere High School, Madison Heights, Fifth Place; Kathleen Betrus, Lincoln High School, Ypsilanti, Sixth Place;

Sean Hickman, Pinckney High School, Pinckney, Seventh Place; William “Tom” Green, Bolles Harbor Mathematics and Science Center High School, Monroe, Eighth Place; John Goudie, Kalamazoo Area Mathematics and Science Center High School, Kalamazoo, Ninth Place; Michael McIntyre, Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northeast, Pontiac, Tenth Place.

The 30 winners were selected based on submissions that demonstrated

unique and creative avenues for teaching students math, science, technology and engineering skills while bringing passion and excitement to the classroom. A panel of independent judges from prestigious science, technology, engineering and math arenas, including University of Michigan, Lawrence Technological University and Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAP-CEP) determined the winners.

The awards were presented at the New Detroit Science Center and are

expected to become an annual ceremony.