ST. GEORGE — STEM and SkillsUSA teachers and students in the Washington County School District have plenty in common, including awards.
In fact, six STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) teachers each earned recognition from the Southern Utah STEM Awards, and nearly 50 students earned spots on the podium at the SkillsUSA competition.
They were collectively recognized at the Washington County School Board meeting on Monday.
The awards were given April 24 in collaboration with Utah Tech University, Southern Utah University, Dixie Technical College and Southwest Technical College.
Southern Utah STEM Awards
The following six educators received awards:
- Charlie Phillips, Crimson View Elementary School, Mathematics Educator of the Year (K-6).
- Stacey Motos, Desert Canyons Elementary, Science Educator of the Year (K-6).
- Heidi Miller, Desert Canyons Elementary School’s Engineering Educator of the Year (K-6)
- Tammy Salmon, Washington Fields Intermediate, Technology Educator of the Year (K-6).
- Justice Fitzgerald, Crimson Cliffs High School, Science Educator of the Year (7-12).
- Carrie Heiser, Crimson Cliffs High School, Technology Educator of the Year (7-12).
Nominations for the second annual STEM awards, which saw community members endorse educators for having a positive impact on STEM education, ended in late February. Winners received a stipend for classroom supplies, a membership to the Utah Science Teachers Association and a “swag bag” with items from the four sponsoring institutions and local community partners.
Nominations for the second-annual STEM awards ended in February and were given at the Southern Utah STEM Awards banquet in April. Helen Morse, the Career and Technical Education coordinator for Washington County School District, presented the winners at the school board meeting.
“These exemplary educators have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to the classroom,” Morse said. “Through their passion for teaching and their tireless efforts to inspire curiosity and critical thinking, they have fostered an environment where students thrive and excel in STEM subjects. Their impact extends far beyond the classroom walls, shaping tomorrow’s future leaders, innovators, and problem solvers.”
Educators from public, private and charter schools in Washington, Kane, Iron, San Juan, Garfield, Piute, Beaver, Wayne, Millard, Grand, Sevier, and Emery counties were eligible for nomination.
SkillsUSA
Dave Gardner, the district’s director of career and technical education for Washington County School District, led the recognition of the SkillsUSA students and teachers. He said their success was impressive and noted the rarity of one district winning so many medals.
Gardner’s presentation included a simple graphic, which he displayed live on the projector screens on either side of the board members’ seats. The graphic showed 29 gold, 15 silver and 13 bronze medals.
“In all my years in education, both as an educator and as a director, I’ve never seen anything like this document in front of you,” Gardner said. “STEM education is alive and well at the elementary level and continues through our high schools.”
High school students and teachers from Career Tech, Desert Hills, Dixie and Pine View High took home awards.
Crimson Cliffs High School
Gold Medals:
Izzy Epperson, Graphic Communications
Andrew Luekenga, Pin Design
Silver Medals:
Gavin Borden, Advertising Design
Career Tech High School
Gold Medals:
Brian Bang and Kyan Dunn, Additive Manufacturing
Kimbre O’Brien, Restaurant Service
Aaliyah Watchman, Customer Service
Silver Medals:
Autumn Bulloch, Graphic Imaging Sublimation
Kristi Potter, Architectural Drafting
Cache Callaway, Pin Design
Silver Medals in Quiz Bowl:
Camden Peterson
Samantha Stoddard
Jayni Foster
Kenli Seville
Rachel Frisbie
Bronze Medals:
McKenna Brinkerhoff, Graphic Imaging Sublimation
Emily Harlow, Extemporaneous Speaking
Ammon Lovelady, Photography
State Officers:
Kristi Potter
Ethan Terry
Esther Ellison
Directors Choice Awards:
Kyla Law, Pin Design
Ethan Terry, T-shirt Design
Desert Hills High School
Gold Medals:
Preston Luke, Photography
Jalen Hyatt, Advertising Design
Gold Medals in Quiz Bowl:
Zade Smith
Dinyu Wang
Brandon McCook
Carson Cooper
Wesley Redemacher
Silver Medals:
Savannah Bullock, Extemporaneous Speaking
Bronze Medals:
Kayleanna Zaccardi, T-shirt Design
Dixie High School
Gold Medals:
Samantha Copling, Community Service
Savannah Black, Community Service
Tyler Roberts, Community Service
Nathan Ricks, Graphic Imaging Sublimation
Jackson Everett, Screen Printing Technology
Gold Medals in Opening and Closing Ceremony:
Brinley Greer
Taryn Weight
Linda Cox
Maren Peterson
Parker Norman
John Cutler
Nigel Miner
Gold Medals in Promotional Bulletin Board:
Letizia Carter
Maisey Thompson
Ryker McGuire
Silver Medals:
Hayden Wittwer, Screen Printing Technology
Dallin Yost, First Aid/CPR
Kavya Patel, Medical Terminology
Bronze Medals in Quiz Bowl:
Dylan McCook
Dallin Clark
Khushi Patel
Nate Bennion
Colton Larsen
Bronze Medals in Health Knowledge Bowl:
Meghan Johnson
Isabelle Bundy
Kennedy Webb
Kavya Patel
State Spirit Award:
Dixie High School
SkillsUSA teachers
The following teachers were recognized:
- Darren Lister, Engineering and Robotics, Career Tech.
- Dean Warner, Graphics, Pine View.
- Carly Everett, Graphics, Crimson Cliffs.
- Craig Milligan, Graphics, Dixie.
- Jeremiah Heron, Construction and Architecture, Career Tech.
- Kyle Smith, Welding, at Desert Hills.
- Derek Smith, Graphic Design and Digital Media, Career Tech.
- Lu Crandall, Photography and Video Production, Desert Hills.
SkillsUSA is a national organization that aims to support CTE students in preparing for careers in skilled trades and technical fields. It offers programs, events, and competitions to enhance students’ workforce skills from middle school through college.
“We generally save this and have the students report in August after they’ve returned from the national competition,” Gardner said. “But this group of educators has gone above and beyond in a way that I have never seen in my career.”
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