2021 Nominations
Each year, the Connecticut Science Center recognizes men, women, and organizations who share our mission to inspire lifelong learning in STEM fields and go above and beyond expectations to inspire STEM professionals’ next generation. Please help us to identify those exceptional individuals and organizations by submitting a nomination.
Nominations for the 2021 STEM Achievement Awards, the new STEM Achievement & Women in Science Youth Awards, and the Petit Family Foundation Women in Science Leadership Award can be submitted starting March 1, 2021 and will close on May 24, 2021. Winners will be announced and celebrated at the Green Gala on Saturday, October 2, 2021.
STEM Achievement Awards
The Connecticut Science Center celebrates the achievements of professionals, groups, advocates, businesses, and leaders who share our mission to inspire lifelong learning through interactive and innovative experiences that explore our changing world through science.
Individuals and/or organizations can be nominated for these awards.
2021 Nomination Forms
STEM Achievement & Women in Science Youth Awards
This award recognizes and celebrates a student in grades 8 - 12, who has shown curiosity, achievement and/or leadership in one or more STEM fields. This could be through promoting STEM education in the school or community, or through the creation and development of a novel product or technology tool.
2021 Nomination Form
Petit Family Foundation Women in Science Leadership Award
This award recognizes a woman working in STEM who is a leader in her field, and who makes a significant effort to support other women and encourage girls' interests in STEM. The honoree is selected by the Connecticut Science Center's Women in Science steering committee.
2021 Nomination Form
2020 STEM Achievement Individual Award Honoree
Carmen R. Cid, Ph.D is the 2020 STEM Achievement Award Individual Honoree. She is
the Dean, Arts and Sciences, Eastern Connecticut State University. She is the founding
chair of the Women and Minorities in Ecology Committee for the Ecological Society of
America (ESA), the largest professional organization for ecologists. In this role, Dr. Cid led
the development of the first blueprint for establishing the committee infrastructure and
strategic planning initiatives to improve recruitment, retention and career development for
women and minorities in ecology (the WAMIE I report). Over the last two decades, she
worked to set and accomplish many goals to enhance ESA diversity and ecological
literacy initiatives. Her most significant achievement includes the establishment of the
SEEDS award-winning mentoring programs for minority undergraduates
(https://esa.org/seeds/) and the development of many society initiatives to improve career
development of early career ecologists, along with establishment of society-endorsed undergraduate ecology
education standards (www.esa.org/4dee).
2020 Petit Family Foundation Women in Science Leadership Award Honoree
Jacquelynn Garofano, Ph.D is the 2020 Petit Family Foundation Women in
Science Leadership Award Honoree. Dr. Garofano knows firsthand the power of
mentorship and networking. She is a true STEMinist. She feels incredibly
fortunate to have had mentors who encouraged and supported her career and
works to give back by creating opportunities for a diverse workforce. As a
first-generation college graduate, she knows the challenges that one must
overcome. She is an active member of the Society of Women Engineers and was
a 2018 Future is NOW awardee by the CT Women’s Education and Legal Fund
for her work to advance women and girls in STEM fields. Her passion is being the
catalyst that will help set others on a STEM path, igniting their love of STEM and
education
2020 STEM Achievement Organization Award Honoree
The Hartford and the Cognizant U.S. Foundation are this year’s STEM Achievement Award Organization Honoree. Among their philanthropic funding priorities, The Hartford and Cognizant U.S. Foundation have elevated STEM, STEM education, and STEM workforce development as a primary point of focus of their efforts. Both organizations have – on their own – funded initiatives and provided extensive volunteer support for these efforts. In 2019, they came together in an unprecedented partnership to fund the STEM Career Connections initiative at the Connecticut Science Center. STEM Career Connections is a comprehensive initiative designed to inspire students to consider futures in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). It represents a deepening commitment to the illumination of STEM opportunities and pathways available in Connecticut.
Past Award Winners
- John D. Mertens, Ph.D. Professor of Engineering, Trinity College, STEM Achievement Award Individual Honoree
- Aetna Health Professions Partnership Initiative, UConn Health , STEM Achievement Award Organization Honoree
- Kristen Govoni, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Animal Sciences, UConn, Petit Family Foundation Women in Science Leadership Award
- Sharon Gusky, Professor, Biology, Northwestern Connecticut Community College, STEM Achievement Award Individual Honoree
- Girl Scouts of Connecticut, STEM Achievement Award Organization Honoree
- Dr. Michele Dischino, Professor, Technology & Engineering Education, Central Connecticut State University, Petit Family Foundation Women in Science Leadership Award
- Carolyn Begnoche of UTC Aerospace Systems, STEM Achievement Award Individual Honoree
- CBIA Education & Workforce Partnership, STEM Achievement Award Organization Honoree
- Claudine Phaire of Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, Petit Family Foundation Women in Science Leadership Award
- Walter Nakonechny, STEM Achievement Award Individual Honoree
- Connecticut Invention Convention, STEM Achievement Award Organization Honoree
- Jonna Gerken, Petit Family Foundation Women in Science Leadership Award
- Mark Dixon, STEM Achievement Award Individual Honoree
- Connecticut Pre-Engineering Program, STEM Achievement Award Organization Honoree
- Dr. Linda Barry, Petit Family Foundation Women in Science Leadership Award
- Dr. Kristine Larsen, Petit Family Foundation Women in Science Leadership Award
- Jared Cohen, STEM Achievement Award Individual Honoree
- The Travelers Companies, Inc., STEM Achievement Award Organization Honoree
- Kimberly McLean, Petit Family Foundation Women in Science Leadership Award
- Governor Dannel P. Malloy, STEM Achievement Award Individual Honoree
- United Technologies Corporation, STEM Achievement Award Organization Honoree
Women In Science Steering Committee
- Kenneth Bowes
- Katherine Coughlin
- Meg Duffy
- Holly Ann Quinn
- Gladis Kersaint, Ph.D.
- Meryl Mallery
- Danielle Metcalf
- Marie O’Brien
- William A. Petit, Jr., MD
- Chandra Roychoudhuri, Ph.D.
- Ellyn Savard
- Chinma Uche, Ph.D.
Presented By
