Teaching Fellow and Science Education Major Caroline Alexander ’20 Selected for STEM Pre-Service Teacher Education Scholarship Program

N.C. Teaching Fellow Caroline Alexander ’20 has been selected as a recipient of the STEM Pre-Service Teacher Education Scholarship through the North Carolina Space Grant. Alexander is a science education major in the NC State College of Education.

“I am delighted and honored to have been selected as a recipient of the STEM Pre-Service Teacher Education Scholarship through the N.C. Space Grant. I think often, two of the areas of science young children are first exposed to and fascinated by are paleontology and anything related to space,” Alexander said. “I anticipate that bringing in lesson plans and activities related to NASA will be a fantastic way to engage my future students.”

The STEM Pre-Service Teacher Education Scholarship program is designed for students enrolled in STEM-related teacher education degree programs at the undergraduate level. Recipients are awarded a $4,000 scholarship.

Scholarship recipients must also complete a series of NASA STEM Digital Badges, participate in professional seminars and attend a cohort field trip to the NASA Langley Research Center.

“I believe sharing this experience with my students will help them to view me as not only a teacher but also a scientist,” Alexander added. “I want each of my students to know that regardless of their background, beliefs and any other labels that may be placed upon them, they can be a scientist.”

The N.C. Space Grant is a consortium of academic institutions that promote, develop and support aeronautics and space-related science, engineering and technology education and training in North Carolina. They partner with NASA, industry, nonprofit organizations and state government agencies to conduct programs designed to equip the current and future aerospace workforce of North Carolina.