Awards recognize excellence in promoting science, technology, engineering and math education in Georgia

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) and the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG-Ed) announced the winners for the fifth annual STEM Education awards at a special ceremony held in Atlanta Friday night. These awards were created to recognize and celebrate schools, extracurricular programs, public-private partnerships, science agencies and post-secondary education outreach programs for outstanding efforts and achievement in supporting and promoting science, technology, engineering, and math education in Georgia.More than 300 members of the technology and education community were on hand at the event which was sponsored by Georgia Tech Research Institute.

“High-tech careers are some of the most in-demand and highest paying jobs in our country and the anticipated shortage of employees is staggering,” said Amanda Hendley, Chief Operating Officer for TAG. “Our 2016 STEM Education Award winners are the best of the best and are making a major impact on workforce development in Georgia.”

The following are the winners for the 2016 awards.

• Elementary School – Canton Elementary STEM Academy, Cherokee
• Middle School – Fulton Science Academy Private School, Alpharetta
• High School – The Darlington School, Rome
• Corporate / Post-Secondary Outreach – The University of Georgia, The College of Engineering, Athens
• Extracurricular Program – Marietta City Schools Pre-Engineering Pipeline, Marietta
• STEM Day Activity – Kedron Elementary School, Savannah, Peachtree City
• STEM Certified School Outreach – Tucker Middle School, Tucker

“We applaud each of this year’s finalists for their extraordinary efforts to bolster awareness about the importance of STEM and for their hard work to increase student participation in science, technology, engineering and math programs,” said Michael Robertson, director of TAG-Ed. “We are pleased to showcase so many great schools, programs and organizations that are helping to develop a strong future workforce for our state.”

More information, including event photos, will be released online at: http://www.tagonline.org/events/stem-education-awards/ .

About The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)

TAG is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 30,000 members through regional chapters in Metro Atlanta, Athens, Augusta, Columbus, Macon/Middle Georgia, and Savannah. TAG’s mission is to educate, promote, and unite Georgia’s technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy.

The association provides networking and educational programs; celebrates Georgia’s technology leaders and companies; and advocates for legislative action that enhances the state’s economic climate for technology. TAG hosts over 200 events each year and serves as an umbrella organization for 34 professional societies. Additionally, the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG’s charitable arm) focuses on helping science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiatives thrive.

For more information visit the TAG website at www.tagonline.org or TAG’s community website at http://www.tagedonline.org/

About TAG Education Collaborative

TAG Education Collaborative initiatives include an internship program for high school students interested in technology careers, two web-based team challenges for high school students interested in health IT and/or web design, and the Vine Event, a fundraiser launched in 2009 which has raised more than $160,000 to support STEM education. The TAG Education Collaborative provides programs to feed information to middle and high school students to generate interest in S.T.E.M. education and technology careers. Through partnerships with other programs providing hands-on activities, TAG-Ed fosters student and teacher interest in technology, and promotes the opportunities available in technology careers. For additional information, visit TAG Education Collaborative or contact Michael Robertson at (404) 920 – 2038 or mrobertson@tagonline.org.