January 27, 2025

Each year, the AEOP Membership Council recognizes the achievements of educators, students, and mentors who have made a lasting impact through AEOP programs. These awards celebrate their dedication to advancing STEM education, fostering innovation, and inspiring future leaders in the field. 

Through the Community Service, All-Star, Educator of the Year, AEOP Mentor of the Year, Renaissance, Future Leader, and Rising Star awards, we honor their invaluable contributions.

Join us in celebrating the incredible winners of this year’s awards! 

Nidhi Sagaram, All Star Award 
eCYBERMISSION and JSHS

Nidhi Sagaram, an 11th grader at the Illinois Math and Science Academy, has demonstrated her passion and dedication to STEM through her involvement in AEOP programs like eCYBERMISSION and JSHS. Over the years, Nidhi’s eCYBERMISSION team earned national recognition, winning a STEM-In-Action Grant, becoming National Finalists, and winning Nationals twice. Her achievements extend beyond competitions, as she actively promotes AEOP programs, inspiring students across her community to participate. She even mentored a 6th-grade eCYBERMISSION team.

Her academic journey includes advanced science courses at IMSA and research at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, where she works on projects related to bladder pressure and 3D bioprinting. As a STEM Club ambassador at the Alive Center, she leads summer camps for teens. As a coach on her school’s robotics team, she guides peers in robot design and programming. Nidhi also competes in health science events through HOSA and regularly participates in JSHS competitions.

Nidhi’s time in AEOP programs has been key to developing her leadership, teamwork, and perseverance. Through these experiences, she’s honed her organizational skills and discovered a true passion for solving real-world problems with STEM. Her curiosity and collaborative mindset fuel her success, enabling her to approach challenges with determination and a strong commitment to doing things the right way. Her dedication to quality work has been a key factor in her national accomplishments and advancement to regional JSHS.

Aditi Senthikumar, Community Service Award
GEMS

Aditi, a Junior at Urbana High School in Ijamsville, MD, has been a passionate advocate for STEM education, especially robotics, for several years. Starting her journey at the GEMS summer camp in third grade, she discovered her love for robotics and has since led workshops for over 350 elementary and middle school students, teaching them to design, build, and program EV3 robots. These workshops have significantly increased robotics participation in Frederick County, where FLL teams have grown from one to more than ten.

Aditi is also a member of her high school’s First Robotics Competition (FRC) team and has earned awards at the Frederick County Science Fair for her research on microplastics. She is committed to inspiring others, particularly girls, to pursue STEM, and has represented Maryland in the Million Girls Moonshot program, earning recognition from Vice President Kamala Harris.

Through her work with AEOP programs, Aditi has developed leadership and communication skills, which she uses to make STEM accessible and engaging. Her efforts continue to inspire the next generation of STEM enthusiasts and shape the future of STEM education in her community.

Dr. Barbara Dunham, Mentor of the Year Award
GEMS, JSS, RESET

Dr. Barbara Dunham has dedicated 19 years to teaching STEM, during which her students have earned multiple state and national awards in STEM competitions. She has also garnered numerous accolades, including the State of Alabama Career Technical Education Program of the Year, TSA State of Alabama STEM Teacher of the Year, and ITEEA Teacher of Excellence. Currently, Dr. Dunham serves as the ITEEA State Champion for Alabama and the ASTA Outreach Chair. Beyond her teaching role, she has remained an active AEOP Ambassador, volunteer, and forum discussions panelist.

Over the past 12 years, Dr. Dunham’s students have participated in eCYBERMISSION, and she regularly holds meetings and conferences with fellow educators across Alabama to share the benefits of AEOP programs. Her commitment to STEM education extends to collaborating with colleagues, who review and provide feedback on student projects. Additionally, she encourages them to incorporate these projects into their own curricula, which has proven to be highly beneficial for math, science, and ELS instructors. Her experience with AEOP has allowed her to build dynamic, engaging learning experiences for both students and teachers. 

Dawn Martin, Renaissance Award
eCYBERMISSION and GEMS

Dawn Martin, a math teacher with 24 years of experience in Alabama, is deeply committed to ensuring all students have access to quality education and opportunities in STEM. As the education chair for the Limestone County Branch NAACP in Athens, Dawn works on eliminating discrimination, encouraging parental involvement, and supporting students as they pursue scholarships and explore educational options. She’s also been actively involved in AEOP, serving as a Teacher with GEMS and as an Ambassador for eCYBERMISSION. This past year, she’s been working on her application for the RESET Program for educators and has even been accepted into a Ph.D. program in math education.

Dawn is passionate about spreading the word about AEOP and STEM opportunities to her colleagues. She’s presented at workshops and conferences and will continue to advocate for STEM education in the coming year. Her AEOP experiences have not only built her leadership skills but also helped her grow in confidence as she guides both students and fellow educators in exploring critical thinking and inquiry-based learning.

Outside the classroom, Dawn is actively involved in her community, volunteering at the local food bank, tutoring students, and participating in a reading program. She is also raising funds for scholarships, ensuring that students have access to opportunities in STEM. Dawn’s hands-on involvement in her community demonstrates her dedication to helping students thrive, both academically and personally.

Ahaan Pandey, Rising Star
eCYBERMISSION 

Ahaan Pandey, a ninth grader and dedicated participant in eCYBERMISSION, is a perfect example of how persistence and a passion for STEM can create real-world impact. In eighth grade, Ahaan teamed up with a school partner to develop a “Smart Helmet” aimed at improving e-bike safety by ensuring riders always wear helmets. Their hard work led to wins at the state and regional levels, and although they didn’t win at nationals, they earned a $5,000 STEM-In-Action Grant to keep their project going and return next year.

Ahaan’s experience with eCYBERMISSION has helped him develop key skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and public speaking, while also fueling his interest in STEM. He’s also actively engaged in the AEOP community, participating in professional development opportunities and spreading the word about AEOP programs to his peers. Looking ahead, Ahaan is excited to continue exploring STEM, promoting AEOP, and pursuing a college degree in a field that combines his love for innovation and technology.

Gordon Chen, Future Leader Award
GEMS

Gordon Chen, an 11th grader and member of the AEOP Membership Council, is a shining example of how AEOP programs spark curiosity and fuel innovation. After discovering his passion for human-machine interaction through the 2023 GEMS program, Gordon went on to compete in the 2024 Congressional App Challenge with an environmental study project and served as a GenAI Summit Ambassador, promoting AI initiatives to high school communities. 

From developing an app, to improving waste disposal to writing an AEOP newsletter article on clean air initiatives, Gordon is always finding creative ways to address real-world challenges. 

His 2024 AEOP STEM Foundations internship helped him explore career paths, develop professional skills, and solidify his goal of pursuing a college degree in environmental studies. Whether he’s sharing AEOP updates with his school and community or encouraging others to explore STEM, Gordon’s Gordon’s passion and leadership continue to inspire those around him. 

Kristen Wilcox, Educator of the Year
eCYBERMISSION and RESET

Kristen Wilcox is a high school science teacher at New Colossus Academy, where she teaches Biology, Chemistry, and Physical Science and serves as the department head. Last year, in addition to her high school classes, she taught 8th graders and involved both groups in the eCYBERMISSION program. She organized the school’s first Science Fair, where her students showcased their eCYBERMISSION projects. Several students later participated in the Regional Science Fair at Tennessee Tech, earning awards, with one student receiving the Grand Reserve overall for research on how light affects study habits.

Kristen’s dedication extends beyond the classroom. She also participated in AEOP’s RESET program, where she conducted research at a military lab in Maryland. This experience deepened her understanding of the research process, and she plans to bring what she’s learned into her teaching to help students get more involved in meaningful, community-focused research. Kristen has her sights set on earning a master’s and Ph.D. in STEM education, with the goal of continually improving her teaching methods.

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