Outstanding STEM Educator
The Outstanding Maryland STEM Educator Award is given to an elementary or middle school Maryland educator, individual, or organization in a STEM field that demonstrates a focus on a hands-on, inquiry-driven teaching technique that engages students to develop creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. The recipient will be awarded $1,000, as well as $500 for classroom supplies, a free educational program from the Maryland Science Center, and a family membership to the Science Center.
Congratulations to our 2026 awardee:
Dr. Sylven S. Beck — George Washington University
As a junior high student in Greenwich Village, Sylven Beck worshipped the Mercury 7 astronauts. Her goal to become the first Chinese woman in space went unfulfilled, but her wonder about space was undimmed. That’s why the graduate student teachers in her STEM methods of teaching class at the George Washington University must all recreate the solar system for a model lesson.
For over thirty years, Dr.Sylven Beck has been bringing her class here to MSC for over 300 teachers-in-preparation to experience our style and methods of sharing STEM concepts informally in support of the formal classroom lessons they prepare for their future students. Extending the influence of the MSC approach of STEM instructional technique to these preservice teachers constitutes a unique opportunity to meet our mission.
