OWASSO – Owasso High School science teacher Shannon Chatwin has been named the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Foundation National Teacher of the Year. This prestigious recognition highlights her outstanding contributions to geoscience education and her commitment to inspiring and empowering her students.
Chatwin, who recently completed her 16th year at OHS, leads three science courses along with three after-school clubs. She has previously won numerous awards for her efforts in the classroom and her abilities to help students think outside the box, while providing hands-on experiences that provide greater understanding of anthropogenic effects and geologic wonders.
“This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my local Geoscience Foundation of Tulsa, the Oklahoma Geological Foundation, and Geological Society of America administration caring about helping my students go to and present at the National GSA Conference,” Chatwin said. “I am so glad that everyone was so positive and amazing! The super exciting news that came out of taking kids to GSA is that two are definitely going to become geologists. I have observed more learning happening with student-centered exploring and data collecting versus a touring or lecturing style only. I am also lucky to have supportive staff at Owasso Public Schools.”
The honor comes with a $6,000 prize from the AAPG Foundation to be split between Chatwin and Owasso High School – half of which is for Chatwin’s personal use with the other half for the school to use under Chatwin’s supervision.
She also will receive an expense-paid trip to this year’s International Meeting for Applied Geosciences and Energy (IMAGE), Aug. 28-Sept. 1 in Houston, where she will be recognized and featured during the All-Convention Luncheon. IMAGE is hosted by AAPG and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG).
“We are thrilled for Mrs. Chatwin and extremely proud of her,” Owasso Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Margaret Coates said. “This recognition is very well deserved. She is an outstanding educator and is constantly striving to create activities, projects, and lessons that are engaging for her students. Her passion is evident in everything she does, especially with the inquiring labs, research and field trips she has organized for her students. These activities for our students help instill a greater ownership for the world around them. Mrs. Chatwin loves, challenges, and prepares her students for life beyond high school."
Supporting geoscience education – and promoting the legacy of how geoscience informs, inspires and provides a lifetime of awareness of the Earth’s dynamics – are at the core of the AAPG Foundation’s mission.
Since its inception in 1967, the AAPG Foundation has invested millions in supporting educational and scientific activities in the field of geology. By providing grants, scholarships and more to deserving students, educators, organizations and professionals, AAPG has put the generosity of its donors into action all over the world.
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