The Burroughs Wellcome Fund is pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the PRISM Awards—Promoting Research Innovation in Science and Mathematics.
The PRISM Awards support bold, creative educational experiences that spark curiosity and open pathways into science and mathematics for students and communities historically underrepresented in STEM. Through formal school day hands-on learning, mentorship, and authentic research engagement, PRISM-funded projects expand access to scientific discovery and help cultivate the next generation of investigators, educators, and science leaders.
This year’s awardees represent a diverse range of institutions and community-based organizations across North Carolina and beyond. Their projects explore innovative approaches to STEM education—bridging classroom learning with real-world inquiry, strengthening connections between researchers and communities, and fostering inclusive environments where all students can see themselves in STEM.
Each PRISM Award provides flexible support to pilot new ideas, refine promising models, and design teaching and learning experiences that deepen knowledge in science and math.
“At the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, we believe talent is universal—even when opportunity is not,” said Alfred Mays, Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Program Officer, “The PRISM Awards reflect our commitment to investing in creative approaches that remove barriers, nurture curiosity, and empower students to pursue scientific discovery.”
Since its launch, the PRISM program has supported educators who are expanding the boundaries of how science and math is taught and experienced. The 2026 cohort continues this tradition—demonstrating that meaningful innovation often begins at the local level in classrooms. The PRISM award offers educators resources and professional development to support effective STEM teaching and learning.
This years recipients are (alphabetical by school):
Savannah Jackson
Alexander Central High School — Alexander County Schools
Exploring Science through Phenomenal Learning
Victoria Partridge
ArtSpace Charter School (NC) — ArtSpace Charter
Design, Discover, Do: Art-Integrated STEM Through 3D Laser Printing
Hillary Smith
Banks Elementary School — Lenoir County Public Schools
Engage the Senses, Ignite the Mind: STEM for Exceptional Learners
Melissa Southerland
Banks Elementary School — Lenoir County Public Schools
Hands On Exploration For Minds On Learning
Jessica Trull
Banks Elementary School — Lenoir County Public Schools
Building Strong Foundations: Guided Math for 2nd Grade Learners
Gabriella Ham
Banks Elementary School — Lenoir County Public Schools
Coding the Future: Empowering K–5 Learners with Ozobots in STEAM
Angela Christine Godard
Bear Grass Charter School — Martin County Schools
STEM Discovery Lab for 6th and 7th Grade Science Students
Holly L. Majewski
Belville Elementary School — Brunswick County Schools
Lights! Camera! Stop-Motion! STEM! Action!
Candice Heidenescher
Beulaville Elementary School — Duplin County Schools
STEAMA Exploration Lab: Hands-On Learning for 3rd Grade
Edwin P. Davis
Broughton High School — Wake County Public School System
3D Modeling your Future, The Amazing DNA Molecule
Rebecca McCracken
Brunson Magnet Elementary — Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools
Engineering Challenges with Visual Art Prototyping
Dana Miller
Canton Middle School — Haywood County Schools
Future Careers- Robotics & Coding
Becky Fergus
Clayton High School — Johnston County Public Schools
Funding for Lab Supplies and Resources
Dr. Heather Kaiser
Cumberland Academy K-5 — Cumberland County Schools
The Phoenix Digital Lab
Garrick Purdie
Duplin Early College High School — Duplin County Schools
Aquaponics in Action: A Multidisciplinary Greenhouse for Sustainable Learning
Rachel Jones
E. B. Frink Middle School — Brunswick County Schools
From Page to Print to PBIS: 3-D Printing as a Learning Tool
Kayla DeWald
Flat Rock Magnet IB Middle School — Wake County Public School System
Designing Sustainable Communities (Shoebox Project Reimagined)
Lauren McCall
Four Oaks Elementary School — Johnston County Public Schools
Cardinals SOAR with Drones!
Pamela Elkins
Fuquay-Varina Middle School — Wake County Public School System
The Science of Raising Chickens
Betty Jo Pritchard
Gamewell Middle School — Caldwell County Schools
Raising the Bar – Mobile Science Labs
Brian Rada
Greene Early College High School — Greene County Schools
Enhancing Science Education through Modeling Instruction & Inquiry-Based Learning
Jamie Evans
Harnett County Schools — Harnett County Schools
Active Coding with Unruly Splats: Integrating Movement and STEM in K–5 Classrooms
Heather Braswell
Iredell-Statesville Schools — Iredell-Statesville Schools
Innovative Technology Program IXL
Anna Westergard
Johnston County Career and Technical Leadership Academy — Johnston County Public Schools
From Classroom to Career: Building Biotechnology Skills for Tomorrow’s Scientists
Emmaleigh Carpenter
Lake Lure Classical Academy — Lake Lure Classical Academy
Inside and Out: Exploring STEM Through Dissections
Leigh Ann Williams
Lake Norman Charter School — Lake Norman Charter
Enhancing Student Engagement with Biotechnology: Tools for Inquiry-based Experiments
Corie Hlavaty
Lakewood Montessori Middle School — Durham Public Schools
Engineering Design Challenges
Gareth Wilkinson
Macon County Schools — Macon County Schools
River Watch: AI-Powered Drone Monitoring for River Health and Safety
Joshua Ayers
North Lenoir High School — Lenoir County Public Schools
Flying into Aerospace Engineering
Carla Butts
Overhills Elementary — Harnett County Schools
Imagine, Print, & Etch: Building the Future One Lynx at a Time
Sean Connolly
Oxford Preparatory School — Granville County Schools
Creating a Three Dimensional World
Jasmine Fogleman
Oxford Preparatory School — Granville County Schools
A CATalistic way of Learning
Kayla Hendrix
Peterson Elementary — Wake County Public School System
Little Sprouts, Big Discoveries: Hydroponics for Young Learners
Bobbie Lynn Lequire
Richland Creek Elementary School — Wake County Public School System
Cook’n with STEAM: A Solar Energy Expo
Jennifer McCormick
Roxboro Community School — Person County Schools
Enhancing High School Chemistry through Real-Time Sensor Technology
Amanda Coto
Siler City Elementary — Chatham County Schools
STEM Club Mystery Science Curriculum and Materials
Jenna Atwell
South Davidson Middle High School — Davidson County Schools
From Classroom to Clinic: Workforce Readiness in Animal Science and Veterinary Assisting
Jamieson Griffin
Southwood Elementary School — Lee County Schools
Water Wonders: The Science of Clean Water
Jamie McGinnis
Sunny View Elementary School — Polk County Schools
Smithsonian Science Kits
Ginger Turner
Sunny View Elementary School — Polk County Schools
Hands On Science: Promoting Innovation in 2nd grade STEM Learning
Stephanie Blanton
Sunny View Elementary School — Polk County Schools
Smithsonian Science Kits
Titania Nix
The Point College Preparatory & Leadership Academy — Gaston County Schools
Stuck on STEMEd: Tools for Tomorrow’s Innovators
Christian Chavis
The Public Schools of Robeson County — Robeson County Schools
Ignite the Circuit: Soldering for Future Innovators
Bryan Luzon
Upchurch Elementary School — Cumberland County Schools
EcoSySTEM Garden Lab: Exploring Ecological Systems in Grade 2
Nancy Cattrell
Wake County Public School System — Wake County Public School System
Women in Science and Engineering with a Focus on Biomanufacturing
Garry Medford Jr
West Edgecombe Middle School — Edgecombe County Public Schools
Furthering Science/STEM in the Middle School Classroom
Chelsey Manick
West Marion Elementary School — McDowell County Schools
The Future in Our Hands
Kim Walker
Wiley Magnet Middle School — Wake County Public School System
STEAM City: Designing Tomorrow
Paige Price
Wilkes Early College High School — Wilkes County Schools
Empowering Young Minds: STEMagination Day—A High School-Led STEM Expo for K–5 Students
Ligaya Aguas
William R. Davie Middle STEM Academy — Davie County Schools
Soaring Into STEM: Drones, Aviation, and Innovation at Davie
Judy Green
William R. Davie Middle STEM Academy — Davie County Schools
The Power Lab: Renewable Energy Explorations Through Solar & Wind
Olivia Huneycutt
Wilson County Board of Education — Wilson County Schools
The Innovation Hub: Transforming Teaching & Learning Through STEM
Bruce Ketcham
Winston-Salem Prep — Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools
Level Up: Esports for Learning and Leadership
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