ASU STARR Noyce Paid Intern Program Accepting Applications for 2012

Dec. 13, 2011 - PRLog -- Tempe, Ariz. – December 13, 2011 – The Arizona State University STARR Noyce Scholarship Program is proud to partner with Arizona Science Center to offer paid internships to students with an interest in teaching science.  A total of three $1,000.00 stipends will be awarded in January 2012.  Applications must be submitted between December 16, 2011 and January 31, 2012.  

The ASU STARR Noyce Scholarship Paid Intern Program is part of the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, and is intended for students aged 18 years and older who may have an interest in pursuing a career in science education.  Selected candidates will be required to participate in a three-hour orientation and tour, become proficient in at least three tabletop activities and two galleries, and commit to volunteering 125 hours of their time at Arizona Science Center.  Possible duties may include the development of a demonstration or tabletop activity, presenting on-stage demos, curriculum creation, and serving as a teaching assistant in class or camp.

Zach Kovach, currently a STARR Noyce Scholar pursuing a degree in both education and physics at ASU, was chosen to be a paid intern in the 2011 STARR Noyce Scholarship Paid Intern Program at Arizona Science Center.  “Key factors that made the internship an excellent experience were the volunteer mentors and staff at the Science Center.  My mentor was excellent; he provided me guidance for work inside the Science Center as well as tips and helpful hints in my future career as a physics teacher,” he says.  “Also, Jan, the volunteer coordinator at the AZ Science Center, will give you free range to explore as many topics as you wish so as to present a better experience for patrons of all ages. From special events to table top activities to presenting on the main stage, I had a blast volunteering at the Science Center…and I also learned a thing or two!”

In order to be considered for the program, candidates must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent resident aliens; currently enrolled in high school, community college, or university; have a GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale; be at least 18 years old; be committed to working at least 25 hours/month for five months; and interested in teaching.  Stipends will be paid upon completion of volunteer hours.  Other rewards for volunteering at Arizona Science Center include two general admission and Planetarium passes after 50 hours of service, a free Basic Membership after 100 hours of service, free parking in a designated parking garage, and a discount to the cafe with Science Center volunteer identification.

Suzanne Cassano, ASU STARR Noyce Scholarship Specialist, remarked, “This is a unique opportunity for anyone who has ever considered teaching to try it out in a dynamic, fun, and playful environment.”

The Robert Noyce Scholarship program, authorized under the National Science Foundation Authorization Act, responds to the critical need for K-12 teachers of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). STARR Noyce Scholarships are available to students in the last two years of an ASU baccalaureate degree or students and career changers entering the TEAMS graduate program leading to Arizona teacher certification within the following disciplines: biology sciences; chemistry; physics; Earth and space science; and general sciences.  More information can be found at www.education.asu.edu/noyce or on Facebook (ASU STARR Noyce).   Applications for both the ASU STARR Noyce Scholarship Paid Intern Program and the ASU STARR Noyce Scholarship Program can be obtained by contacting Suzanne Cassano at 480-965-2561 or at suzanne.cassano@asu.edu. (also attached)

For Arizona Science Center volunteer information contact Jan Stonebraker, Volunteer Manager, at 602-716-2037 or stonebrakerj@azscience.org.

The mission of Arizona Science Center is to inspire, educate and entertain people of all ages about science.  The Center, located at 600 E. Washington St. in downtown Phoenix, features more than 300 hands-on exhibits, live demonstrations, the state-of-the-art Dorrance planetarium, and a five-story IMAX theater.  For more information please call 602-716-2000 or visit www.azscience.org.

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The STARR Noyce Scholarship at ASU (NSF-funded) is intended for science professionals and students who want to become middle or high school science teachers and who commit to teach in "high-need schools" for at least two years following graduation.