Celebrating EARTH DAY 2025

In this issue, DFSME celebrates a collaborative effort between STEM educators, advocates, and leaders from across the state to recognize Earth Day 2025. As the leader of DFSME’s Career, Resources, Education and Technology for Environmental Solutions (CREATES) Committee, Earth Day is a great opportunity to share the work that our team does year-round to provide students and teachers with resources that help them see Delaware-specific environmental issues and show them how STEM careers help solve them. 



From the presentation of awards for The Air We Share Art contest to our workshops and table at the YES! conference, over the last few months we’ve been able to see first-hand the enthusiasm our youth have for solving the environmental issues affecting their communities and it is very inspiring. This same enthusiasm led me to join Bloom Energy on Earth Day in 2013 where I’m helping Bloom bring clean, reliable energy to everyone in the world.

Thank you to all educators and those who provide support for everything you do to prepare Delaware’s youth to be the leaders of tomorrow!

— Joseph Iannone

Sr. Manager, Process Engineering & Labor, Bloom Energy

DFSME Board Member, and Committee Member for CREATES

We hope you enjoy this Edition!

Our Power, Our Planet

FREE Earth Day 2025 Themed Events

April 22, 23 and 26

This year’s theme Our Power, Our Planet focuses on the need to commit to harnessing renewable energy to build a healthy, sustainable, equitable and prosperous future.

Delaware Dept of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) offers a variety of activities and ideas to build that future as we celebrate Earth Day throughout the month of April – and every other day!

This year, visitors of all ages are invited to celebrate with events at DNREC’s DuPont Nature Center is located at 2992 Lighthouse Road, near Slaughter Beach, east of Milford, where the Mispillion River and Cedar Creek meet and flow out into the Delaware Bay. Visitors of all ages are invited to celebrate with three FREE public events, with no registration required:



Tuesday, April 22 • 10 am | EARTH DAY SLAUGHTER BEACH CLEAN UP

Join other volunteers to walk the beach and help our environment. The cleanup will start at the Slaughter Beach Pavilion, 359 Bay Avenue, Milford, DE. We supply trash bags and gloves. A limited amount of trash pickers will be available for use.

Wednesday, April 23 • 4 pm | DELAWARE WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN

DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Environmental Program will present the Delaware Wildlife Action Plan. The plan plays a critical role in our understanding of, and protection for our state’s threatened

and endangered species, and the work DNREC does to support them.

Saturday, April 26 • 11 am | EARTH DAY STORYBOOK SATURDAY

Bring the family for a special Earth Day themed Storybook Saturday program. Participants will enjoy reading an intriguing book that connects the importance of protecting our planet followed by craft making with recycled materials.

More Earth Day Activities in Delaware

Click here for more than a dozen events throughout Delaware State Parks including wetland walks, tales and trails, stream water quality and dip netting.

Click here to learn the history of Earth Day and DNREC’s ideas and activities to celebrate it every day.

For more news and activities, click here.

Powering Delaware’s Clean Energy & Climate Workforce

This comprehensive report highlights Delaware’s workforce development system, recognizing the coordination, collaboration, and high-quality programs driving success.

The Office of Career and Technical Education & STEM Initiatives, comprehensive high schools,

vo-tech districts, the Delaware Workforce Development Board (DWDB), employers, and industry partners are preparing students for clean energy and climate careers. With exceptional CTE programs, hands-on training, and industry-aligned apprenticeships, Delaware is expanding opportunities, closing workforce gaps, and building a pipeline of skilled professionals to lead the state’s clean energy future.

“We recognize there is a huge need around training to ensure we

have young people ready to step into the new economy around green jobs,

and that we are creating the kind of systems and pathways for our

 future workforce to move into those jobs.”

— Stakeholder Insight, Workforce Assessment Report

To download this report produced for Delaware’s Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy, click here.

For more information, please contact Dr. Jon Wickert at Jonathan.Wickert@doe.k12.de.us.

Registration Deadline: May 13

Support Environmental Literacy Efforts in Delaware

FREE One-Day Workshop

May 19 • 9am – 4pm

Killens Pond State Park • Killens Pond Road, Felton, DE 19943

Join Delaware Sea Grant, Delaware Nature Society, Delaware Association for Environmental Education, and Stroud Water Research Center for a one-day workshop to learn how to support schools in engaging students with local place-based problem solving while meeting state standards for social studies, language arts, math, science, technology, and career awareness.  

Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) are learner-centered experiences focused on investigating issues in the local environment. In this workshop, participants will learn how MWEEs can enrich classroom instruction, connect students to their local community, and increase standards-based student achievement.  

This FREE workshop is open to anyone interested in supporting Environmental Literacy efforts in Delaware. Lunch is provided. To register, click here.

For more information, please contact David Christopher at dmchrist@udel.edu or Angel Burns at angel.burns@delaware.gov. 

Odessa High School FFA and Agriscience Team won the 2025 Delaware Envirothon, breaking Charter School of Wilmington’s 22-year Envirothon winning streak. Left to right are team members Kalena Diaz, Joseph Delaney, Zachary Binnie, Nathaniel Sutton and Keith Schmid. Photo courtesy DNREC.

Odessa High School Students Win Environmental Contest

Future Farmers of America and Agriscience team from Odessa High School won the 2025 Delaware Envirothon held at Blackbird State Forest.

It's the first time in 23 years a team other than one from Charter School of Wilmington won the competition. Charter came in second and Newark Charter School placed third.

Each member of the winning team earned a $500 scholarship from the Delaware Envirothon and a plaque for their school. 

Each team demonstrated their knowledge in the areas of aquatic ecology, soils/land use, wildlife, and forestry. They also had to make an oral presentation on the topic of “Roots and Resiliency: Fostering Forest Stewardship in a Canopy of Change.” 



This year's event featured a record total of 22 high school teams.

Timothy Dorsey, this month’s Shining Light Award honoree, is pictured with his high school science students and award presenter, Randy Guschl, DFSME Executive Director.

Congratulations to Timothy Dorsey!

Science Educator and DFSME Shining Light Awardee

Mr. Dorsey is a Science teacher at Delcastle Technical High School. He's an outstanding educator and leader who demonstrates the highest degree of commitment to students and their families. He works collaboratively with other educators to implement high-yielding instructional practices and student-centered learning.

His teaching philosophy centers around the belief that every student has the ability to learn and succeed in Chemistry. He attempts to create a learning environment that encourages curiosity, exploration and critical thinking. He uses a variety of teaching methods and resources, including hands-on experiments, group projects and technology.

Timothy builds strong personal relationships with both his fellow teachers and his students. He sees teaching at Delcastle Technical High School as a place to connect his Chemistry to future careers.

Among Timothy’s Educator Highlights:

• NCCVT School District Teacher of the Year 2023

• Delcastle Teacher of the Year 2023

• Student Council Advisor of the Year (Delaware) 2018

• Delaware ACS Chemistry Teacher of the Year 2023

We are pleased to recognize Timothy Dorsey as a superlative educator!

Timothy was nominated by Rita Vasta,

Adjunct Chemistry Professor, Penn State University, Brandywine

The Shining Light Award is made possible by sponsor Chesapeake Utilities.

Nominate Your Favorite Educator to be a Shining Light!

Anyone, including a teacher, student or parent, may nominate a STEM formal, informal or community Educator for the DFSME Shining Light Award.

Honorees receive an award, a $100 gift card and a mini heavy-duty mag flashlight.



For more details, go to dfsme.org/shining-light-award

Email completed form to drses48@aol.com or Michelle.Kutch@bsd.k12.de.us.

Job-hunters and employers in biosciences in Delaware have a new opportunity to get connected.

BioConnectDE is Helping to Create a Science-Ready Workforce

BioConnectDE has been launched with support from the Delaware Center for Life Science Education and Training, a nonprofit formed by the Delaware BioScience Association. BioConnectDE is now accepting applications for the first cohort of its Biomanufacturing Training Program. The program begins in May at the Chemours STEM Hub at East Side Charter School. According to BioConnectDE Executive Director Katie Lakofsky, a variety of fields fall under Biosciences.

"We need to have a strong talent pipeline.

We have companies that are building diagnostic equipment

for healthcare. We have agriculture-related companies. We have companies

that are doing research and development in trying to create new drugs.”

— Katie Lakofsky, Executive Director, BioConnectDE

BioConnectDE is also working with the Delaware Division of Small Business in utilizing the Delaware STEM Talent Advancement and Retention (STAR) Fund to offer recent STEM graduates up to $6,000 in financial support to help them reduce their student debt and keep them a part of the Delaware workforce.

"By offering training opportunities, connecting job seekers with employers, and supporting recruitment and retaining efforts through the STAR Fund, we are strengthening Delaware’s bioscience workforce and fostering a more robust industry ecosystem,” Lakofsky said.

The training program is open to applicants with a high school diploma or GED and lasts for eight weeks. It will held be in person, with some online components.

For more information and to apply, click here.

Courtesy of WDEL.com. Photo shared by Delaware BioConnectDE.

Left: Jacqueline Means, Founder of the Girls Empowerment STEM Initiative, and Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay display the Delaware Proclomation. Right: This year’s Outstanding Delaware Women in STEM honorees attended the presentation event held at Legislative Hall in Dover.

Delaware Celebrates Women & Girls in STEM

Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay presented a Proclamation, and the General Assembly unanimously passed a Concurrent Resolution declaring March 25, 2025 as Delaware Women and Girls in STEM Day. This was the fifth annual celebration of women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and math in the State of Delaware. The special event was initiated in 2021 by Jacqueline Means, The STEM Queen and Founder of the Girls Empowerment STEM Initiative.

To mark the occasion, Million Women Mentors-DE, announced this year’s Outstanding Delaware Women in STEM. This annual recognition highlights the accomplishments, brilliance, and tenacity of women in STEM, as well as illuminates scientific and technological career pathways for Delaware girls.

Congratulations to the 2025 Outstanding Delaware Women in STEM Honorees:

DEANNA Bledsoe | Founder & CEO of Kai Coders

JEANNIE Epps, Ph.D. | Dir. of Applied Technology & Evaluation at Terumo Medical Corporation

LAUREN Genova, Ph.D. | Asst. Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry at UD

SHANTÉ Hastings, PE | Secretary of the Delaware Department of Transportation

JAMIE Holmes, Ph.D | Medical Science Liaison Trainer with Amplity Health

JOSLYN Kirby, M.D. | Senior Medical Director at Incyte Corporation

ELIZABETH Shea, Ph.D. | Curator of Mollusks & Dir. of Collections at DE Museum of Nature & Science

HELEN Stimson | Executive in Residence at UD College of Engineering

MAXINE Taylor | Rapid Customer Sampling Group Leader at DuPont

AMBER Young | VP of Technical Services at Pepco Holdings

Million Women Mentors is the premier network dedicated to encouraging girls and women around the world to pursue, persist and thrive in STEM careers. The Delaware STEM Council and DFSME are partners of MWM-DE.

Clockwise from top left: David Eroh, Shellee Wong, Dasianee Gavin, Jacalyn Jenkins, Sarah Leonard, and Katie Menhart have been named finalists for the PAEMST recognition.

Six Delaware Educators Nominated for National Teaching Award

The Delaware Department of Education has announced six exceptional educators as the state finalists for the 2025 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), the highest honor for K-12 STEM educators in the United States.

The Delaware Finalists who Received the Award for 2021, 2022 and 2023:

2023:

Colonial School District / Michael Doody, formerly of William Penn High School, Science

Caesar Rodney School District / Brittney Stewart, Caesar Rodney High School, Math

2022:

Brandywine School District / Maria Cobb, Mount Pleasant Elementary, Science

Indian River School District / Jason Orlen, East Millsboro Elementary School, Math

2021:

New Castle County Vocational Technical School District / Brian Heeney, Delcastle H.S., Science

Brandywine School District / Michael Reitmeyer, Mount Pleasant High School, Math

The PAEMST award, which alternates between honoring teachers of kindergarten through 6th grade and those teaching 7th through 12th grades, aims to recognize the highest standards of excellence in teaching STEM subjects, including technology, engineering, and computer science.

Those chosen as national awardees will be invited to Washington, D.C., for a week of professional development and networking activities, and each will receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation.

The Delaware PAEMST Runners Up finalists receive a monetary award from DFSME after the winners are chosen in Washington, D.C. We acknowledge that they are all outstanding educators and that they put significant effort into preparing for the nomination!

Students Named 2025 Secretary of Education Scholars

Secretary of Education Cindy Marten has recognized 96 public school students from the Class of 2025 as Secretary of Education Scholars. Gov. Matt Meyer and other state leaders joined Marten on April 8 to celebrate the students during a dinner in Dover, DE.

“These students are leaders in and out of the classroom. They are excelling —

often in college-level courses — while leading school clubs, musical ensembles,

sports teams and community service projects. They balance their studies

while working part-time and volunteering in their communities. I was inspired

by each and every one of them last night. I especially loved hearing their

self-reflections on what inspired their success, which often pointed

to the family members, educators and peers who supported them.”

— Cindy Marten, Delaware Secretary of Education

Click here to watch a VIDEO showcasing the students and their self-reflections.

The Class of 2025 Scholars are also recognized on delaware.gov website showcasing their outstanding achievements, photographs, principal nomination statements and student narrative statements as submitted by the students.

The state has named Secretary of Education Scholars every year since 1984. The number of scholars from each school is based on enrollment. Principals nominate the students based on their academic records, school leadership and community service.

Calling All STEAM Professionals & Middle and High School Teachers!

2nd Annual Breaking Into STEAM Career Fair

May 21 • 9am - 1pm

Breaking Into STEAM aims to ignite a passion for exploration, innovation, and curiosity for careers in the STEAM fields for underserved middle and high school students.

The Delaware Museum of Nature & Science is recruiting STEAM Professionals (Scientists, Technologists, Engineers, Artists, Mathematicians) to interact with local middle and high school students. The Breaking Into STEAM Career Fair engages local middle and high school students by providing a hands-on activity and/or tabletop display. The career fair shares insights on STEAM career pathways by highlighting coursework, salaries, local opportunities.

For a downloadable pdf that includes sponsorship info and link to registration, click here.

Middle and High School Teachers: At the Breaking Into STEAM Career Fair, your students will meet and interact with local STEAM professionals and leave with practical knowledge of the coursework needed to pursue a STEAM career, along with potential salary ranges and information on local opportunities. 

For more information about bringing your class, click here. 

Limited funding, including transportation, is available for qualifying schools!

The career fair is being held at the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science, 4840 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, DE 19807.

For more information and to register your organization, please visit: Breaking Into STEAM – Delaware Museum of Nature & Science

Microelectronics & Cybersecurity Opportunities

July 28 - August 1 — Microelectronics Week 

The University of Delaware Center for Cybersecurity, Assurance & Privacy is launching a new initiative funded by the NSF CyberCorps grant to engage students, young adults, and families in microelectronics and cybersecurity through hands-on learning.

For questions, please send an email to cybersecurity-info@udel.edu.

For an informational flyer, click here.

EARTHDAY.ORG’s founders created and organized the very first Earth Day on April 22, 1970.

Since then, Earth Day Network also known as EARTHDAY.ORG has been mobilizing over 1 billion people annually on Earth Day, and every other day, to protect the planet.

April 22

Earth Day • Delaware State Parks

This year’s theme, Our Power, Our Planet, focuses on renewable energy and

the need to commit to harnessing renewable energy to build a

healthy, sustainable, equitable and prosperous future.

For events throughout Delaware State Parks including Nature Walks,

Kite Festival, Lums Pond “Power of Water”, Easter Egg Hunts & more, click here.

For more about the history of Earth Day and

DNREC activities to celebrate it every day, click here.

……………………………………………………………

April 22-26

Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week 2025

Recognize, appreciate and advocate for those who work with young people

during out-of-school hours. An estimated 10.2 million children participate in afterschool programs each year. Now more than ever is the time to promote

afterschool programs and thank their devoted staff!

To access Delaware Afterschool Network Facebook, click here.

 ……………………………………………………………

April 29

Navigating Delaware Pathways:

An Education and Workforce Development Summit

This full-day professional learning event brings together CTE educators,

employers and higher education leaders to explore innovative strategies

for aligning education with workforce needs.

Attendees will engage in interactive sessions, networking opportunities,

and discussions on talent acquisition, training, and retention.

Join us as we collaborate to shape Delaware’s future,

ensuring education meets the demands of tomorrow’s workforce.

Bally’s in Dover. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

For more information, contact hrodriguez@dscc.com.

……………………………………………………………

April 29 • 7:30am – 9:00am

April 30 • 12:45pm – 2:15pm

Brandywine School District Engineering Design Day

at Concord High School

This event will showcase juniors and seniors from all 3 high schools,

delivering presentations to external evaluators from

UD, DelTech, Delaware Skills Center, as well as local engineering related businesses

including Agilent, DuPont, Christiana Care, Air Liquide, Boeing, and many more. 

Everyone is invited to enjoy a gallery walk/poster session

where you can informally interact with the students.

These sessions are face to face with a zoom option.

To sign up, click here.

……………………………………………………………

Application Deadline: May 1

Student Film Competition

Did you know that producing and editing fils are STEM/STEAM skills? Wilmington University and the Wilmington International Film Festival are offering

rising Delaware sophomores and juniors a competition to showcase

their creativity by writing, producing, filming and editing their own short films.

Grand Prize: A full 4-year scholarship – the President’s Emerging Storyteller Award.

For details and application, click here.

……………………………………………………………

May 6-10

National Teacher Appreciation Week

National Teacher Appreciation Week honors those incredible professionals

who create an everlasting impact on our own lives and those of our children.

For 2025 Teacher Appreciation Week Celebration ideas, click here.

……………………………………………………………

May 6-12

Nurses Week 2025

This year's theme celebrates Nurses Make the Difference

and honors the incredible nurses who embody the spirit

of compassion and care in every health care setting.

Join us in recognizing the invaluable contributions of nurses worldwide.

To read more at American Nurses Association, click here.

 ……………………………………………………………

May 20

FREE! 2025 Tech Ecosystem Conference

Tech Council of Delaware hosts its 3rd Annual conference,

exclusively for young adults ages 18-24 who live in Wilmington, DE

and are under/unemployed (earning less than $40k annually),

not enrolled in college, a tech training program, or in the military,

and are looking to build a better future for themselves.

This FREE one-day event features inspiring guest speakers, panel discussions

and tech industry conversations, informative workshops, resource booths,

networking opportunities, refreshments, and more!

For more information and to register, click here.

……………………………………………………………

May 21 • 9am-1pm

Breaking into STEAM Career Fair

STEAM professionals and Middle & High School Teachers, the career fair shares 

insights on STEAM career pathways by highlighting coursework, salaries, local opportunities.

Delaware Museum of Nature & Science is located at 4840 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, DE 19807.

For a downloadable pdf that includes sponsorship info and link to registration, click here.

For more information about bringing your class, click here.

……………………………………………………………

Save the Date! November 13, 2025

The 11th Annual Delaware STEM Educator Awards Ceremony

Live Zoom Videocast from Buena Vista Country Estate in New Castle, Delaware

Co-hosted by Delaware STEM Council and DFSME, the event announces winners at the

Elementary School (K-5), Middle School (6-8) and High School (9-12) levels,

the Community Educator Award, the Jon Manon STEAM Team Educator Award and more!

For more information about the 2024 DE STEM Educator Awards, click here.

To register for the 2025 DE STEM Educator Awards online, click here.

For a downloadable application for the 2025 DE STEM Educator Awards, click here.

 ……………………………………………………………

Save the Date! February 20, 2026

The 7th Annual YES! Delaware Youth Environmental Summit

Planned by students, the 2025 YES! Summit is FREE for

Delaware high school students and educators who are advisors

to school teams. Students explore the most pressing

state, national and global environmental issues

and engage in steps they can take on campus and beyond.

We welcome ALL Delaware schools to participate!

For more information, click here.

DFSME thanks the following organizations for contributions to STEM education in Delaware.

STEM Legacy

DuPont | LabWare

STEM Heritage

Ashland

STEM Sustainer

Bloom Energy | Mountaire Farms | Verizon

STEM Network

Croda | Delmarva Power | Walmart



STEM Business

Agilent Technologies | American Chemical Society Delaware Section

Autumn Arch | Chesapeake Utilities | Incyte

STEM Gifts in Kind

ChristianaCare | Corteva Agriscience | DelawareBio

Delaware Design Company | Delaware Nature Society | Delaware Technical Community College

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | EDiS

Junior Achievement | STEMconnector | Stroud Water Research Center | Whisman Giordano & Associates

Community Partners

Career and Technical Education Cadre | Delaware AeroSpace Education Foundation

Delaware Afterschool Network | Delaware Department of Education | Delaware Math Coalition

Delaware Pathways | Delaware Science Coalition | Delaware STEM Council

Goldey-Beacom College | Healthy Food for Healthy Kids | Million Women Mentors

Northrop Grumman | University of Delaware



Delaware Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education

100 W. 10th Street, Suite 612 

Wilmington, DE 19801 

Tel: 302.397.0034 | Fax: 302.397.0036 

Email: info@dfsme.org

www.dfsme.org

©2025 Delaware Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education

501(c)(3) Education nonprofit dealing with K-16 STEM education in Delaware schools.