BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Four Illinois Wesleyan University students were among few undergraduates given the opportunity to present at the National Science Foundation Conference in Washington, D.C.
The students, Emma McGrath ‘25, Samantha Perez ‘25, Paul Zunkel ‘25 and Angel Macias ‘25, are all Titan athletes, majoring in both secondary education and STEM fields and recipients of the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship.
The Noyce Program, which is funded by the National Science Foundation, provides students with scholarships of up to $25,000 per year, paid undergraduate research opportunities and mentorship while teaching in high-needs classrooms. The grant funding the Noyce Program at IWU will continue through 2027.
The students were selected to present at the event in July on ways to utilize responsive instructional strategies in STEM education. Responsive teaching is a student-centered teaching method that connects students' experiences to the curriculum. The group explained how this method can be utilized in high school biology and math classes, such as completing a math project about local poverty rates or food shortages.
Associate Professor of Educational Studies Maggie Evans supported students in crafting the conference submission and the research talk. Evans said she was honored to work with this accomplished group of future educators.
“Samantha, Emma, Paul and Angel were four of the only undergraduates to present at
a conference filled with accomplished STEM faculty from universities across the nation.
During their research talk, I was proud to see these four students recognized for
their intellect and talent as teachers at a National Science Foundation conference,”
said Evans.
Angel Macias, a secondary education and mathematics major, said he was able to gain useful perspective by meeting with students and professors at the conference.
“Not only do you get a scholarship (through the Noyce Program), but you also get research opportunities and mentoring from a Noyce mentor once you’re a teacher,” Macias said. “While student teaching, I was at Normal Community High School where I taught algebra, finite mathematics and AP statistics.”
Macias plans on teaching at a high-needs school in the suburbs of Chicago after graduation and hopes to coach as well.
Paul Zunkel, majoring in mathematics and secondary education, recognized that the need for teachers is ever growing and chose his path of study with intentions to foster positive learning environments.
“We learned a lot about different teaching styles, cultures and technological advancements,” Zunkel said of the conference.
Zunkel completed his student teaching at Bloomington High School and Bloomington Junior High School where he had the chance to work with students one-on-one.
“My plans after graduation are to work in a needs-based school district teaching high school math,” Zunkel said. “In addition, I would like to coach football for whichever school I have the pleasure to teach at.”
Emma McGrath, who is majoring in mathematics and secondary education, said the Noyce trip allowed her to connect and learn from other current and future STEM educators from around the country while exploring the nation’s capital with her Titan peers.
McGrath chose to enter the teaching field because she said she is passionate about helping students find confidence in and out of the math classroom.
“I want to create a classroom environment that is fun, safe and engaging while also
encouraging students to challenge themselves,” she said.
There is no better feeling, according to Samantha Perez, than being in the classroom and contributing to a student’s journey.
“You see them grow and blossom in many different ways, which is such an enriching experience,” said Perez, who was stationed at Normal Community West High School where she co-taught honors biology classes.
Having the chance to collaborate with other future educators was a highlight of the conference for Perez, as she plans on teaching middle school science and pursuing her master’s degree, hoping to become a mentor teacher or head of a science department in the future.
“The Noyce Program is a great opportunity for students who will become future STEM teachers,” Perez said. “Not only does this program provide scholarships, but mentorship along the way towards becoming a teacher.”