Richmond Hill Middle School teacher Casey Collins has recently been awarded the 2024 Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award by Georgia Youth Science and Technology Centers (GYSTC) for her efforts to “engage and improve student learning” in STEM disciplines.

GYSTC is a private, not-for-profit educational organization whose mission is to “increase interest in and enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as subjects for serious study for K-8 grade level teachers and students.” It is headquartered at Kennesaw State University with regional centers and programs across the state of Georgia.

As a result of this recognition, Bryan County Schools will receive a $500 grant from GYSTC for Collins to purchase STEM education materials for the classroom.

Casey Collins began her teaching career at Richmond Hill Middle School in 1996. She teaches high school Physical Science to 8th-graders in the RHMS STEAM program. This year, Mrs. Collins received the Bright Ideas Grant from Coastal Electric for her STEAM rocketry project, and WJCL recognized her for their “Teacher Feature.” Last year, Mrs. Collins’s students were national finalists for the Samsung ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ competition for their prototype Safe Sleep. Additionally, her group was the Community Choice winner for the competition. As a result of this competition, her students earned $60,000 in new technology for RHMS. According to Casey Collins herself, she finds joy in teaching STEAM because it “allows her to prepare students for the future by fostering their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.” She believes that the dynamic nature of STEAM education equips students with the tools they need to navigate the challenges of a rapidly evolving world.