Mines grad receives Presidential Award for education

Colorado School of Mines chemistry graduate Jessica Noffsinger received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in Washington, D.C. Thursday.

“Mines helped prepare me to be a STEM teacher in so many ways,” Noffsinger said. “I was ecstatic to be recognized for doing what I truly love. Being a science teacher is my passion, so it felt amazing to receive this honor.”

Noffsinger was one of the 213 award recipients named by President Barack Obama. Four K-12 teachers were selected from Colorado. The winning teachers were selected at the state level by a panel of educators, mathematicians and scientists. Each winner received $10,000 from the National Science Foundation.

Noffsinger earned a BS in chemistry and a minor in math at Mines and went on to earn a Masters in educational leadership from the University of Denver. She intended to teach chemistry at the college level, but changed her mind after volunteering with her church's youth group. 

Noffsinger has taught eighth-grade science and engineering at the STEM Magnet Lab School in Northglenn, Colorado, Her first group of students from the charter school are graduating from high school in May, and several hope to attend Mines.