Norcom High School Teacher Heather Overkamp has been named to the Society for Science & the Public’s 2019-2020 Advocate Grant Program. Overkamp was one of just 60 of the professionals across the country selected for the program.
According to the Society for Science and the Public, the Advocate Grant Program seeks to empower adult mentors to transition underserved middle and high school students from conducting scientific or engineering research to completing applications for science research competitions. Entering these competitions can provide students with invaluable experiences that boost confidence in academic performance, enhance scientific and writing skills, and foster a passion for scientific inquiry. Inspired by their experiences, many students choose to pursue post-secondary studies in a STEM field, leading to more scientific careers from low-income and underrepresented populations.