Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge Announces 2025 Grand-Prize Winners

Shell USA Inc. and the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) today announced the grand-prize winners in the Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge. The competition encouraged K–12 teachers who have found innovative ways to deliver quality lab experiences using limited school and laboratory resources to share their approaches for a chance to win a school science lab makeover support package.

To enter the Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge, K–12 science teachers located in select school districts near Shell USA Inc. assets were asked to describe their school’s current laboratory resources, explain why laboratory upgrade support is needed, and detail their approach to science education instruction using their school’s current lab facilities. A panel of science educators then reviewed and selected the top entries.

“I am amazed at what the teachers who compete in the Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge are able to accomplish with limited resources,” said NSTA President Alicia Conerly, Ed.D. “As a former Shell Science Lab Challenge Grand-Prize Winner, I know firsthand how transformative these opportunities can be. Receiving that award was the beginning of my journey with NSTA, and it opened doors I never imagined. These and other NSTA awards serve as catalysts for educators—fueling innovation, amplifying impact, and affirming the vital work teachers do every day. NSTA salutes them for their dedication to their students and for their constant efforts to improve science education in their schools and communities.”

2025 Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge Grand-Prize Winners

Elementary Level: Arianna Martinez Moody

Harvey Brown Elementary School

Houston, Texas

Arianna Martinez Moody’s teaching philosophy integrates STEM and makerspace. She cultivates a vibrant learning environment where students can explore the wonders of STEM through hands-on, collaborative activities in a makerspace setting. By doing so, students develop 21st-century skills in hands-on lessons that also foster their curiosity, experimentation, exploration, and creativity. Moody’s innovative, engaging, inquiry-driven lessons spark students’ enthusiasm for learning and provide cross-curricular opportunities that connect to phenomena and relate concrete/abstract concepts. Her teaching strategies include project-based learning, differentiation, playful learning, collaboration, and technology.

The funds from this award have greatly impacted Moody’s lab and science education, allowing her to modernize the lab with cutting-edge technology. Students now engage in interactive, engaging experiences with the added benefit of safety upgrades. The upgraded lab facilitates exploratory, phenomenon-based, three-dimensional lessons. Positive outcomes for students include increased participation and engagement, improved standardized test scores, and heightened interest in science and STEM careers. Moody has also contributed to STEM awareness by sharing best practices with colleagues and at NSTA conferences.

Middle Level: Cay Kovach

Brownsville Area Middle School

Brownsville, Pennsylvania

Learn by doing is one science teaching philosophy that Cay Kovach employs in her classroom. The engagement and excitement that students exhibit when they do hands-on learning activities is one of the fundamental experiences of her science classroom. Students participate in inquiry-based learning activities, including hands-on laboratories, projects, and presentations. Most of the activities foster a student-centered experience.

The funds from this award helped pay for more hands-on activities and materials that allow students to compete in the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science and PA Envirothon. This has impacted science learning districtwide. Pennsylvania is implementing the new STEEL Standards, and Kovach’s school now has equipment that can be used to align teaching to these standards. Seven teachers, ranging in grade levels from kindergarten to 12th grade, are now using the newly acquired equipment to enhance their science instruction. This initiative, made possible by Kovach winning the competition, supports educators across the district, ensuring that the benefits of these advanced tools reach students of all ages. The investment in such resources is a significant step toward improving the quality of science education across the district, benefiting both educators and students alike.

High School Level: Kathy Jo Sagwitz

Valley Junior/Senior High School

New Kensington, Pennsylvania

Kathy Jo Sagwitz believes the goal for science education is for students to experience the richness and excitement of knowing about and understanding the natural world. She contends that creative thinking and problem solving are essential science skills that students should acquire. She accomplishes this through hands-on experiences that teach scientific concepts critical to student understanding. Labs and activities catch students’ attention and spark their interest in science. It is only through these firsthand experiences with problem solving and manipulation that students develop an understanding of scientific processes and the nature of science, asserts Sagwitz.

The funds from this award have transformed Sagwitz’s classroom and her students’ learning experiences. The microscopes, slides, digital scales, and biological models she has acquired have enhanced hands-on, inquiry-based lessons that engage students in ways that were not possible before. These tools help bring abstract concepts to life, foster real-world connections, and develop students’ critical-thinking skills, enabling students to explore complex concepts in tangible ways. The networking opportunities Sagwitz has experienced by receiving this award have allowed her to connect with colleagues nationwide, gain fresh perspectives, and collaborate on ways to improve STEM education in her classroom.

In addition to the school science lab makeover support package—valued at $15,000 (for the elementary winner) and $20,000 (for the middle level and high school winners)—each grand-prize winning teacher will receive an additional $5,000 to be used to attend a future NSTA National Conference on Science Education.

The grand-prize winners and their principals were formally recognized for their achievement during an evening celebration that took place during the NSTA National Conference in Philadelphia in March.

For more information about the Challenge, visit the competition website.

About Shell USA Inc.

Shell USA Inc. is an affiliate of the Royal Dutch Shell plc, a global group of energy and petrochemical companies with operations in more than 70 countries. In the United States, Shell USA Inc. operates in 50 states and employs more than 20,000 people working to help tackle the challenges of the new energy future.

FOR INQUIRIES, CONTACT Shell USA Inc. Media Line: 832-33-SHELL.

About NSTA

The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) is a vibrant community of 35,000 science educators and professionals committed to best practices in teaching science and its impact on student learning. NSTA offers high-quality science resources and continuous learning that help science educators grow professionally and excel in their career. For new and experienced teachers alike, the NSTA community offers the opportunity to network with like-minded peers at the national level, connect with mentors and leading researchers, and learn from the best in the field. For more information, visit www.nsta.org, or follow NSTA on X, formerly known as Twitter; Facebook; Instagram; YouTube; and LinkedIn.

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Shell and NSTA announced the 2025 grand-prize winners of the @Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge! The competition celebrates K–12 teachers who bring innovative lab experiences to life—despite limited resources. #scied #NSTA