Nominations Open for the Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence; 19 Outstanding Teachers Will Be Recognized in Communities Where Amgen Operates
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Nov 10, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Amgen (Nasdaq:AMGN), the world's largest biotechnology
company, today announced a call for nominations for its 15th annual
Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence. This award is designed to
recognize and honor extraordinary science teachers, grades K-12 in
communities where Amgen operates, who significantly impact their
students through exemplary science teaching and who achieve
demonstrated results in student learning.
A longstanding leader in commitment to science education, Amgen
established the teacher awards program to promote and encourage
science excellence in public and private schools. Since the program's
inception in 1992, Amgen has awarded more than one million dollars to
educators who have made exceptional science-teaching contributions and
who have had a significant impact on the lives of their students.
This year, Amgen will honor a total of 19 teachers in California,
Colorado, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Washington and Puerto
Rico.
"This marks the 15th year Amgen has honored and celebrated leaders
in science education," said Phyllis Piano, vice president Corporate
Communications and Philanthropy. "Amgen is committed to supporting
science education programs that encourage a diverse mix of bright
young students to explore a future in science."
The 15 selected winners within the United States will receive the
following benefits:
-- An unrestricted cash award of $5,000;
-- A restricted $5,000 cash grant to the recipient's school for
the expansion or enhancement of a school science program,
science resources, or the professional development of the
school's science teachers;
-- Recognition at an awards banquet and within Amgen corporate
materials.
In Puerto Rico, four teachers will be honored, each receiving an
unrestricted cash award of $2,500 and a restricted $2,500 cash grant.
A panel of independent judges will select the winners based on the
following criteria: creativity of teaching method; effectiveness in
the classroom; motivational ability; instructional ability; and the
plan for the use of grant money to improve science education resources
in their schools.
Those interested in nominating an outstanding teacher should visit
www.amgen.com/citizenship/aaste.html for more information. Nominations
must be postmarked by January 31, 2006 to be valid. Winners will be
notified in April 2006.
About Amgen
Amgen discovers, develops and delivers innovative human
therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the
first companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe
and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient.
Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping
millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer,
kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses.
With a broad and deep pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen
remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve
people's lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and our
vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com.
EDITOR'S NOTE: An electronic version of this news release may be
accessed via our Web site at www.amgen.com. Journalists and media
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SOURCE: Amgen
Amgen, Thousand Oaks
Kristen Klasey, 805-447-4587 (media)
Arvind Sood, 805-447-1060 (investors)