THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 10, 2006--Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN), the world's largest biotechnology company, today announced the 19 science teachers across the United States and Puerto Rico who are this year's recipients of the Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence. Each of the individuals honored have demonstrated an outstanding ability to inspire their students and produce results in science education. The program was designed to recognize teachers in the K-12 grade levels in public and private schools whose dedication to their student's education has had a significant impact on the learning and interest of the future generation of scientists. The winners of the 15th annual Amgen Science Teaching Awards program will be honored at dinner events in their respective Amgen communities in May. The 2006 award recipients are:
California
Colorado
Kentucky
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Washington
Puerto Rico
Amgen established the teacher awards program to demonstrate the company's commitment to advancing science education. 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 measurable impact on the lives of their students.
"Each of the award recipients has demonstrated their ability to assess the needs of their students, develop innovative educational techniques and inspire science learning in their students. We are grateful to their dedication to students and we are thrilled to honor them as the 2006 Amgen Science Teacher Award winners," said Phyllis Piano, vice president of Corporate Communications and Philanthropy, Amgen.
The 15 selected winners within the United States will receive the following benefits:
In Puerto Rico, four teachers will be honored, each receiving an unrestricted cash award of $2,500 and a restricted $2,500 cash grant.
Nominations are solicited every Fall and a panel of independent judges selects 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.
For more information about this year's winners and the program, please visit http://www.amgen.com/citizenship/aaste.html.
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.
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CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks Mary Klem, 805-447-4587 (media) SOURCE: Amgen