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SMT 2026 Awards ceremony celebrates outstanding students and educators in STEM

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Dr. Sam Houston addressing the crowd at the 2026 SMT Awards dinner. Caroline Parker/EdNC

On April 25, the North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center (SMT Center) honored students who excel in STEM competitions and programs, and educators who cultivate STEM curiosity in their classrooms and beyond.

According to their website, the SMT Center is a nonprofit organization “focused on improving education as a means of providing all students in North Carolina with the knowledge and skills to have successful careers, be good citizens, and advance the economy of the state.”

Courtesy of the SMT Center

The SMT Center’s focus is “strategies that engage minds,” and they promote this by encouraging a 21st-century skill set.

Dr. Sam Houston is the president and CEO of the SMT Center. At last month’s awards ceremony, he said, “All of the people being honored are examples of what can be achieved with hard work, creative thinking, and the right kind of support.”

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The night featured many award winners, including seven who took home top honors. Those featured below, and their award descriptions, can also be found here.

2026 Partnership Award to STEM East

STEM East was awarded SMT’s Partnership Award for demonstrating a commitment to supporting educators and students in exploring career opportunities within their community and building cross-sector collaborations that strengthen and sustain a future STEM workforce.

Student Leadership Award to Haashini Balasubramanian

Haashini Balasubramanian of Cox Mill High School in Cabarrus County won the SMT Student Leadership Award.

Balasubramanian was honored for her commitment to inspiring younger students to develop a passion for STEM through hands-on, engaging learning experiences and for empowering her peers to explore and pursue their interests in science, mathematics, and technology.

K-8 Outstanding Educator Award to Jennifer Brazee

Jennifer Brazee from Kannapolis City Schools won the K-8 Outstanding Educator Award for her exceptional dedication to STEM education in grades K-8. Brazee showed a commitment to creating learning environments that promote critical thinking, creativity, and a sustained love of learning.

9-16 Outstanding Educator Award to Charles Newkirk

Charles Newkirk of Pitt Community College was awarded the 9-16 Outstanding Educator Award for his demonstrated commitment to STEM education at the 9-16 level. Newkirk was honored for his work in cultivating classroom environments that encourage critical thinking and creativity, and inspiring a sustained love of learning.

Outstanding Instructional Leader Award to Amy Philyaw

For exceptional dedication to advancing STEM education through the creation of high-quality professional development opportunities that inspire educators to pursue ongoing mastery in the art and practice of teaching, Amy Philyaw of Caldwell County Schools was awarded the Outstanding Instructional Leader Award.

Informal Educator Award to Matthew Faerber

For creating engaging STEM experiences that develop a passion for scientific discovery in all students, while expanding learning through meaningful exposure and real-world connections, Matthew Faerber of the N.C. Museum of Natural Science won the Informal Educator Award.

Champion of Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education to Fran Nolan

Fran Nolan, a retired science educator and consultant, was named the Champion of Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education for exceeding expectations in building community connections that expand opportunities for students to engage in relevant, real-world STEM learning experiences.