USC Aiken Honors Yonce as Recipient of the “Spirit of Ruth Patrick Award”
October 16, 2006
USC Aiken and the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center presented the “Spirit of Ruth Patrick Award” to Susan Yonce on October 14.
Yonce, a seventh grade science teacher at Jet Middle School in Edgefield County received the award at a breakfast held Saturday, October 14 on the USC Aiken campus. The award was presented by Dr. Ruth Patrick, the namesake of USC Aiken’s Ruth Patrick Science Education Center, and is part of the 20 th anniversary celebration of the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center.
Yonce received the award “in recognition of her passion for teaching and infusing a love of science, mathematics, and technology.” Nominations for the award were accepted from across the CSRA. Yonce was selected by the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center’s Advisory Board. Chair of the Board, Dr. Todd Crawford, said, “There were many highly qualified teachers nominated for the award. It was wonderful to read all the nominations of teachers who are making a difference in the fields of science and mathematics.”
Yonce graduated from Lander University with a bachelor of science degree in early childhood education and is in her eighteenth year of teaching. For five summers prior to being hired by the Edgefield County School system, Yonce traveled with the National Wildlife Federation and studied with scientists, environmentalists, and science educators from all over the world learning about the ecosystem and animals of our National Parks. According to Yonce, “For eighteen years I have been privileged to be a teacher sharing the wonders of the natural world. I have always gravitated toward courses that involved science, particularly life science. I am passionate about my profession and would hope that my students leave me with a new sense of stewardship as keepers of the planet and an understanding that under those rotting logs and in mud puddles, there are amazing things to see!”
Dr. Ruth Patrick and Susan Yonce
