Mercer University School of Engineering has been named a finalist for the 2014 STEM Education Awards presented by the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), the state’s leading association dedicated to the promotion and economic advancement of Georgia’s technology industry.

TAG’s third annual STEM Education Awards recognize schools, programs and companies for outstanding efforts and achievements in supporting and promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education in Georgia.

“We have been offering summer workshops to eighth- through 12th-grade teachers who learn the basics of robotics and machine intelligence so that they can integrate engineering concepts into their curricula,” said Dr. Wade H. Shaw, dean of the School of Engineering. “We are proud of this program and how it captures the creative spirit of design in young minds – many thanks to TAG for this recognition and to our corporate donor, The Boeing Company.” 

Mercer is one of six nominees is in the category of postsecondary outreach, alongside Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Augusta Technical College, Georgia Southern University, the University of West Georgia and Westwood College.

“It is exciting to see the progress we are making with STEM education in Georgia. The increase in nominations each year and the quality of the nominations made it difficult for our judges,” said Michael Robertson, executive director of the TAG Education Collaborative. “Congratulations to the finalists. Your work engaging these students in STEM will benefit the students you touch for years to come with challenging and exciting careers.”

Winners in each of eight categories will be honored on Sept. 26 at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center. The event is presented by TAG, the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG-Ed) – a non-profit 501c3 dedicated to advancing STEM education in Georgia – and TAG Savannah.

“STEM occupations will increase in Georgia by more than 22,000 during the current decade,” said Tino Mantella, president and CEO of TAG. “The finalists of this year’s STEM Education Awards are helping to prepare the tech-ready workforce needed to fill these jobs, and we applaud them for standing out as leaders in Georgia’s educational community.”

For more information on TAG and the third annual STEM Education Awards, or to attend the event, visit http://bit.ly/STEMinfo2014.