Penelope (Penny) Hartley

Upper Arlington High School
Upper Arlington
Penny has been an integral member of Upper Arlington High School’s FIRST robotics team for the past three years. She has been a leader of the mechanism development sub-group and has excelled in utilizing CAD software, after teaching herself. An advocate for women in STEM, Penny also became involved with The Ohio State University Society of Women in Engineering and decided to start a sister chapter of the Society of Women in Engineering at Upper Arlington High School.

Dr. Michael Triplett

Lattice Biotech
New Albany
Dr. Michael Triplett is Chief Executive Officer of Lattice Biotech. In 2017, he co-founded a company specializing in gene therapy to treat limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, a group of progressive, debilitating musculoskeletal diseases. Dr. Triplett was also named VentureOhio’s 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year.

Taj Bakare

CT Consultants
Delaware
Taj is the Chief Bridge Consultant with CT Consultants who works hard to inspire many students to pursue careers in engineering and more. He leads the Second Ward Community Initiative (SWCI) STEM Program in the community of Delaware and has mentored a growing number of students over the past few years.

Ryan Comisford

The Boeing Company
Heath
Ryan is a Materials, Process, & Physics Engineer with The Boeing Company located in Heath, Ohio. Through Boeing’s community outreach initiatives, he has been actively involved with STEM-related events at COSI, The Works, and local school districts sharing his knowledge of science to inspire young people.

Dr. David McCann

Ohio Department of Agriculture
Reynoldsburg
Dr. McCann is a plant pathologist at the Ohio Department of Agriculture. While investigating an unnamed disease that was causing decline in beech trees in northeast Ohio, he discovered the presence of a microscopic worm called a nematode that was previously unknown in the United States. Through his work, Dr. McCann was instrumental in determining the cause of Beech leaf disease. The pest he identified is a subspecies that will soon be named after him.

Stephanie Matson

Thomas Worthington High School
Worthington
Stephanie is the coach of the Thomas Worthington High School Science Olympiad team. Through her coaching, her team went to state competition for the first time in many years and placed fourth. As a teacher, Stephanie works to bring science alive to her students including students who are learning science and English simultaneously.

Adlai Stein

Central Ohio School for Metalwork
Franklinton
Adlai is an avid metal worker who started off at Idea Foundry in Franklinton. Since then he has founded the Central Ohio School for Metalwork where he puts his passion to work teaching metal working and STEM skills to others.

Andy Harris

Pickerington Schools
Pickerington
Andy was nominated by his community for his passion for STEM education. He is the STEM Biomedical Science Coordination and currently teaches at Pickerington North and the Pickerington OhioHealth Medical Campus.

Jean Trimble

Westerville City Schools – Innovation Space Manager
Westerville
The city of Westerville nominated Jean because she is an outstanding innovator who create the first Westerville City Schools makerspace at Walnut Springs Middle School, developed the "Trash to Fashion" and "Lyrical Westerville" student competitions at the Starry Night Art and Science Festival and is now the Innovation Space Manager for the entire Westerville City School district.

Diane Mankins

Marysville Exempted Village School District Superintendent
Marysville
Diane was nominated by her community because of all that she has done for STEM education in Marysville. She was a major driver of the Straight A grant that was awarded to Marysville Schools in 2013, and shortly thereafter, she brought the vision of a STEM Early College High School to life.

David McIntyre

Police Officer
Circleville
Officer McIntyre was nominated for his leadership with Foundations4Youth, which works to positively impact children through hands-on experiences around science, such as training around building gardens, teaching about livestock, participating in crafts, and explaining healthy eating.

Dr. Lora Thrun

Engineer at TOSOH
Grove City
Grove City leadership selected Lora for her engineering excellence and dedication to developing new technology and products. She also supports STEM values through mentoring young engineers and scientists.

Dr. Lou Kramer

London City Schools Superintendent
London
Lou was nominated by the city of London for his work to broaden the STEM programs and College Credit Plus courses throughout the school district.

Tiger Mushroom Farms
COSI
Te’Lario was nominated by COSI team members for his spectacular entrepreneurship to develop a business around growing a farm utilizing mushrooms and the environment

Upper Arlington FIRST Robotics Team - Bearbots #6964
Upper Arlington
Audrey was nominated by her community for starting a First Robotics club as a sophomore in high school. She put the structure in place, found a teacher-sponsor, sought out funding, recruited team members and more.

Beechcroft High School
Columbus
Deborah was nominated by Columbus City Schools for her commitment to mentoring the VEX Robotics team, TEN80 Student Racing Challenge, KIDWIND, and more.

Blair IT
Westerville
Dennis was nominated for his longtime support of technology and the arts in the community by offering internships at his local business, supporting Starry Night, and the Augmented Reality Sandbox for the schools that he helped design.

Eagle Scout
Reynoldsburg
Grant was nominated for his Eagle Scout project at Civic Park which focused on water quality in Blacklick Creek and educating local residents on the importance of maintaining a healthy ecosystem in our creeks.

Edge Innovation Hub
Gahanna
Jim and the Edge Innovation Hub were nominated for connecting food industry partners and driving food technology to the edge to create a future where food is accessible, healthful, sustainable, and delicious for all.

Form 5 Prosthetics
New Albany
Aaron was nominated for his entrepreneurial spirit and his dedication to give back to others by making their lives easier through 3D generated prosthetics. See the video.

Maria’s Message
Dublin
Dom was nominated for his leadership in educating high school students and their families on the dangers of distracted driving. See the video.

Priority Designs
Bexley
The Koladas were nominated for their industrial design firm that is brimming with creative inventions and cutting-edge projects.

Knockout Concepts
Franklinton
Jake was nominated for his amazing and innovative work with mobile 3D scanning software.

Northwest Library
Worthington
Meredith was nominated for inspiring curiosity as a librarian. She hosts Battle Bots, teaches coding and helps raise chicks and butterflies every year.

Whitehall Division of Fire
Whitehall
Chief Moore was nominated for his rocket building workshops with area youth.

Built The Traditional Way
Grove City
Justin was nominated for engineering excellence with his award-winning, self-engineered, hand-crafted motorcycle.