“As part of our 45^th Anniversary, the Spartanburg Science Center is thrilled to launch the inaugural Spartanburg STEM Educator of the Year Awards,” stated Mary Levens, Executive Director of the Spartanburg Science Center. “As a former public school science teacher who worked in Spartanburg County for over 40 years,  I understand how challenging this role can be. This award is for teachers who are making a significant difference in the lives of students across the county by providing excellent curriculum, encouraging lifelong learning, and inspiring a passion for STEM beyond the classroom.” 

Educators were nominated by peers, administrators, students and community members this past Spring, and a blind judging process took place over the summer with representatives from Milliken, Contec, Park National Bank, Wofford and Converse. The seven finalists received a check for $2,500 and professional development opportunities from the Center, and the countywide winner, Kelly Jewett, received an additional $2,500. 

“I’m truly humbled to be the inaugural STEM Educator of the Year for Spartanburg County. As the Project Lead the Way Biomedical Science Teacher at Byrnes, I get to wake up every day and do a job I love, engaging and educating students around real world skills like diagnostic testing for medical offices, a career they can pursue right here in Spartanburg, “ said Jewett. “And with this platform, I look forward to helping the next generation of STEM Educators in Spartanburg. We have to focus on recruiting and retaining educators, including alternatively certified STEM teachers to combat the tremendous teacher shortage in South Carolina.”

2023 STEM Educator of the Year Finalists include: 

District 1: – Rhonda Henson, Holly Springs Motlow Elementary 

District 2: – Tara Burgess, Rainbow Lake Middle School

District 3: – Tonya McCullough, Cannons Elementary School  

District 4: – Kelly Dixon, Woodruff High School

District 5: – Kelly Jewett, James F. Byrnes High School 

District 6:  – Kayla Short, Fairforest Middle School

District 7: – Susan Turner, Spartanburg High School

In addition to the STEM Educator of the Year Awards, the Science Center honored community partners, students and individuals during the evening. Contec Inc. CEO Jack McBride was presented with the 2023 Corporate Partner of the Year for their support of the Science Center during the pandemic, a partnership that has grown into the launch of the Contec Media Center and a classroom for 3-5 year olds.

“Contec is proud to support the Spartanburg Science Center and we would like to thank all the STEM educators in Spartanburg county.  Their students will become the STEM workforce of the future which is critical to the future prosperity of both South Carolina and America.”

Community Awards: 

2023 Corporate Partner of the Year-  Jack McBride & Contec inc.

2023 John F. Green Award for Student Excellence in STEM – Eowyn Connor

2023 Community Partner of the Year – Kids Club Upstate 

2023 Educational Partner of the Year – Spartanburg Downtown Airport, SCAP Program 

2023 Outstanding Individual Partner of the Year – Jeff Young, Hub City Robotics Coach 

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About the Spartanburg Science Center

For 45 years The John F. Green Spartanburg Science Center has remained the premier STEM educational resource for educators, parents and students in Spartanburg County. The Center and its staff strives to inspire excitement for science through interactive exhibits, live animals and hands-on programs at an affordable cost. During a typical year the Science Center team conducts over 500 educational programs, which serve more than 20,000+ children in all seven school districts in Spartanburg County. The Center supports STEM learning for students, teachers, and after school clubs. Learn more at spartanburg science center.org.

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2023 right now this new year seems so futuristic!  Yet here we are. 2022 was an amazing year for science education and discovery.  The very gorgeous and exciting glimpse of the stars we received from the James Webb telescope showed us views of our universe we could only predict were there. 

We practically lived in a science fiction movie as we shifted the trajectory of an asteroid with a spacecraft from Earth. And, this year represents our 45th Anniversary of providing quality STEM education to students and lifelong learners in Spartanburg!  An entire year of celebrating science and our community of learners lies ahead.

The Spartanburg Science Center did all we could to keep our doors open during the pandemic, moving forward and designing lessons and experiences for when the students, teachers and parents of Spartanburg County would return!  And…you are back, and we are so glad to see you!  Our animals are glad to see you!  

During a typical year the Science Center team conducts over 500 educational programs, which serve more than 20,000+ children. Thanks to the generous partnerships we have extended our space to include the Milliken Learning Center and the Contec Media Center where we host a monthly student-lead podcast and educational video studio as well as our Little Scientist Classroom.

• We provide more than 20 Summer Camps for ages 4-12
• We’re the largest provider of programming to Kid’s Club of the Upstate (formerly Boys & Girls Club of the Upstate) now supporting Spartanburg County and Cherokee County.
• We serve every school district in Spartanburg County 
• In 2022 we launched our inaugural Stepping into STEM program for children ages 4-6 to spark passion and creativity for learning STEM through interactive activities and experiments. All lessons are rooted in the South Carolina Science standards.
• We host a nationally renowned Community Aviation Program that has served over 60 students ages 16-20 with the Downtown Airport.

2023 is the year to explore what Spartanburg, Chapman Cultural Center and the Spartanburg Science Center offers to our residents and visitors.  We would love to welcome you to our Third Saturday Family Free Day if you want to explore for the first time, and if you just want to begin 2023 with something different, come on by!  We are open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11 am -3 pm.  Please consider joining us!

We are beginning preparations for our Lego Expo for teams of children 6-10 years old in March and our famous science summer camps for the summer of 2023!  There is a lot to experience in science in Spartanburg. 

Come by and explore!

Sincerely,

Mary A. Levens., Executive Director

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Spartanburg Science Center is opening a new media center that will include a virtual studio and offer support for student STEM projects.

The 675-square-foot Contec Media Center will expand the organization’s presence on the second floor of the Chapman Cultural Center. Mary Levens, executive director of the Spartanburg Science Center, said the space is expected to be open by Feb. 1.

School districts across the county utilize SSC’s programs, which include virtual science-based shows and classes. Teachers can ask for programming on a subject and someone from the organization will have a virtual lesson ready. Students 13 and up can receive help on projects and materials through The Project Place, an initiative funded by the Spartanburg Academic Movement.

To increase its online presence, SSC also created the ‘Out of the Lab With’ podcast. The podcast will feature guests from Spartanburg who work in STEM fields and teach students from third to 12th grade about career opportunities. 

“The science center is discovery method,” Levens said, emphasizing a focus on tactile and experiential learning. 

Contec, Inc., a Spartanburg-based manufacturer of industrial and commercial cleaning products, provided funding for the room in the Chapman Cultural Center. AFL, a Duncan-based manufacturer of fiber-optic cables, provided a grant to SSC for equipment.

“We are excited to expand our partnership with Spartanburg Science Center by investing in the Contec Media Center and the lives of students who will be the future leaders and innovators within the Upstate and around the world,” said Jaclyn Deter, director of marketing for Contec.

The goal is to enhance science through programming for children and adults.

Last year, the organization received funding from Milliken and Company to extend programming. The Milliken Learning Space is next to SSC in the Chapman Cultural Center and will house after-school robotics clubs and summer programs.

SSC also partnered with Spartanburg Area Conservancy and the USC Upstate Foundation to create a STEM program titled Seeing Through Their Eyes. Students were given disposable cameras and nature guides to document their findings. Those who participated were given passes to SSC and guided tours on the Cottonwood Trail and the Susan Jacobs Arboretum.

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Reaching Students During the Pandemic

The Science Center has been serving the greater Spartanburg community with quality STEM education for over 40 years. As a retired science educator I have seen the impact the center has on students and life-long learners alike.

Our mission to excite, engage and educate our community in science, technology, engineering, math and the arts is at the core of everything we do.

Read Now

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I have been working at the Science Center since March of 2020. I was only able to work one day before COVID hit and then I did not work again until May of 2020. I cannot believe that it has been almost a year!

What do your day to day duties entail?

Each and every day is something new at the Science Center. I normally come in and feed all of our animals first thing. I make sure that they all look healthy and happy as well. Depending on the day, I will take some of the animals out and play with them, or work on a specific project such as changing dirty substrate, researching specific environments, or organizing various things in the animal room. 

What is one of your favorite projects you’ve led this year?

I have led various projects this year that I am incredibly proud of. Over the summer, my coworker and I completely redid the layout of the animal room. We painted, rearranged, and made the animal room look brand new. The most recent project that I led was painting a science themed table in the animal room with the names of famous scientists around the edges! 

Who is your favorite animal and why? 

I truly cannot choose a favorite animal. I have gotten to know each and every animal on such a personal level and they each mean so much to me. 

Why is the Science Center important to our community?

The Science Center is important to my community in a variety of ways. The Science Center is a place for the members of this community to explore and learn about science. I have never seen children get so excited about science in the way that they do when they hold a bearded dragon or watch an experiment take place. 

What would you like to see at the Center as it continues to grow?

I would love to see a sort of mentor program at the Science Center where a few kids are selected to get to work one on one with me in the animal room in order to learn about animal care. I think that children should continue to be a part of the Science Center and should be able to get even more involved with a “mini animal keeper” summer camp or something like that! 

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January 13th, 2021 – Local organizations band together to provide children outdoor learning opportunities and creative outlet during the pandemic. 

The Spartanburg Science Center, the Spartanburg Area Conservancy, and the USC Upstate Foundation have launched a community STEAM program for children in the Spartanburg Community. 

“Seeing Through Their Eyes: A STEAM Program” provides an opportunity for youth to document what they see in nature and around their neighborhoods during the pandemic by using a disposable camera. 

“The idea is to get kids off screens, outside, and learning during the winter months,” said Mary Levens, Executive Director of the Spartanburg Science Center. With so much e-learning taking place during the pandemic we wanted to create a safe space for students to engage with nature, and our animal room at the Science Center is a perfect fit.” 

“We think it’s important to give children a way to express themselves, especially after a year like this,” said Amanda Mathis, Executive Director of the Spartanburg Area Conservancy. “We’re providing suggestions on what to take photos of at certain locations like the Cottonwood Trail, but allowing children to create through their own lens is key to the initiative. As a parent of three little ones, any creative outlet is helpful right now.” 

“Our Arboretum at USC Upstate provides ample opportunity for families to space out and roam around,” said Kim Jolley, USC Upstate Foundation. We’re delighted that Dr. Jon Storm, Professor of Biology at USC Upstate, will be offering the students participating in the program two opportunities to join him on a guided tour through the Arboretum as well.“ 

PASOS, Spartanburg City Parks & Rec, and the Spartanburg Science Center will distribute 250 STEAM camera kits in English and Spanish, complete with a camera and nature guide, and passes to the Science Center, a guided tour on the Cottonwood Trail, and a guided tour of the Susan Jacobs Arboretum. Each location will have clues for suggested photos. 

“We’re thrilled that the partners have included our Hispanic community in their STEAM program efforts this year,” said Nora Curiel-Munoz, PASOS Program Coordinator. ‘Our community has been deeply impacted by the pandemic and having a program over the winter months for our children to engage in intellectually and creatively will make a difference.” 

“The opportunity to provide the children who attend our community centers with a STEAM Kit that focuses on nature over MLK weekend is not lost on me,” said Kim Moultrie, Director of Spartanburg Parks & Rec. “Dr. King recognized that we are so modernized and need at times to get back to the simple rural life and commune with nature.”

For children who may not be able to access these locations due to transportation issues, the ‘nature guide’ will include items they can easily photograph in their yard or around their neighborhood. 

Parents can reserve a kit and pay the $5 kit fee in advance through the Spartanburg Science Center website. Kits will be available for pick up on Friday, January 15th from noon – 4pm at the Spartanburg Science Center. SPARTANBURGSCIENCECENTER.ORG/SEEINGTHROUGHTHEIREYES 

Seeing Through Their Eyes Art Show, March 18th 

The photographs will be developed by Spartan Photo and promoted in a public digital gallery for the community to vote on in February. The ‘community choice’ pictures will be framed for a March 18th art event at the Chapman Cultural Center that will mark the year anniversary of the pandemic shutdown, showcasing the work of the children and their vantage point during this unusual time. 

Generous funding support for this program has been provided by Spartanburg County Foundation, USC Upstate Foundation, Mary Black Foundation, and EMK Foundation. 

Timeline 

January 13th

Registration opens https://www.spartanburgsciencecenter.org/seeingthroughtheireyes/

January 15^th–

Kit pick up at Spartanburg Science Center from 12-4pm, Saturday from 11am – 3pm

Week of February 1st

Camera’s due back to Spartanburg Science Center by February 5th

February 15-28

Community voting on digital gallery photos 

March 18^th

Student Art Show in Chapman Cultural Center Lobby during ArtWalk 5-8pm 

ABOUT USC UPSTATE FOUNDATION 

The mission of our foundations is to support the University of South Carolina Upstate in all of its educational, research, instructional, scientific, literary, service, charitable and outreach endeavors. 

https://www.uscupstate.edu/about-the-university/university-advancement/foundations/

ABOUT SPARTANBURG SCIENCE CENTER 

The Spartanburg Science Center is the premier STEM Hub for quality science education in downtown Spartanburg. The Center boasts over 23 exhibits, an animal room and a museum room. The live animal room features an assortment of reptiles, amphibians, and fish. The museum room has a collection of fossils, bones, skulls, rocks and minerals. The Science Center is open Thursday through Saturday at 10am, located at 200 East St. John Street above Ballet Spartanburg at the Chapman Cultural Center. https://www.spartanburgsciencecenter.org/ 

ABOUT SPARTANBURG AREA CONSERVANCY 

Spartanburg Area Conservancy (SPACE) is a nonprofit organization based in Spartanburg, SC, known in the community for our system of public preserves, most notably the Cottonwood Trail, where we work to provide public access to green spaces and the natural world. We work with private landowners and partner agencies to conserve land through voluntary conservation easements and currently protect over 5,000 acres of land in our community. The mission of SPACE is to promote, protect, and preserve natural resources and open space in the Spartanburg community. https://www.spartanburgconservation.org/ 

Contact: 

Kathryn Harvey 

kathryn@neuesouth.co 646 234 0734

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Limited space for only 28 available and groups over six must call ahead for reservation

All visitors must wear face coverings in all hallways, elevators, public spaces, and common areas, and when entering any campus buildings.

Face coverings must be worn in office and outdoor spaces where physical distancing is challenging to maintain. Wearing a face covering is not required in private offices or when alone in a space.

In addition to wearing face coverings, you must also take the following personal precautions while at the Spartanburg Science Center:

Practice physical distancing at all times (at least six feet of physical separation between yourself and others).

Practice good personal hygiene, including washing hands frequently with soap and water or using hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap is unavailable.

Routinely clean and sanitize shared equipment. Wipes are available in the science center.

Adhere to the guidelines and recommendations from the CDC and federal and state governmental authorities, to protect your health and the health of the Spartanburg community.

Birthday parties are Available!
Available for no more than 12 kids and 4 adults.
Must sign waiver.
Masks are mandatory.
Plan your Party!

Space Available for Meetings
Fossil room max capacity 15  + projector  on screen 
Milliken Learning Center Max Capacity 10 + projector on wall
Animal room – learning table for 6 

Please reach out to Mary at mlevens@spartanarts.org if you have any specific questions or concerns.

 Call Us (864) 583-2777

science@spartanarts.org

200 East St. John Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306

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The mission – designed to better understand the geology and climate of Mars and seek signs of ancient life on the Red Planet – will use the robotic scientist, which weighs just under 2,300 pounds (1,043 kilograms) and is the size of a small car, to collect and store a set of rock and soil samples that could be returned to Earth by future Mars sample return missions. It also will test new technologies to benefit future robotic and human exploration of Mars.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, managed by Caltech in Southern California, built the Perseverance rover and will manage mission operations for NASA. The agency’s Launch Services Program, based at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is responsible for launch management.

Mars 2020 Perseverance is part of America’s larger Moon to Mars exploration approach that includes missions to the Moon as a way to prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet. Charged with sending the first woman and next man to the Moon by 2024, NASA will establish a sustained human presence on and around the Moon by 2028 through NASA’s Artemis program.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, media participation in news conferences will be remote. Only a limited number of media, who already have been accredited, will be accommodated at Kennedy. For the protection of media and Kennedy employees, the Kennedy Press Site News Center facilities will remain closed to all media throughout these events.

The deadline for media to apply for accreditation for this launch has passed, but more information about media accreditation is available by contacting ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov.

To participate in the Kennedy briefings by phone, reporters must e-mail ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov no later than one hour prior to each event.

Questions also may be asked via social media with the hashtag #CountdownToMars.

Monday, July 27

• 1 p.m. – Mars 2020 Prelaunch News Conference. Participants include:
  • NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine
  • Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate
  • Omar Baez, launch director, NASA’s Launch Services Program
  • Matt Wallace, deputy project manager, JPL
  • Tory Bruno, CEO, United Launch Alliance
  • Jessica Williams, launch weather officer, 45th Space Force

• 3 p.m. – Mars 2020 Mission Engineering/Science Briefing. Participants include:
  • Lori Glaze, NASA Planetary Science Division director
  • Jennifer Trosper, deputy project manager, JPL
  • Farah Alibay, mobility engineer, JPL
  • Ken Farley, project scientist, Caltech
  • Tanja Bosak, science team member, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tuesday, July 28

• 2 p.m. – Mars 2020 Mars Sample Return Briefing. Participants include:
  • Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate
  • David Parker, director of human and robotic exploration, ESA (European Space Agency)
  • Jeff Gramling, NASA Mars Sample Return Program director
  • Julie Townsend, sampling and caching operations lead, JPL
  • Chris Herd, returned sample science participating scientist, University of Alberta
  • Lisa Pratt, NASA planetary protection officer

• 4 p.m. – Mars 2020 Mission Tech and Humans to Mars Briefing. Participants include:
  • Jeff Sheehy, chief engineer, NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate
  • Jim Watzin, NASA Mars Exploration Program director
  • Michael Hecht, MOXIE principal investigator, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Mimi Aung, Ingenuity Mars Helicopter project manager, JPL
  • Amy Ross, lead spacesuit engineer NASA’s Johnson Space Center
  • Michelle Rucker, Mars Integration Group lead, NASA’s Johnson Space Center

Wednesday, July 29

• Noon – Administrator Briefing. Participants include:
  • NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine
  • NASA Deputy Administrator Jim Morhard
  • Kennedy Center Director Bob Cabana
  • NASA astronaut Zena Cardman

No phone bridge will be available for this event. In-person media at Kennedy’s Press Site countdown clock may ask questions.

Thursday, July 30

• 7 a.m. – NASA TV live launch coverage begins
• 11:30 a.m. – Postlaunch News Conference

Audio only of the news conferences and launch coverage will be carried on the NASA “V” circuits, which may be accessed by dialing 321-867-1220, -1240, -1260 or -7135. On launch day, “mission audio,” the launch conductor’s countdown activities without NASA TV launch commentary, will be carried on 321-867-7135.

On launch day, a “clean feed” of the launch without NASA TV commentary will be carried on the NASA TV media channel. Launch also will be available on local amateur VHF radio frequency 146.940 MHz and UHF radio frequency 444.925 MHz, heard within Brevard County on Florida’s Space Coast.

For more information, visit:

https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/

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