INDIANAPOLIS (May 9, 2014) – Project Lead The Way (PLTW), a leading provider of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs, received the highest honor given to nonprofit organizations across the world – the 2014 CLASSY Award – in the category of Education Advancement.
The CLASSY Awards is the largest social impact awards ceremony in the country, celebrating the greatest champions of social progress. In partnership with the United Nations Foundation, the CLASSY Awards announced winners from eight different categories on Saturday, May 3 in San Diego at the 5th Annual CLASSY Awards Ceremony. More than 3,600 programs worldwide were evaluated during a yearlong research process. The winners were selected by the Leadership Council, a prestigious board of more than 100 leaders and experts in the social sector.
“We are extremely grateful for this honor, which recognizes the outstanding work happening in classrooms throughout the United States by students and teachers engaged in Project Lead The Way,” said PLTW President and CEO Dr. Vince Bertram. “PLTW impacts over 600,000 students each year, and it is our goal to give every student in America access to PLTW’s high-quality programs.”
Bertram continued, “Our fellow nominees are doing tremendous work to solve the major education issues facing our country, and PLTW is honored to have been included alongside such a worthwhile group of organizations.”
“Our global social landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and bold solutions are needed to address new and existing challenges,” said Pat Walsh, co-founder of the CLASSY Awards. “The winners awarded with a CLASSY this year are driving significant progress in the eight major cause sectors, and their work deserves recognition. We are honored to be able to shine a spotlight on their successes.”
The CLASSY Awards recognized PLTW’s contributions to addressing the growing need for STEM-prepared graduates in the United States. STEM jobs will grow at twice the rate of other fields by 2018, and studies show the U.S. will need 1 million more graduates over the next decade than schools are currently producing. One of the key strategies to increase interest in STEM, particularly for minorities and women, is early introduction to the disciplines. PLTW’s K-12 pathways approach integrates STEM disciplines and teaches critical thinking to students through activity-, project-, and problem-based curriculum. Instead of teaching math and science in isolation, PLTW gives students a chance to apply what they know, identify problems, find unique solutions, and lead their own learning. In the past two years, PLTW experienced 50-percent program growth and is serving 600,000 students in 5,000 schools in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
This year’s full list of CLASSY Awards Winners includes:
- Active Duty & Veterans Services: The Mission Continues
- Animal & Wildlife Welfare: World Vets
- Disaster Relief & Public Safety: International Medical Corps
- Educational Advancement: Project Lead The Way
- Environmental Protection: Climate Action Reserve
- Health Services: Jhpiego
- Human Rights & Social Justice: Immigration Equality
- Poverty & Hunger Relief: Action Against Hunger
The CLASSY Awards Ceremony featured co-hosts Elizabeth Gore, entrepreneur-in-residence at the United Nations Foundation, and Kenna, founder of Summit on the Summit and a Grammy-nominated musician, along with 12 influential speakers. Shiza Shahid, co-founder & CEO of the Malala Fund, which focuses on the right to education for girls, presented PLTW with its award.
“All of the organizations participating in the CLASSY Awards are big thinkers and bold leaders,” said Gore. “The winners recognized on stage are implementing creative new solutions, taking risks and leveraging best practices to guide their strategies. The UN Foundation recognizes their leadership and we are proud to support their efforts in driving significant social progress moving forward.”
More information about the CLASSY Awards winners, finalists and nominees can be found at: www.classyawards.org.
About PLTW Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the nation’s leading provider of STEM programs. PLTW’s world-class, activity-, project-, and problem-based curriculum and high-quality teacher professional development model, combined with an engaged network of educators and corporate partners, help students develop the skills needed to succeed in our global economy. More than 5,000 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are currently offering PLTW courses to their students. For more information, visit www.pltw.org.
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