One of the four winners of this year’s Presidential Award for Teachers is a Filipino immigrant from Hawaii. The award goes to show that you can achieve anything in the US, the awardee said.
This year Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching or PAEMST has been awarded to Dr. Nel Venzon, an AP (Advanced Placement) Biology teacher at the Mililani High School.
Venzon wins the presidential award
Venzon was one of the four teachers who was awarded this prestigious award. Speaking about the event, he said,
I got into teaching because first of all, I’m always curious about science, and teaching is a profession that I can explore that aspect, the curiosity of what happens in the world. At the same time, I can also make a difference in people’s lives.
He has been in this profession for 14 years, where he is involved in teaching maths and science. His students conduct authentic research based on the knowledge acquired in class on a wide range of community issues.
The teacher indicated how passionate he was about his profession. He said that he was proud of what he had achieved and this award meant a lot to him. His students were also excited for him after he won the award.
Hands-on type of teacher
A lot of students indicated they liked the way Venzon approached his classes. They said that Dr. Venzon made it easier for them to understand about different complex topics they were learning in class. They agreed that he made education fun to understand and he was a hands-on type of teacher with more emphasis on communication.
Dr. Venzon said that his award was a clear indication that hard work pays. He indicated that this award should give hope to other immigrants like him that they can achieve success in the US. He said that when he came into this country, he would never have imagined such a fete.
PAEMST is the highest presidential award a teacher from Kindergarten to grade 12 can achieve. It was established in 1983 to honor these teachers.
Featured image by Pixabay
