Denise L. Creech Award Winners

2008	Jill Harrell	Evans High School
2007	Marcheta Sherer	Augusta Christian Schools
2005	Kacee Poppy	South Aiken High School
2004	Shannon Williams	Aquinas High School
2002	Patricia Croft	Westside High School
2001	Elizabeth Luquire	North Augusta High School
2000	Rebecca Potter	Lucy C. Laney High School
1999	Brenda Anderson	Harlem High School
1997	Steve H. Ellerbee	Lakeside High School
1996	Richard C. Manly	Davidson Fine Arts High School

The award is named in honor of Denise L. Creech, an outstanding South Carolina high school chemistry teacher, who has since moved on to a position at the American Chemical Society's headquarters in Washington, D.C. The award consists of a plaque and $500.00 monetary award to the teacher plus $100 to the teacher's school, to be presented at a dinner meeting of the Savannah River Local Section.

Please help us encourage and support high school chemistry education by passing on this notice to the appropriate teachers in your school and/or submitting a nomination yourself. Nominees selected will be visited and interviewed in March or April. The awardee and school will be notified in early May 2009. The award will be presented at the beginning of the school year.

Provide the requested information below to describe why you have chosen to nominate this chemistry teacher (or yourself) for the Denise L. Creech Outstanding High School Chemistry Teacher award. Nominations will be accepted electronically at kristine.zeigler@srnl.doe.gov (preferred). Paper copy nominations will also be accepted at the address provided below. To nominate yourself or a colleague, please submit the following information by February 16, 2009:

1. Teacher’s name, contact information, and school of employment

2. Teaching experience, including years and location, chemistry courses taught; other teaching experience/courses taught

3. Description of nominee's qualification for the award and reasons for nominating

4. Educational background (encouraged but not required)

5. Letters of recommendation from colleagues, supervisors or former students (encouraged but not required)

Thank you for your help in recognizing outstanding teaching talent in the CSRA by assisting us with identifying outstanding teachers. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Krissy Zeigler at (803) 725-4180 or by email at kristine.zeigler@srnl.doe.gov.

Remember, 2009 Nominations are due by February 16, 2009 to and may also be mailed to:

Dr. Krissy Zeigler

450 Timberchase Lane

Aiken, SC 29803

The Savannah River Section of the American Chemical Society announces Mrs.Jill Harerll of Evans High School as the recipient of the Denise L. Creech Outstanding High School Chemistry Teacher Award. This annual award is presented to the CSRA teacher who has made the most significant contributions to the advancement of chemistry education. The awardee selection is based on a review of nominations, followed by classroom visits to observe finalists in a teaching environment. The award includes a plaque and cash awards to both the recipient and the local high school represented.

Mrs. Jill Harrell is an outstanding chemistry teacher at Evans High school (EHS). She has taught a variety of chemistry courses, AP Chemistry, College Prep Chemistry and currently teaches Honors Chemistry and Chemistry II (Forensics). She helped develop the Forensics course making EHS one of two schools in Ga. that teach this course. While teaching Mrs. Harrell received a Master of Science Education from the University of South Carolina. She is also active in the Professional Association of Georgia Educators and the Georgia Academic Team Association. Some of you may know her as the coach of the academic and science bowl teams, some as your chemistry teacher, and some as your colleague. The local section would like everyone to know her now as the 2008 Denise L. Creech award winner.

In addition to receiving the Denise L. Creech Award, Mrs. Harrell has also been nominated by our Section for the ACS, Division of Chemical Education, Southeastern Regional Award for Excellence in High School Teaching. Georgia congressional delegation members sent representatives to attend the presentation of the award Mrs. Harrell during the local section meeting of the American Chemical Society, Savannah River Section on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at Sconyers Bar-B-Que in Augusta, GA. One of her mentors, Floyd O'Neal, was also on hand to congratulate Jill.

Award Photo 1: L-R: Nancy Bobbitt (staff member for U.S. Sen. J. Isakson), Kathryn Hyler (staff member for U.S. Rep. J. Barrow), Jill Harrell (Creech Award winner, Evans H.S.), Jim Hussey (staff member for U.S. Sen. S. Chambliss).