Noyce Scholar Profile
Shannon Martin
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: MAT Secondary Education
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: 9-12 Biology
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Fifth year or post-baccalaureate Noyce scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
Winthrop University
Current academic or teaching status:
Graduate Student
School and school district:
N/A
Background:
I graduated from Winthrop University in 2007 with my B.S. in Biology. After graduation, I moved to Asheville NC and began working for a bank. I was unhappy in this profession and new that I needed to make a change. I decided to return to school and pursue my masters degree so that I could teach high school biology.
Why do you want to teach:
I want to teach so that I have the opportunity to instill a love for biology in high school students. Unfortunately, I never had a good biology teacher until I attended Winthrop University. I feel as though I missed out on a lot of learning opportunities and experiences. I could have been in the science club or taken science fair projects more seriously in high school had I known I would have such a passion for the subject. I am just looking forward to the opportunity to engage young minds in the fascinating world of science!
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
My high school chemistry teacher is definitely my most memorable experience. He had an enthusiasm and love for the subject and it was contagious. He also had real world experience and could relate his teachings to real life. I also admired the way he put accountability on us as his students and ran his class like a business. I learned a lot and was very well prepared for my college chemistry courses.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
This program is AMAZING! I am so thankful to be selected to receive this opportunity and monetary blessing. As a wife and mother, quitting my job and returning to school was scary and really hurt us financially. This program allows me to avoid some loan debt and assist with other financial obligations for school. It will also give me great opportunities to network and meet people that I may otherwise never meet!
