Noyce Scholar Profile
Lindsey Passantino
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Biological Science
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Biology: 7th-12th grade
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Fifth year or post-baccalaureate Noyce scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
University of Northern Colorado
Current academic or teaching status:
Post-baccalaureate
School and school district:
Practicum- Greeley Central High School
Background:
I received my B.S. at UNC in Biological Sciences with an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Emphasis and I also received a minor in Earth Science. While I was at UNC, I participated in several research projects including venom studies of the Midget Faded rattlesnake and reproductive studies for the beef and dairy industries. I was also a member and officer of several campus organizations; most notably secretary of Biological Student Association, vice-president and then president of BBB National Biological Honor Society, and founder and president of UNSEA Scuba Club. I have also had the opportunity to work as a medic in Weld County and have numerous hours logged in firefighting and dive and rescue. These different experiences have made me who I am today and have significantly shaped my future career path. As far as me personally, I enjoy playing many different sports including softball, soccer, and lacrosse. I love living in Colorado and having access to the beautiful outdoors and amazing wilderness areas. My fiancé, Alex, and my one-year-old chocolate lab, Goose, enjoy going on long day hikes and backpacking trips together.
Why do you want to teach:
I want to mold our future through impacting students’ views and understandings of the world through science. I want to be a lifelong learner and the way I accomplish that is through teaching. I want students to ask interesting questions that will prompt me to dig deeper into the material. Teaching will allow me to be a student of science throughout my career as I incorporate new research findings, technologies, and science events into my classroom. Teaching will take me off the narrow path and will inspire me to explore everything. With teaching science I may not be necessarily advancing the frontiers of research, but shoring up the foundations, which is a much more important job.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
Currently, my most memorable teaching moment is from when I was teaching scuba diving to a very young girl. She was extremely nervous and hesitant to go under water with her gear on. After some convincing, she made the courageous choice to accept the risk and go for it. She ended up having a blast and was very proud of herself in the end. This was a memorable moment to me because I helped empower a young girl to make the choice to accept a challenge, which was something that she did not even think was possible for her to complete. She trusted me to make sure she was safe and for that, I was honored. In my future classrooms, I hope to create beautiful moments like these.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program has meant a great deal to me. Aside from the financial backing, I have found a great amount of support and encouragement from my advisors and my fellow Noyce scholars. I am honored to work with a talented group of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics professionals that are also trying to become K-12 mathematics and science teachers. Because I am still in the program, I look forward to see what is to come and how we all grow into our place as teachers and Noyce scholars.
