Martinsville, VA – May 5, 2025 –The SAE Foundation presented Helen Howell with the SAE International Award for Teaching Excellence Honoring Gary Dickinson on Thursday, May 1st, at New College Institute.
Ms. Howell was honored as the 29th recipient of the SAE International Award for Teaching Excellence Honoring Gary Dickinson. She joins a distinguished group of top educators from across the nation and was recognized for her creativity and dedication in implementing the SAE A World In Motion (AWIM) program.
SAE Foundation Development Officer Joy Lancaster and Bonnie Thibodeau, Senior Education Specialist with the SAE AWIM program, presented Ms. Howell with the award.
“We are honored to be here with you today to recognize and celebrate Ms. Howell’s work over the years with thousands of students throughout the region to ignite STEM potential and inspire the next generation of innovators through the award-winning SAE A World In Motion (AWIM) program,” stated Ms. Lancaster.
Mrs. Rachelle Linson nominated Ms. Howell for this award and was able to attend the event virtually. Quotes from her nomination include:
“Ms. Howell is an outstanding teacher who is dedicated to her profession. She is very creative and looks for innovation. She brings energy to the classroom as she guides students to cultivate an engineering mindset and entrepreneurial spirit.”
“Ms. Howell rotates through all the middle and high schools teaching the AWIM curriculum. Students have the opportunity to build a different prototype during each rotation. Participating students have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge from these hands-on structures. I have observed the enjoyment of the students participating in the STEM activities. These projects have been presented as best practices at local conferences, two of NSBE’s National Conventions, National Education Association National Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, and at the Institute for Advance Learning and Research. Ms. Howell and her students have won numerous local, state, and national awards for competitions and recognitions.”
Event Highlights Included:
- Welcome from Latoshua LeGrant, Chief Information Officer for NCI
- Students and teachers presented demos of their AWIM projects
- Guest speakers provided remarks about their involvement and the impact they observed in supporting Ms. Howell with the AWIM program
- Presentation of the 2025 Dickinson Award
- Certificates awarded to Ms. Helen Howell, Henry County Public Schools, and Martinsville City Public Schools
For more information on the SAE Foundation, its AWIM program, and other educational opportunities it offers, please visit https://www.saefoundation.org/.