Dr. Enriqueta Bond, President of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, received the coveted Order of the Long Leaf Pine award from the state of North Carolina April 19 at the SMT Celebration that was held at the Embassy Suites in Cary, N.C.
Created in 1965, The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is the highest honor the governor can bestow on a North Carolina citizen. It is given to individuals who have a proven record of service to the state through a long history of service to his or her community.
The award was presented by Reuben Young, Chief Legal Counsel to Governor Michael Easley, at the North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center’s (SMT Center) Celebration Dinner.
Past recipients include such famous Tar Heels as Maya Angelou, Billy Graham, William C. Friday, Rick Hendrick, Michael Jordan, and Charles Kuralt.
Dr. Bond has worked with policy makers, educators, and other foundation officers to help shape the direction of science education in North Carolina with an emphasis on hands-on science opportunities both in schools and in after school programs. This support of science education has included an emphasis on engaging underrepresented minorities with a goal of increasing the number of students pursuing advanced science education.
She has devoted time and energy in investigating best practices in science education in the U.S. and abroad in an effort to improve science education for all children of North Carolina. She was instrumental in the creation of the SMT Center and currently serves on the board of directors. Dr. Bond also served as chair of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center from 1998 to 2002.
Key grants made to support science education in North Carolina during Dr. Bond’s presidency include:
· $5.3 million to the University of North Carolina System
· $1 million to the North Carolina Grassroots Museum Collaborative
· $1.2 million to Project SEED
· $1 million to the NC School of Science and Math
The Burroughs Wellcome Fund’s Student Science Enrichment Program – the cornerstone of BWF’s science education program – provided nearly $15 million to nonprofit organizations to support high quality science and mathematics after school programs for K-12 students.
Other awards given at the ceremony included: The Partnership Award in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, which was given to Shodor and to the Granville Partnership Foundation Technology Committee; The Business and Industry Award in Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education was given to GlaxoSmithKline; The Champion of Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Award was given to J. Donald Cline; The Outstanding Educator Award in Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education was given to Myra Halpin, Ph.D. and The Student Leadership Award of Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education was given to Adam Meyer, a senior at Raleigh Charter High School.
