SFA mathematics alumna receives nation’s highest award for STEM education

Voke (Gbemre) Ogueh, Stephen F. Austin State University alumna, has earned the President's Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Voke (Gbemre) Ogueh, who graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2006 with a master's degree in mathematics, has earned the President's Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

The White House and former President Joe Biden's administration announced the most recent award recipients Jan. 13. She joins 336 award recipients in the United States and U.S. territories this year.

Each awardee receives a certificate signed by the president of the United States, a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation, and a trip to Washington, D.C. In addition, awardees join a national cohort of award-winning teachers, providing opportunities to impact teaching on a state and national scale.

"Receiving the President's Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is more than a personal milestone, it's a testament to the collective journey shared with my family, students, educators, mentors and partners who have supported me along the way," Ogueh said. "I am deeply thankful to the PAEMST committee, the White House, and the National Science Foundation for honoring the dedication of educators committed to shaping the future. This award is not mine alone; it belongs to my community, family, church, colleagues, mentors and, most importantly, the students who inspire me daily."

Ogueh has 20 years of experience teaching mathematics and computer science at schools across Texas, including Hightower, George Bush and Hastings high schools. She fosters a dynamic, collaborative environment that motivates students to tackle challenges and value learning from errors. She has organized several events for the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation, including the aerial drone competition, hour of code and day of artificial intelligence.

"I believe barriers can be overcome and dreams achieved through passion, persistence, lifelong learning and strong support networks," Ogueh said. "My journey is still evolving, and I remain a lifelong learner. While there have been many awards that contributed to my growth, such as Amazon's Future Engineer Teacher of the Year and the National Center for Women and Information Technology Aspirations in Computing's Regional Educator of the Year, they all form part of a larger story of perseverance, learning and community impact."

Ogueh's innovative teaching methods incorporate such platforms as Code.org and MIT App Inventor. As a mentor, she has guided numerous underrepresented girls to achieve computing awards and scholarships. She is a co-founder of Waado, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering underserved communities through career and leadership mentoring, with a focus on young girls.

Her influence extends across the U.S. and Africa, driven by her faith, family support and passion for lifelong learning within professional mentorship communities such as Microsoft Technology, WeTeach Computer Science and Computer Science Teachers Association.

"This recognition also amplifies my current mission as vice president of digital education and customer success at Scrumban.AI, where I focus on intern development and mentorship," she said. "My work bridges the gap between academic learning and industry demands, fostering empowered, collaborative teams that innovate and thrive."

To learn more about SFA's Department of Mathematics, visit sfasu.edu/math.