Noyce Scholars Serve Critical Need in STEM Education

Teaching is a calling.

That's how Juan Serna, Ph.D., chair of physics and engineering at The University of Scranton, sees it. Dr. Serna earned an undergraduate degree in his native Colombia and master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Arkansas before arriving at Scranton in 2015 and preparing a new generation of learners and doers.

"I believe, for example, a person who's a scientist has some kind of obligation to transmit that knowledge to the next generation," Dr. Serna said. "When you start teaching a class and you notice that the students are responding and you catch their attention, it is amazing. You feel that you are doing something good and really rewarding."

Dr. Serna then shifts his attention from the interviewer to the two students in his office.

"I believe you're going to feel the same thing when you are teaching students," he tells them.

Those two students - James Kane,of White Plains, New York, and Alessandra Bellino,of Schwenksville - are set to become Scranton's 10th and 11th graduates of the National Science Foundation's Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. Since launching at Scranton in 2022, the program has produced highly qualified STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) teachers who participate in workshops, mentorship sessions and other benefits from the program to receive the proper training to work in high-need school districts.

While Kane and Bellino are similar in that they are in the Noyce program and are double majors in secondary education and mathematics, they took different routes to this destination.

"Freshman year, I came in undecided and really had no idea what I wanted to do," Kane recalled. "I was taking a couple business classes but I couldn't wrap my head around the idea of working in a 9-to-5. So, I kind of ruled that out."

Kane then set his sights on teaching. His father is an art teacher in a high-need school in the Bronx, New York, where Kane has participated for years as a youth baseball instructor.

"My dad said, 'You're qualified to lead people in some capacity,'" Kane said. "I have an interest in math, too, so he said, 'That's probably a good route to go.' It's a lot of fun to work with kids and being able to see someone become better at something - it's just a rewarding feeling."

Meanwhile, Bellino said she has always wanted to be a teacher.

Working in a high-need school, however, was something that entered her radar through Scranton and the Noyce program. It was an eye-opening possibility for someone who attended Catholic school with a small cohort of classmates.

The Noyce scholarship, which is a nationwide program, supports efforts to recruit, prepare and retain excellent teachers in STEM fields from kindergarten through 12th grade. It provides scholarships, stipends and advanced support resources while funding research on what helps STEM teachers succeed and stay in high-need schools.

As the Noyce program at Scranton enters its final funded year, with a possible extension through 2027, its purpose of inspiring and teaching the next generation of STEM students is clear as ever. And its soon-to-be graduates are prepared to make a difference where it matters most.

"I feel like we really focus on the whole person," Bellino said, reflecting on the Jesuit values learned at The University of Scranton. "Caring about the person and bringing that into the classroom: not necessarily just being there to teach the student, but being there to take care of the student, as well, if they need something."