For America’s Future
Kevin Jones graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor's in earth and space science teacher education in 2013. Soon he began teaching at Krueger Middle School in the Michigan City Area Schools district in the fall of 2013. Initially, Jones taught environmental science, an elective, but after 4 years transitioned to teaching eighth-grade science.
Just a couple of months ago, Jones received an email from AFCEA's Educational Foundation. “Congratulations! You have been selected to receive an AFCEA MG Eugene C. Renzi, USA (Ret.) STEM Teachers Scholarship in the amount of $2,500 for being our highest-scoring applicant.
The scholarship, sponsored by ManTech International, honors the memory of Vietnam veteran Maj. Gen. Eugene C. Renzi, who became the company’s president in 2004 after serving in various positions across the U.S. Army before retirement. During his time at ManTech, Gen. Renzi also served as the chairman of the AFCEA board of directors from 2003 to 2006.
Only graduate-level candidates with a current overall GPA of 3.5 or higher were eligible for the scholarship. Additionally, applicants were to be at least in their second semester, majoring in education for the purpose of teaching STEM subjects. Jones is pursuing an Master of Science in Education in curriculum and instruction with an educational technology focus. He will graduate with his master’s degree from Purdue University in May of 2023. He has developed an interest in learning how extended reality tools can be integrated into science instruction. Currently, he is part of a research team, led by Victoria Lowell at Purdue University, investigating the impact that augmented reality technology may have on middle school science students' learning of taxonomy and classification of organisms.
Jones provided a brief personal statement explaining his academic and career goals and how they align with the mission of AFCEA’s Education Foundation.
“I am grateful, honored and humbled to be selected as the 2022 AFCEA STEM Teacher Scholarship winner!” Jones wrote in his response to the good news. “The scholarship helps alleviate part of the financial burdens of graduate school, and with AFCEA’s help, I can direct more of my focus and effort on my eighth-grade science students.”
Along with pursuing his career as a STEM educator, Jones is a husband. His wife Jenny Jones also works at Krueger Middle School. In his free time, he likes to run, watch live music, spend quality time with family and travel. Jones most recently completed the Chicago Marathon on October 9 with a personal best of 3:36:53.
Our congratulations go out to Kevin Jones on this accomplishment. We look forward to seeing all that you achieve.
Thank you, ManTech, for investing in the future of the United States by supporting educators and their students.
