Dickinson State University-Bismarck elementary education student Allison Ziebarth is one of several North Dakota-based educators who was selected to receive a grant covering an all-expenses paid trip to the 26th annual Space Exploration Educators Conference (SEEC) in Houston, Texas, Feb. 6-8, 2020.

In October 2019, the North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC) began accepting applications to send up to four North Dakota-based educators to the 2020 SEEC, a hands-on, immersive NASA conference held at the Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston. On Dec. 4, Ziebarth received notice that she was one of four North Dakota educators who had received a grant, which was available to education students in North Dakota as well as K-12 educators across the state.

“This year’s SEEC theme is Gateway to Achieve. SEEC is like a gateway, or portal, for educators from all around the globe to come and gather resources and return to their classrooms to help their students enter the STEM pathway,” said Phyllis Friello, education manager for Space Center Houston.

According to the NDSGC, the conference provides educators with opportunities to learn and participate in hands-on space-related and STEM activities that they can take back to the classroom. The sessions are taught by NASA scientists and engineers, and educators from across the country. Some of the special sessions include tours of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Rocket Park, and each year there is a scuba diving session to train just like the astronauts do.

“We offer them a lot of curriculum to take back to the classroom, hands-on activities that can almost be implemented right away,” said Angela Case, education program coordinator for Space Center Houston.

Ziebarth’s grant application focused her desire to bring back quality STEM education to rural North Dakota. In addition to providing a resume, she was also required to submit an essay explaining how her participation would benefit her students and further her goals as an educator.

“The Department of Teacher Education at Dickinson State is thrilled that this honor is provided to a current elementary major in the teacher education program,” said Dr. Deborah Secord, chair of the department. “We congratulate Allison on her initiative in applying for and receiving this grant.”