Horizon Science Academy receives award

Horizon Science Academy of Lorain was awarded Sept. 6 the Governor’s Thomas Edison Awards for Excellence in STEM Education for the 2016-17 academic year.

According to a media release from Horizon, this is the second year the school has received the award along with two other Horizon schools in Dayton and Cleveland.

The prestigious award is given to educational institutions that stimulate student scientific research and technological design which extend beyond traditional classroom activities, the release said.

In addition, three teachers from Horizon were selected for the Governor’s Thomas Edison Awards for Excellence in STEM Education and Student Research.

Hasan Savas, a science teacher, Feyiz Pekel, a computer and engineering teacher and Serdar Muhametberdiyev, a computer teacher, were recognized for their exemplary efforts of going beyond the classroom in the STEM fields, according to the release.

“The teachers don’t do this for recognition, instead they do it for the students,” said Jayson Bendik, assistant director for Horizon. “These are selfless individuals who want to see the students of Horizon succeed.”

In the last four years, Horizon students have made incredible progress in science and engineering fairs, as well as innovation programs, Bendik said.

Horizon has implemented programs like Project Lead the Way, First Lego League and First Tech Challenge into its curriculum, which provides students the opportunities to engage in handson activities, projects and problems that are reflective of real world challenges, according to the release.

Additionally, over the last three years at Concept Schools Science and Engineering Fair, Horizon earned first and second place twice, competing with hundreds of students from all over the region, the release said.

Overall, students have made tremendous progress but not without the wonderful help, guidance and inspiration from Horizon teachers, Bendik said.

“We are very proud all our teacher’s hard work and look forward to do it all over again next year,” he said.