Governor's School for Science & Mathematics Receives Przirembel Prize at InnoVenture Conference
May 14, 2012
COLUMBIA, SC – May 14, 2012 – The South CarolinaGovernor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) took home one of fiveawards in the second annual Przirembel Prize competition at the 2012InnoVenture Conference, Tuesday, May 8.
The Przirembel Prize isawarded each year to outstanding collaborations of diverse organizationsthat are significant in scope. The goal of the Prize is to discover andpromote best practices in open innovation, to build relationships and tocreate a sense of identity in the Southeastern US as a global innovationpowerhouse.
The Prize was awarded in four categories this year:Collaboration in Workforce Development, Collaboration in Technology andProduct Development, Collaboration of Special Merit, and Collaboration inK-12 Education, which was awarded to GSSM. The School won for its uniquecollaboration between its growing alumni base, the state’s three researchuniversities, the four SC engineering colleges and hundreds of statewidecompanies and business leaders. By collaborating through novelinitiatives like SmartJobs, SmartInternships and GSSM Launch, GSSMconnects its innovation network to entities seeking science, technology,engineering and math (STEM) talent.
GSSM is one of the best publichigh schools in the country, said John Warner, CEO of InnoVenture LLC,which awards the Przirembel Prize. It is exciting to recognize theiraccomplishments through the 2012 Przirembel Prize. Many others have lotsto learn from the best practices that GSSM demonstrates as a significantcollaboration of diverse organizations.
GSSM is a two-year,public, residential high school in Hartsville, SC, specializing in theadvanced study of STEM subjects. As one of the nation’s leading STEMschools, GSSM is committed to outsmarting South Carolina’s brain drain byhelping to drive and develop the next generation of innovative thinkersand leaders.
Twenty-four years after the School’s inception,GSSM is speeding toward change. Graduates from the charter class areturning 40 and their careers and leadership roles in STEM fields aregaining momentum. As a result, the School is increasing its commitment tonot only retaining GSSM talent in the Palmetto State but to returninggraduates to career opportunities, hometowns and the knowledge economy ofSouth Carolina.
We are extremely proud and honored to receive thePrzirembel Prize, said Kim Bowman, CEO of the GSSM Foundation. The Prizeis a reflection of the innovation and collaboration we strive to achieveevery day at the Governor’s School. The entire Governor’s School family iscommitted to retaining and returning talent to the Palmetto state, and themore we collaborate, the more successful we all will be.
ThePrzirembel Prize is named for Chris Przirembel, a leader in openinnovation and former VP for Research and Economic Development at ClemsonUniversity. He championed much collaboration across diverse organizationsduring his career, including the Clemson University International Centerfor Automotive Research in Greenville, SC, and the Clemson AdvancedMaterials Center in Anderson, SC.
About the South Carolina Governor’s Schoolfor Science and Mathematics (GSSM) is a two-year, public, residentialhigh school in Hartsville, SC, specializing in the advanced study ofscience, technology, engineering and math (STEM), with a unique emphasison economics and entrepreneurship.
GSSM can serve as many as 300high school juniors and seniors annually from across the state. Inaddition, the school impacts more than 24,000 teachers and students eachyear through its innovative outreach programs. Newsweek and TheWashington Post consistently rank GSSM among the Top 20 public elitehigh schools in the nation.
InMarch 2011, GSSM launched the Wave Campaign to build awareness,energy and momentum around the study of STEM.
GSSM is committed tohelping bridge the achievement gap for our low achievers, providinggame-changing opportunities to our high achievers and building a strongerworkforce, ultimately impacting economic development.
GSSM isasking that all South Carolinians Do the Wave in support of STEMeducation. Support can be shown by flying the icon for the campaign, theflag, either at your home, business or on Facebook.
Learn more andstart waving by visiting www.scgssm.org or www.dothewavesc.com.
