Did you see? G.E.M. Environmental was featured in Prescott Living Magazine (late summer 2019) issue! Be sure to check out the magazine and look for us on page 88.

We're also featured in this month's Prescott Woman Magazine (the education issue). Three of GEM's talented women were featured on page 64.

GEM is beyond thrilled to be able to spread the word about our programs and mission. We hope you enjoy these articles!

We're excited to announce a new addition to the team! Please welcome Madison Link, who is our new AmeriCorps VISTA Member through Arizona Serve and G.E.M. Environmental STEM Outreach Specialist.

Madison was raised in Georgia with a loving, close family. She graduated summa cum laude from Georgia College & State University in three years with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Minor in Mathematics. She worked as a mathematics tutor at the college and as a legal assistant at a law firm while attending GCSU. She knew that she wanted to serve her country after college and joined AmeriCorps VISTA to help fight poverty through indirect service. After being raised by a science teacher mom and a data scientist dad, she realized that one of the best ways to help combat poverty is by creating STEM educational opportunities for children while collecting data that confirms those opportunities are working as intended.

She is very excited to be part of G.E.M. Environmental through the AmeriCorps VISTA as the Program Coordinator and she has already fallen in love with the beautiful city of Prescott. During her off time, she can often be found working on other charitable projects or kayaking on Watson Lake.

Welcome aboard, Madison!

G.E.M. Environmental has been awarded a Science Community grant by American Geophysical Union (AGU) Centennial. The focus of the grant is to enhance mutual support and networking opportunities for students and early career scientists. This grant marks the third in the past month that GEM has been awarded. One was from the Environmental and Sustainability fund, a component of the Arizona Community Foundation, and the other was from the BNSF Railroad Foundation for STEM interns to gain industry readiness.
 
AGU-Centennial grant funds will support GEM’s Field Experience Program, which teaches students about different STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Math) disciplines while facilitating learning to encourage active participation in discussion, expression, and communication. In addition to their education, students gain supervised practice experience working in the capacity of geo-scientists to obtain the range of capabilities required to enter industry in a professional capacity. The Program is designed to benefit underserved students, specifically first generation, female, minority, and low-income participants.
 
“We launched the program during the Spring 2019 semester at Yavapai College, which impacted approximately 140 students,” Eric M. Welsh, GEM’s Executive Director said. “GEM’s goal is to expand the program into two additional classrooms during the Fall 2019 semester at Yavapai College and offer two additional field trips, which would impact about 240 students in 2019 alone. We’re also working with Northpoint Expeditionary Learning Academy and other institutions to offer the program by 2020. Overall, the total estimated reach will directly impact 416 students and indirectly impact up to 860 students through 2020 across three schools.”

AGU was established in 1919 by the National Research Council and for more than 50 years operated as an unincorporated affiliate of the National Academy of Sciences. AGU was independently incorporated in 1972. More information is available at www.centennial.agu.org.

We're happy to report than G.E.M. Environmental has earned a Gold GuideStar Seal of Transparency. We've also updated our page with new pics and all our video trailers. Check it out here.

Attention STEM students! Are you interested in becoming an environmental steward, gaining hands-on work experience in the field, and making professional connections? G.E.M. Environmental is currently hiring 5 interns to assist with the New Mexico BLM Abandoned Mine Land (AML) program. Interns will serve as field cartographers on a team, prepare and submit detailed reports of data collected, assist in the collection, storage, and maintenance of field data, perform GIS manipulation and analysis, and more! The deadline to apply is May 31, 2019 and interns are compensated for their work. Learn more and apply here.

#STEMinternship #geologyinternship #prescottazinternship #newmexicointernship #geoscienceinternship

Did you hear the exciting news? G.E.M. Environmental won an Arizona Gives Day incentive prize for the most dollars raised within 24 hours. This means we earned an additional $1,250 for our Field Experience Program. Woohoo!!! A great big THANK YOU to all our donors who made this possible. We couldn't have done it without you!

Great job to all AZ non-profits who also placed. Read the full list of winners here.

Meet Eric Welsh, GEM's Executive Director, and his dog Timber (pictured left), the Vova Scotia Tolling Duck Retriever. Timber is a rescue and previously feral dog from the Navajo Nation. His other dog Hondo (pictured right) is a mixed healer and rescue from the Coconino animal shelter. Eric is an Arizona native and has always been fascinated with the beauty and intrigue offered through National Forests and Public Lands. Eric’s dogs often accompany him to field work sites, providing support through their endless energy and curiosity.

Jessica R. Cook is GEM's Business Manager and Chairmen of the Board. She is deeply passionate about GEM's mission and protecting wildlife. Jessica was born and raised in Arizona and currently resides in Prescott with her husband Brandon, dogs Winslow and Bella, and two cats Damien and Pablo.

Meet GEM’s Public Relations Coordinator and Grant Writer, Amie Winters, and her dog Loki the pug. Amie is originally from California and currently resides in Prescott. Loki often accompanies her to various GEM project sites, like the PUSD Indian Ed Program community garden building project (pictured left). Loki is a certified therapy dog and loves to interact with people from all walks of life.

Sharon Andrus Felker is GEM's Director of Scholarship. In addition to working at GEM, she is the Business/HR/Transportation Manager at Northpoint Expeditionary Learning Academy (a Charter High School) in Prescott. Pictured here is her loving dog Primrose the rottweiler, who is also service trained.

Conner Gooding is GEM’s Geologic Consultant. He is a native of Texas and has worked in a variety of fields ranging from mineral exploration, education, materials testing and inspecting, to geologic consulting. He's pictured with his dog Carl, a mixed Heeler and reservation rescue who often accompanies him to job sites.

We hoped you enjoyed learning more about us and the animals we love.

GEM and Arizona Serve have partnered to create a full-time STEM Education Specialist position. Read the job description HERE.

Hurry! The deadline to apply is 4/24 and the start date is 5/11.

Thanks to all the early birds who've donated to GEM for Arizona Gives Day so far. Don't forget to time your donation to help us win special bonuses. The next POWER HOUR is 9AM. The non-profit that receives the most donations between 9-10 wins $1500!!!

Donate here: www.azgives.org/gemenvironmental

Want to learn more about us and the educational program we're raising money for? Eric Welsh, our Executive Director, will be appearing on Verde Valley TV (Cable One channel 56 and Suddenlink channel 2) and on the radio on KYBC 96.3 TODAY to talk about GEM and our programs. The show will run multiple times. Just check the schedule of your provider for times. The show, County Wide, can be seen anytime on www.verdevalleytv.com.

#gemforstem #stem #arizonagivesday #nonprofit #supportyournonprofit #give