Our investment in Teach For America is an essential part of our efforts to advance math and science education in the country. By recruiting top math and science graduates to teach in underserved communities, Teach For America is helping to encourage bright young minds to explore a future in science while building a new generation of leaders in education.
- Jean J. Lim, President of the Amgen Foundation
In 2006, Amgen joined Teach For America as its National Math and Science Partner. Each year, 50 math, science, and engineering majors are awarded Amgen Fellowships, which provides each recipient with a $2,000 signing bonus for joining Teach For America and includes an all-expenses paid trip to an annual symposium in the spring of each year in the corps. You are automatically considered for the Amgen Fellowship if you are accepted to the corps and will have a degree in science, mathematics and/or engineering by the beginning of your summer institute.
Amgen Fellowships will be offered to accepted applicants who most exemplify the characteristics we look for in our corps members: achievement, perseverance, critical thinking, organizational ability, ability to influence and motivate others, respect for low-income communities, and fit with our mission. No separate application is needed. You are automatically considered for the fellowship if you have a math, science, and/or engineering major. Notification of acceptance into the program is approximately two to three days after your acceptance as a Teach For America corps member. Learn more
Brittany Estrada graduated from the University of San Diego (USD) with a B.S. in biology and a minor in chemistry. Brittany tutored inner-city children in her local Linda Vista community and worked three years as a chemistry teaching assistant for USD's chemistry department. During her time at USD, Brittany held several meaningful leadership positions on campus, including planning orientation for over 1,000 incoming freshmen. Brittany's campus leadership earned her two awards for outstanding leadership and involvement. This fall Brittany will be teaching high school chemistry and biology as a 2008 Los Angeles corps member.
J. Stephen Ferketic graduated from the University of Connecticut as a University Scholar with degrees in biological sciences and political science. As an undergraduate, Steve conducted stakeholder analysis research projects on urban conservation locations in Cape Town, South Africa and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. During his University of Connecticut years, Steve also sang with the all-male a cappella group “A Completely Different Note”, volunteered at a local after-school center and created marketing videos for the office of enrichment programs. As a Teach For America corps member, Steve will be teaching 11th grade chemistry as a 2008 corps member at Roma High School in Roma, Texas.
Tamika Danielle Hubbard graduated from North Carolina A&T State University, where she earned her undergraduate degree in industrial and systems engineering. After serving in various leadership positions in the Society of Women Engineers, the Industrial Engineering honor society and the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, she was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. Danielle joined Teach For America after she obtained her master’s in public administration from the University of Oklahoma and served her country as a Captain in the Air Force. Danielle is teaching high school geometry as a 2008 corps member in Houston, Texas.
Emily Milian earned her B.A. in mathematics and computer science and minor in economics from the Colorado School of Mines, in Golden, CO. As a Circle K Rocky Mountain District Conference Chair, she worked to plan and host the annual Large Scale Service Project where over 300 college students met in Portland to spend one week volunteering for Oregon State Parks. While working with other Circle K members, she fundraised over $1000 for the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Institute and led a school-wide community service day at her university. She also served as an English tutor in Hong Kong, Resident Assistant, cross-country team captain, Secretary and New Member Coordinator of Pi Beta Phi Women's Fraternity, and class representative to student government. Today, Emily is teaching 7th and 8th grade math at Bicentennial North School in Glendale, Arizona as a 2008 Phoenix corps member.
Karen Philabaun graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a B.S. in anthropology and a minor in biochemistry. As the Vice President of the Invisible Children Lincoln chapter at her school, Karen gained sponsorship for a trip to Tanzania where she helped organize and implement free health clinics providing treatment, medication, health education and HIV/AIDS testing to hundreds of children. Additionally, Karen was the Foundation Development Project chair for the Nebraska Human Resource's Institute in which she organized leadership retreats, served as a mentor, and assisted with NHRI's philanthropy which raised over $10,000 for leadership education. In 2007, Karen earned the University of Nebraska's Outstanding Student Leader Award. Karen is teaching high school science as a 2008 Denver corps member.
Jonathan Siegel graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in mathematics-economics. Jonathan was involved in the Columbia University College Democrats and the Student Governing Board of Columbia University. As Chair of the Student Governing Board, Jonathan led the political, activist, religious, and humanitarian communities on campus. In this role Jonathan worked with the administration and other parts of student government to protect the rights of student organizations and reform the discipline process for the undergraduate schools. Jonathan is teaching high school math as a 2008 New York City corps member.
Learn more about the Teach For America's math and science initiative
Who we're looking for
Math, science and engineering majors
Corps and Alumni