In an age of instant
gratification, kids don’t know
how to pick themselves back up.
Embracing the
Challenge A Thank You…
and a To Be Continued
Antoni received $1,000 as part of
her Educator Excellence Award —
part of which she plans to use to
promote the school’s STEM honors
program. The rigorous program
gives motivated students a strong
academic foundation for a future
in STEM. If Antoni seems personally
attached to STEM, it’s because
she is. A former organic chemical
salesperson, bench chemist,
and chemical marketer, she’s
accumulated plenty of
firsthand experience.
Participating students must
take courses in all four STEM
disciplines, plus AP or dual
enrollment courses for credit
at colleges including DeSales
University, Arcadia University,
Delaware Valley University, and
Cabrini University. Antoni also
encourages students to pursue the
Diocesan Scholarship program
and internships with nearby
companies including Merck & Co.,
GlaxoSmithKline, and
Lockheed Martin. Antoni says she’s grateful to
Lansdale Catholic president Jim
Casey and principal Rita McGovern
for the opportunity to channel
her experience into the school’s
program. And at the Hall of Fame
Gala, her speech described how the
act of bringing STEM to life is like
actual magic.
“Education does not occur in a
vacuum, but is a part and process
of life,” Antoni says. “These
students get good exposure early
on so that college is not as much of
a cold-water shock.”
they understand it, and can use it
for the betterment of the world.
That is really edifying.”
Back at the gala, Antoni didn’t
dwell too long on her own
accomplishments. She was too
busy networking with her award’s
sponsor, B. Braun Medical, on
behalf of her students. Before the
night ended, Antoni had secured
yet another win: a new STEM
lecture speaker for next year.
“Nothing brings me more
happiness than the smile on first
graders’ faces when they do an
experiment,” she elaborates in an
interview, “then seeing the look on
12th graders’ faces when they do
the same experiment — but now
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