The K-12 Promotion of Education Award at the 2013 Women of Color STEM Conference went to Valerie Hawkins, a teacher and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) program coordinator.

Hawkins was recognized for her passion for promoting career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Hawkins works with students after school, on the weekend, and during the summer to expose them to fun and engaging hands-on activities such as robotics, 3D printing, forensics, drones, computer programming, and sailing.

Recently, Hawkins served as a speaker at the BEYA STEM Conference. She took part in the "Pre-college: Hands-on Engineering in the 21st Century" seminar hosted by Maryland MESA and the Southwest Academy Magnet School.

“I am the sixth child born to a family of eight children,” Hawkins told Women of Color magazine. “My father worked two jobs and my Mom stayed home to care for us. From a very young age, my parents told us that we would go to college. They didn’t know how they would pay for it, but they knew we would go. After graduating, for several years I worked as a media assistant in a college. Being in that environment inspired me to advance my knowledge and pursue teaching. I am truly blessed that I made that decision.”

Hawkins has been teaching for more than 24 years. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, with a focus in African American studies and community development. She also earned two master's degrees from Towson State University in elementary/middle school science and education technology. She has a graduate certificate in leadership in technology integration from Johns Hopkins University.

Presently, Hawkins teaches business and computer applications at a middle school in Baltimore County. For the past five years, she has coordinated the Women in STEM Career Fair, which is held annually as a part of Women’s History Month. During the first ‘Cool Women, Hot Jobs’ STEM Career Fair, over 300 girls had the opportunity to meet with women in engineering. The event was sponsored by Women Instructing and Nurturing Girls in Science (WING).

Hawkins has also worked to provide student access to STEM through the Project Lead the Way/Gateway to Technology method. Project Lead The Way provides learning experiences for PreK-12 students and teachers across the United States. Through explorations of coding and robotics, flight and space, and DNA and crime scene analysis, PLTW Gateway helps fuel students’ passion for discovery.

Hawkins is an active volunteer with Maryland MESA students to Space Camp and Maryland MESA students’ whale watching. She has taken part in Zero Gravity, an educational program sponsored by Northrop Grumman.