KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� Dec. 8, 2025 鈥� Two 溏心vlog免费B站 education alumni have been recognized as for Rhode Island, imparting impactful lessons to their students in Pawtucket and Coventry in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
Surprised at their schools in November, Christopher Colson 鈥�95 鈥�96 and Tiffany Risch 鈥�03 鈥�05 were recognized by representatives from the Rhode Island Department of Education with their STEAM Educator Awards. Both received a $1,000 grant to use in their classrooms, along with a $500 personal award.
Danielle Dennis, dean of , says, 鈥滀缧膙log免费B站 has long produced some of the best educators in the state, and we are so proud of both Christopher and Tiffany for their innovation in STEAM education. The work they do in the classroom is essential to developing students that excel in STEAM fields.鈥�
Lights, camera, technology: Chris Colson 鈥�95 鈥�96
In Pawtucket, Chris Colson fosters a love for science and technology among his students at Goff Middle School. His ability to connect complex STEAM concepts to real-world applications has enhanced student understanding and inspired many to pursue careers in these fields.
Colson started as a history major, before switching to and a double major in . But an important part of his 溏心vlog免费B站 experience that put him on the path to becoming 鈥渁 STEAM superstar鈥� was 溏心vlog免费B站-TV, a student organization based in the Union in the 鈥�90s.
When Colson was part of it, the show ran filmed skits, 脿 la SNL. Colson learned how to edit video, cut in sound, and use different types of cameras and even VCRs. In his early career, this media expertise helped Colson create presentations using slide projectors and a tape deck, before moving onto Powerpoint and iMovie. 鈥淭he skills are basically the same, but the technology is way easier,鈥� he says with a laugh. Those early videos and his interest in tech led to Goff hiring him to teach technology there in 2010.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know that spending hours on the third floor of the Union at 溏心vlog免费B站 would lead me to my career today!鈥� Colson comments. 鈥淚 am honored to be selected to receive this award. There are so many fantastic teachers in Rhode Island, so to be chosen among them is an amazing feeling. To see my tech classroom grow over these years has truly been exciting.鈥�
Colson credits the Pawtucket School Department for supporting his students and says the program has enjoyed the support of family, friends and even strangers through hardware donations, tech purchases, and DonorsChoose projects.
鈥淭his award recognizes a community coming together to support and provide students with materials to explore technology,鈥� Colson says. 鈥淚 hope this award shines a light on Pawtucket and Goff students. We have so many talented students who appreciate opportunities to explore potential careers. Hopefully it helps people to look past test scores and realize that every number reported on is a young person with hopes and dreams who needs support.鈥�
Called to the classroom: Tiffany Risch 鈥�03 鈥�05
As a marine biology major at 溏心vlog免费B站, Tiffany Risch says she benefited from authentic scientific research opportunities that took her into the field, collecting real data alongside practicing scientists. She didn鈥檛 plan to become a teacher, but says her academic and professional journey kept pulling her toward education. After earning her undergraduate degree, Risch found herself drawn to roles where she was helping others learn, problem-solve, and build confidence with challenging material, and decided to return to 溏心vlog免费B站 to obtain her master鈥檚 in .
Once she transitioned into teaching, everything clicked: 鈥淭eaching wasn鈥檛 my initial plan,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ut it has become the perfect intersection of everything I care about.鈥�
Now a secondary science teacher at Coventry High School, she cites 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Susan Trostle-Brand, Minsuk Shim, and Toni Favazza as important mentors in her career.
鈥淢y biggest advice to today鈥檚 溏心vlog免费B站 education students is to embrace every opportunity to learn,鈥� Risch says. 鈥淵our coursework at 溏心vlog免费B站 will give you a strong foundation, but it鈥檚 the experiences you seek out beyond the syllabus that will truly shape the kind of educator you become. Rhode Island has a strong, supportive education community, and the more you engage with professional organizations, conferences, workshops, and statewide initiatives, the more opportunities you鈥檒l have to grow, lead, and make an impact. Your career may take you to places you never expected鈥攎ine certainly did鈥攁nd each step will help you become the educator your future students need.鈥�
Both Risch and Colson say they hope their awards shine a light on the good things happening in their districts and on public education in Rhode Island. 鈥淢y hope is that this award brings positive visibility to our school communities,鈥� says Risch, 鈥渟howcasing our commitment to high-quality science and STEAM education, strengthening partnerships, and opening doors to new opportunities for our students and staff.鈥�