The Da Vinci Science Center has bestowed its STEAM Scholarship Awards (formerly known as the Hall of Fame Awards) annually since 1999 to students who show a unique passion for science, educators who inspire enthusiasm for science with innovative approaches, professionals and companies who bring science to life every day, and partners who support the Science Center’s mission.
Below are the winners of the 2025 STEAM Scholarship Awards.
2025 STEAM Student Scholarship Award Winners
The Science Center recognizes five exceptional high school students, who have demonstrated a passion for the sciences both in-and-out of the classroom. Each student receives a $2,000 scholarship.
DeAndre Bentinck
Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts
A senior at Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, DeAndre is a STEAM enthusiast passionate about how systems work. He built an e-bike for a self-led research project, exploring how it could reduce emissions in suburban areas and improve local transportation infrastructure. DeAndre hopes to pursue engineering and environmental research.
Jillian Halm
Freedom High School
President of the STEM Empowerment Society at Freedom High School, Jillian is passionate about engineering and empowering younger students through science outreach. She’s an avid cyclist and Formula 1 fan who plans to study Materials Engineering and contribute meaningfully to her community.
Grace Kirby
Northampton High School
Grace turned her childhood love of STEM into a successful rice crispy treat business. Through that venture, she discovered a passion for manufacturing and engineering. Currently a Northampton HS student, she plans to attend Lehigh University’s IBE Honors Program and pursue dual master’s degrees in Materials Science and Engineering and Finance.
Mia Napolitano
Freedom High School
A junior at Freedom High School, Mia founded a Medical Club and actively participates in science fair, currently advancing to states with her project on melatonin and reproduction. Her passion for women’s health is driven by personal connections to PCOS and endometriosis.
Gage Reichard
Louis E. Dieruff High School
An accomplished student from Louis E. Dieruff High School, Gage balances STEAM studies with leadership roles in debate and theater. He’s passionate about physics and calculus and plans to become an engineer to solve real-world problems he’s long been curious about.
STEAM Educator Award Winners
The Da Vinci Science Center STEAM Educator Awards celebrate K-12 educators who facilitate curiosity-driven projects in which all students are encouraged to think broadly across the academic disciplines and connect their learning to their own lives. These teachers guide students in career exploration, meaningful collaboration with peers, and the creative use of technology, helping them develop their STEAM identities as competent problem-solvers and innovators.
Joshua Inman
Catasauqua High School
Joshua teaches math and computer science at Catasauqua High School, where he also coaches soccer, leads the Gaming and Esports Club, and teaches drone technology. He is dedicated to providing students with diverse and future-focused learning opportunities that integrate STEAM in meaningful ways.
Emily Lepore
Steckel Elementary School
A third-grade teacher at Steckel Elementary, Emily is a STEM leader in the Whitehall-Coplay School District. She created a successful after-school STEM program that reached over 100 students and developed interactive tools like breakout box challenges to engage students and colleagues alike.
Nicole Leskosky
William Allen High School
With 18 years of science teaching experience at William Allen High School, Nicole is a department chair, equity advocate, and hands-on science educator. She mentors research initiatives and is working to expand STEM Makerspace access for special education students.
