Announcing the 2023 eCYBERMISSION Volunteers of the Year

eCYBERMISSION is only possible due to the hundreds of volunteers who donate their time as CyberGuides, Ambassadors, and Virtual Judges. These dedicated individuals serve as mentors, supporters, advocates, and inspiration for thousands of eCYBERMISSION students across America. Each year, eCYBERMISSION identifies one CyberGuide, one Ambassador, and one Virtual Judge who have gone above and beyond to name Volunteers of the Year. Without further ado, please join us in congratulating our 2023 Volunteers of the Year!

CyberGuide of the Year
Alexis Marsh

Alexis Marsh is a 3rd-year PhD student in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at Iowa State University. When asked why she enjoys volunteering with eCYBERMISSION, she said, "I love being able to share my passion for STEM and knowledge with students. Mentorship is so important to engage students and foster their passion for STEM. I feel privileged to be able to work with the next generation of innovators." Her favorite part of being an eCYBERMISSION volunteer is "interacting with the students and hearing about their awesome ideas: their enthusiasm is contagious"!

Ambassador of the Year
Tom Spudich

Tom Spudich is a career academic at Maryville University in St. Louis with a background in analytical chemistry and experience as a science entrepreneur. He enjoys volunteering with eCYBERMISSION because he likes "helping provide opportunities for the youth in society today to explore science, as these opportunities are less prevalent than when I was young." His favorite part of being an eCYBERMISSION volunteer is "seeing the growth of students in developing their problem-solving skills in science, both in the short-term (“ah-hah moment”) and over the long-term."

Virtual Judge of the Year
Carey Wilson

Carey Wilson is a PhD candidate in STEM Education and a self-proclaimed lifelong learner and lover of all things STEM-related. She says she enjoys volunteering with eCYBERMISSION because, "While volunteering as a judge for the eCYBERMISSION program this year, I saw unique ideas from students that ranged from cleaning up "trash" from outer space (e.g., non-working satellites, etc.) to addressing various topics related to oceans (and other waterways) and beyond. These problems that student groups chose to research are so creative and diverse! Without the eCYBERMISSION platform, these students' voices might not be heard, and their research might not be shared with a broader community." When asked what her favorite part of being an eCYBERMISSION volunteer was, she told us that "I love volunteering for a variety of events. I also learned that I like working from home during the pandemic. The eCYBERMISSION volunteer opportunity combines both of these things. In addition, I didn't know if I could judge many of the students' research folders. However, I did not need to make a solid commitment at the program's start. Instead, I got to add a folder here and there during the assessment timeframe, which worked well with my schedule. Finally, I like to encourage others (especially middle- and high-school-age individuals/groups) to want to do research. I look forward to volunteering with eCYBERMISSION for many more years to come."

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Thank you so much to all of the eCYBERMISSION volunteers that selflessly dedicated their time this year to support and encourage eCYBERMISSION students. Thank you especially to our three wonderful Volunteers of the Year! To learn more about eCYBERMISSION volunteer opportunities, visit www.ecybermission.com/VolunteerOverview. The 2023 eCYBERMISSION National Judging & Educational Event takes place this June in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Join us for our two event livestreams, the National Showcase on June 28 at 1PM ET and the National Awards Ceremony on June 29 at 10AM ET. 

Faith Benner

Sr. Communications and Marketing Specialist