Kelly Lane Earth and Space Science Grant
NASA South Dakota Space Grant Consortium
(This page last updated December 9, 2024)
In memory of our dear friend and colleague Kelly Lane
One $8,000 grant is awarded annually by the SD Space Grant Consortium to a select science or math teacher in South Dakota to enhance professional development and support innovative programs in pre-college STEM education. The winner is announced annually in February at the SD STEM Ed Conference, a joint conference of the SD Science Teachers Association and SD Council of Teachers of Mathematics in Huron, SD.
2025 Kelly Lane Earth & Space Science Grant: Application Instructions (in PDF). Click for Word format
Presentation of Plaque to Kelly Lane (at first announcement of the award -- 2006 SDCTM/SDSTA Joint Conference in Huron)
Pictured (l. to r.): Kelly Lane, Dr. Ed Duke Tom Durkin, Joe Hillberry, Ed Duke, Kelly Lane, Becky Lane,
Brant Miller, and Lee ThomasThe inscription on the plaque is dated February 3, 2006 and reads as follows:
"In recognition of his lifelong contributions to the teaching of earth sciences, his pioneering efforts to teach technology in the classroom, and his advancement of geospatial applications in the state, the NASA South Dakota Space Grant Consortium hereby establishes the Kelly Lane Earth and Space Science Grant to be awarded annually to a South Dakota teacher who exemplifies the above qualities and who will carry on these traditions."
Edmonds Central School District, and Bree Oatman of Lower Brule High School
(click on picture to enlarge and read caption)
2023 Grant winner: Brenda Murphey of South Middle School (Rapid City, SD)
(click on picture to enlarge and read caption)
2022 Grant winners (l. to r.): Alan Grinsteinner of Bison High School and Steve Gabriel of Spearfish High School
(click on picture to enlarge and read caption)
2021 Grant winners (l. to r.): Jennifer Ekstrum of Kimball Middle School (Kimball, SD), Brenda Mizenko of St. Elizabeth Seton Elementary School (Rapid City, SD), and Chad Ronish of Hill City High School (Hill City, SD)
(click on picture to enlarge and read caption)
2020 Grant winners (l. to r.): Michael Putnam of Brandon Valley Intermediate School (Brandon Valley, SD), Julie Olson of Mitchell High School and Second Change Alternative School (Mitchell, SD), and Spencer Cody of Edmunds Central School District (Roscoe, SD)
(click on picture to enlarge and read caption)Note: No applications were received for the 2019 Kelly Lane award. The $5,000 in 2019 funding was made available for an increased amount of 2019 robotics awards.
2018 Grant winner Spencer Cody of Edmunds Central School District, Roscoe, SD
(click on picture to enlarge and read caption)
2017 Grant winners Julie Olson of Second Chance High School/Mitchell High School, and Patty Martin of Roncalli High School, Aberdeen, SD.
(click on picture to enlarge and read caption)
2016 Grant winners Tricia Neugebauer of Mitchell Career and Technical Education Academy (MCTEA) and Mitchell High School, and Dorothy Marie Gillespie of Pierre Indian Learning Center.
(click on picture to enlarge and read caption)
2015 Grant winners Carrie Tucek of Wagner Community School in Wagner, SD, and Hope Armstrong of Georgia Morse Middle School in Pierre, SD.
(click on picture to enlarge and read caption)
2014 Grant winner Steve Gabriel of Spearfish High School with Kelly Lane and Tom Durkin.
(click on picture to enlarge and read caption)
2013 Grant Winners Betsy Ann Koenig of South Central School in Bonesteel and Amber Stout of Jefferson Elementary School in Pierre, SD
(click on picture to enlarge and read caption)
2012 Grant Winner Timothy Elseman of Custer High School, Custer, SD for his project titled "Modeling Physics, Molding Minds" designed to use technology as a scientific tool to assist with observation, data acquisition, analysis, and problem solving.
(click on picture to enlarge and read caption)
2011 Grant Winner Amber Stout of Jefferson Elementary School, Pierre School District, Pierre, SD
(click on picture to enlarge and read caption)No photo available -- 2011 Grant Winners Jessica Krueger and Robin Anderson of Liberty Elementary, Harrisburg School District, Harrisburg, SD for their project titled “Great Mistakes” focusing on physics, architecture, design, and STEM disciplines.
2010 Grant Winner Greg Diersen of Great Plains Lutheran High School, Watertown, SD
(click on picture to enlarge and read caption)
2009 Grant Winner Molly TenBroek of McIntosh High School, McIntosh, SD
(click on picture to enlarge and read caption)
2008 Grant Winner Julie Olson of Mitchell Senior High School, Mitchell, SD
(click on picture to enlarge and read caption)
2007 Grant Winners Karen Gordon and Mary Frederick of Mickelson Middle School, Brookings, SD
(click on picture to enlarge and read caption)
For more information about this grant, contact Dr. Edward Duke (Director) or Tom Durkin (Deputy Director) at the headquarters office of the South Dakota Space Grant Consortium at the SD School of Mines and Technology.
