Mary Thaler
Thaler receives the 2022 Betty-Ware Wray Staff Award
The Betty-Ware Wray staff award is given annually to a College of Education (COE) staff member who has excelled in their job performance as well as University service. During the College’s annual meeting on August 3, Mary Thaler, administrative assistant for the Center for STEM Education was named the 2022 recipient.
Thaler joined the COE’s Center for STEM Education (i2STEMed) in January 2018 where she assists with programming and grant-funded projects as well as maintains the Center’s budget. She has assisted with planning and coordination of summer camps such as Eagle Experience, a marine science experience; Hop To It, a herpetology camp for girls; and Our2Swamp, a development experience for teachers. She also organizes STEM Field Experiences, manages the Center’s School Outreach program lending materials and equipment to schools, and assists with many STEM outreach projects including STEM Nights at regional schools and showcasing the Science To-Go mobile unit at events such as CoastFest, the Dahlonega Science Festival, and Girl Scouts STEM Festival in Savannah.
“I know I can rely on Mary to answer questions, make decisions, and ensure timely responses,” said i2STEMed Coordinator Kania Greer, Ed.D. “She is not only a colleague but a true friend and makes coming to work fun each and every day.”
During the height of the pandemic, Thaler and Greer completed an underwater remote operated vehicle (ROV) course through the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) group to enhance their knowledge in circuitry, engineering, and physics that it takes to build an underwater ROV from scratch. With this knowledge, the duo have been able to assist and train coaches of local teams hoping to compete in the MATE ROV competitions.
“Mary started a robotics team at Metter High School, which is a small, rural school,” said Greer. “The school would not have been able to afford to hire someone to do this, and Mary donated her time outside of work to train teachers how to coach robotics, and she continues to be involved with the club today.”
In addition to her work responsibilities, Thaler is currently completing a bachelor’s in graphic design at Georgia Southern. She holds an associate’s of design from The Art Institute of Atlanta. Utilizing her natural creative ability, Thaler creates many of the Center’s graphics and designs from scratch, and is known for crafting interactive bulletin boards and displays for the Center and College.
“Mary routinely goes above and beyond to help students, faculty, and staff,” said Greer. “The Center for STEM Education would not be where it is today with the dedication Mary has had to fulfilling our mission. Her extra hours and weekend work are a key to making this office work. She knows the ins and outs of this office and has formed connections with teachers that help the Center succeed.”
Staff members are nominated for the Betty-Ware Wray Award by COE faculty, staff and students, and the nominations are reviewed by the College’s Staff Advisory Council.
For a complete list of award recipients visit https://www.georgiasouthern.edu/coe/awards/
Center for STEM Education challenges Girl Scout camp goers to solve a mystery and think like engineers
This summer, the Georgia Southern University Center for STEM Education partnered with the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia to create a forensics investigation as well as engineering workshop that Scouts are completing at summer camp.
“The Case of the Stolen Eagle Egg” was designed by the Center’s Kania Greer, Ed.D., coordinator, and Mary Thaler, administrative assistant, to provide an interdisciplinary educational experience for the Girl Scouts while coming to Camp Lowe in Savannah, GA.
“This activity is complete with actual evidence from Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia employees and camp counselors,” said Greer. “We wanted to make this experience as exciting and real as possible to ensure the girls had fun while completing experiments, math equations, writing narratives, and learning how to deliver a data-driven theory.”
The Case has four potential suspects, evidence ranging from replica eagle feathers and talons, footprints, fingerprints, fibers and eye witnesses. The participating Girl Scouts will complete activities in paper chromatography, fingerprinting, crime scene documentation, fiber analysis and feather labs that will enhance their skills in deductive reasoning, the scientific process, collaborative investigation, and evidence evaluation.
Once they solve the case, each Girl Scout receives a “Special Agent” Girl Scout badge.
The Center also created an engineering workshop for the Scouts including activities in all three areas of the Junior Mechanical Engineering Girl Scout badge requirements including crane design, rubber band or balloon powered cars and paddle boats.
“Each activity requires the girls to think critically and creatively to design, create and build projects with simple, household materials,” said Thaler. “They will test their designs and compete against each other to determine which design is the most successful and then evaluate why that design had more success.”
Senior Elementary Education Major Christopher Harrelson is working with the Center this summer to provide support to the Girl Scouts specifically in the engineering workshop.
Interested in partnering with the Center for STEM Education for your organization? Contact stem@georgiasouthern.edu or call (912) 478-8650.