--- title: HR 1095. 2026 Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award Recipients; commending the Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1095 cite_as: HR 1095, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1095 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1095.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1095/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72446 date: 2026-01-27 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1094.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1096.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1095.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1095 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-01-27 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Will Wade - Matthew Gambill - Matt Dubnik - Johnny Chastain - Rob Clifton - Chris Erwin text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1095/2025 upstream_id: 2095059 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - STEM education - Georgia House resolution - education awards - K-12 education --- # HR 1095. 2026 Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award Recipients; commending the Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center; commend ## Text House Resolution 1095 By: Representatives Wade of the 9th, Gambill of the 15th, Dubnik of the 29th, Chastain of the 7th, Clifton of the 131st, and others A RESOLUTION Honoring the 2026 Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award Recipients and commending the Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center (GYSTC) is a private, not- for-profit educational organization established to increase interest in and enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); and WHEREAS, since 1989, GYSTC has focused on providing programs that strengthen the teaching and learning of STEM education for kindergarten through eighth-grade teachers and students, with a particular emphasis on rural and underserved school districts throughout the State of Georgia; and WHEREAS, the Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center offers professional learning opportunities for educators and hands-on STEM activities for students and parents that are designed to change perceptions, spark curiosity, and introduce STEM-related careers at an early age; and WHEREAS, GYSTC recognizes that preparation for life beyond high school must begin early and that engaging young minds in STEM experiences lays the foundation for a future workforce that is curious, capable, confident, and well-prepared; and WHEREAS, understanding the vital role STEM plays in Georgia’s economy, the Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center has built a strong statewide network of partnerships among local businesses, community leaders, K-12 educators, and institutions of higher education; and WHEREAS, these partnerships help educators access STEM resources within their own communities, connect classrooms to emerging technologies and career pathways, and ensure that students see STEM not merely as a subject, but as a gateway to lifelong opportunity; and WHEREAS, the Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award recognizes outstanding students whose academic achievement, curiosity, and commitment to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics exemplify the mission and values of the Georgia Youth and Technology Center; and WHEREAS, the 2026 Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award recipients, Terran Taylor, Robin Marrow, Quanya Pendelton-Sears, Audra Esquivel, McKenzie Snyder, Linda Rule, Keith Furstenberg, Tammy Owen, Audrey Hughes, Sarah Middleton, Don Hamil, Dr. Amy Tankersley, Aisha Chadwick, Lacy Williams, Keri Claxton, Celia Anyenesazan, Kristen Bowen, Alyssa Benner, Linda W. Kurtz, Dr. Serene D. Lee, Samuel Sacks, Shelee McCorkle, Dr. Samantha Sturrup, Briana Howell, Kendel Purvis represent the promise of Georgia’s future and demonstrate excellence, perseverance, and leadership in STEM education. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body do hereby honor the 2026 Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award recipients and commend the Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center for its enduring commitment to advancing STEM education, supporting educators, inspiring students, and strengthening Georgia’s workforce and communities. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center and to the Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award recipients. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution honors the 2026 Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award recipients and commends the Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center for its work promoting STEM education across the state. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia House of Representatives. It does not change any law. Instead, it formally recognizes the Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center (GYSTC), a nonprofit that has worked since 1989 to strengthen science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education for kindergarten through eighth-grade teachers and students, especially in rural and underserved school districts. The resolution also honors the 25 individuals named as 2026 Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award recipients, an award that recognizes students and educators whose work reflects GYSTC's mission. The resolution directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies for distribution to GYSTC and to the award recipients themselves. ### What it does - Formally honors the 25 named individuals as 2026 Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award recipients. - Commends the Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center for its work supporting STEM education since 1989. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to GYSTC and the award recipients. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement; it is a statement of recognition by the House. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors the Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center and the 25 individual Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award recipients. It has no regulatory or financial effect on other Georgians, schools, or agencies. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or financial consequences; it does not change any Georgia law, create funding, or impose requirements. Its significance is symbolic, giving formal legislative recognition to a nonprofit's STEM education work and to the individuals it has honored. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe GYSTC's history since 1989 and its focus on K-8 STEM education in rural and underserved districts. - The resolved clause honors the 25 named 2026 Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award recipients and commends GYSTC's overall mission. - A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to GYSTC and the award recipients. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-01-27) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-01-27) - Sponsors: Will Wade, Matthew Gambill, Matt Dubnik, Johnny Chastain, Rob Clifton, Chris Erwin - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72446 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1095.md?full=1