Atlanta Educator Wins Prestigious Presidential STEM Award

Rajini Sundararaj, an esteemed educator from Atlanta, has been honored with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, the nation’s most prestigious recognition in STEM education. This award acknowledges her dedication to shaping young minds and her profound impact on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Expressing her gratitude, Sundararaj credited her success to the unwavering support of her family, colleagues, school administrators, and the wider community.

On January 13, 2025, the President announced 336 teachers and mentors across the country as recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) and the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). Sundararaj stood among the six distinguished educators recognized in Georgia.

With more than two decades of teaching experience, she has influenced thousands of students across India, the Middle East, and the United States. In Atlanta’s Title I high schools, she has worked tirelessly to create STEM opportunities for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, empowering them through education.

Originally from Puliamarathupalayam, Coimbatore, India, Sundararaj earned her master’s degree from PSG College of Arts and Science and later pursued an Educational Specialist degree at Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee. Her journey to the U.S. was made possible through the Global Teaching Recruitment and Resource (GTRR) program, which connects skilled educators worldwide to American classrooms. She expressed her deep appreciation for Dr. Paddy Sharma, whose support through GTRR helped her establish her teaching career in the U.S.

Sundararaj’s outstanding contributions to science education have earned her numerous accolades at both regional and national levels. Among her many honors, she has received the K-12 STEM Community Builder Award and the National Science Foundation’s Paul A. Duke Georgia Intern Fellowships for Teachers (GIFT) Action Plan Teacher Achievement Award. Additionally, she has been named National Region III Magnet Teacher of the Year, a National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) Educator of Distinction, and a recipient of the NSHSS Innovation in Teaching Educator Grant Award.

The PAEMST represents the highest distinction for K-12 educators in STEM fields. Nominees undergo a rigorous evaluation process by experts in science, mathematics, and education, with final selections approved by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Award recipients receive a certificate signed by the U.S. President, an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for professional development events, and a $10,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

Since 1983, over 5,500 teachers have been honored with this award, reflecting their excellence in education and their lasting impact on student success. Sundararaj now joins this esteemed network of educators committed to advancing STEM education across the nation.