Alumnus receives presidential award

East Kentwood High School math teacher Luke Wilcox has just returned to West Michigan after a trip to the White House to meet President Barack Obama. Wilcox traveled to Washington D.C. August 4-8 to receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching.

The award is given annually to K-12 science and mathematics teachers who are selected by a panel of scientists, mathematicians and educators, following a selection process at the state level. Wilcox was among 108 recipients this year.

"I know there are thousands of other teachers who are deserving of this award, so I am humbled to be selected to represent those teachers," said Wilcox. "The trip to Washington D.C. was incredible. It was valuable for me to meet other teachers around the country who are doing great work, and connect with representatives from the National Science Foundation and science researchers to broaden my perspective of math and science education." 

Wilcox, 36, received a master's degree in math education from Grand Valley in 2004. He has been teaching math at East Kentwood for 14 years and currently teaches 12th grade AP statistics. He is also an adjunct instructor at Grand Valley.

Winners of the presidential award received a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation.