Diedre Young has been an influential ambassador for science education in her state and across the country. Diedre designs authentic research in the classroom and is the recipient of several research awards and grants. In 2013, she was one of 12 national finalists for People Magazine’s Teacher of the Year award. She was published in the Research Based Education Journal and participated in a month-long research project at sea on the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Ship Atlantis doing physical oceanography. Additionally, all of her students participate in U.S. and international science fairs. To date, her students have been awarded over $200,000 in science fair scholarships.