Amy Powell, extension youth STEM program specialist in animal science, is the recipient of the Professional and Scientific Early Achievement in Extension and Outreach Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. Powell’s focus is developing animal science curriculum for youth audiences. She has developed more than 60 publications that are used across the country, including lesson plans, day camp curricula and exhibits. Her leadership of the online educational youth curricula “Animal U” was supported by nearly $700,000 in outside support.
Powell has developed and implemented five new STEM events that reach hundreds of youth annually, including Beef Blast, swine skillathon, sheep skillathon, goat skillathon, Livestock Quiz Bowl and livestock coaches training. She has also been a writer for the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals national curriculum.