Rolland Karlin wins National Science
Foundation 
Presidential Award
Big Timber Grade School 5th Grade Science Teacher wins Highest Honors
Once
you step into Rolland Karlin's class, you immediately know that he is no ordinary
5th Grade Science Teacher, he is an outstanding teacher who loves teaching
kids. "Look for the positive and catch them doing something right" is one
of Mr. Karlin's mottos. Mr. Karlin's love of teaching and dedication
shows, and he just received notice that he has been
awarded the National Science Foundation's Presidential Award for excellence in
teaching.
"Your exceptional talent, leadership abilities and dedication as a teacher are qualities that place you among the recipients of the nation's highest honor for mathematics and science teaching. You stand firmly amongst the nation's best science and mathematics teachers." writes Jane Butler Kahle, Division Director of the National Science Foundation.
Mr. Karlin will be going to Washington DC to be honored for his achievements and will stay for the four day event starting June 20, 2000. In DC, Mr. Karlin will get to will show off his teaching talents and also meet other Presidential Awardees. The award also includes a $7,500 grant, money to be spent to his discretion to improve Big Timber Grade Schools Science and Math Program.
Mr.
Karlin, a dedicated 
Grizzly
fan and alumni, started teaching 22 years ago, and in 1990 was a Finalist for
the National Science Foundation Presidential Award and received a Certificate of
Honor. In 1986 he started coaching the Science Olympiad program for 6th -
9th grades in Big Timber. That first year the team took 3rd place in
Montana, and every year since, all 14 of them, Mr. Karlin proudly states that
the kids have been in the trophies. Of those 14 years in Science Olympiad,
Big Timber has placed 1st eight times, 2nd five times, and 3rd once- (the first
try in1986). He is quick to give credit to the children he teaches and
also the parents and the community as a whole, but modesty aside, it takes a
great teacher to have the results that Mr. Karlin shows. To get an idea of
how hard it is to win a "State Championship", you have to realize that
Big Timber teams are competing against larger and smaller schools, approximately
50 of them, from Billings and Bozeman to Two Dot. "Professor
Karlin" refers to the success of the Big Timber Science Olympiad teams as
bringing 8 "State Championships" to Big Timber. When the Science
Olympiad teams win state, they get to compete at a national level against 70
teams - one team representing every state and a few teams from Canada and
Mexico. Some states are so large that they send two teams. The
Science Olympiad teams perform scientific experiments and engineering skills
using the scientific process on projects like Bottle Rockets, Battery Buggy,
Naked Egg Drop, and Building Bridges to name a few. The contestants are
given directions on what their inventions need to do, like a battery powered car
that travels to the inside a circle and stop on a dime.
The Science Olympiad teams have been to places all over the U.S. to compete, from Clarion PA in 1989, Auburn AL in 1991, Pueblo CO in 1992, Tucson AZ in 1993, Bloomington IN in 1994, Atlanta GA in 1995, Raleigh NC in 1996, to Chicago IL in 1998. While traveling all over the U.S., Mr. Karlin and the Big Timber Science Olympiad team represent Big Timber and are great ambassadors, showing the world what quality people live in Big Timber.
Each year the Science Olympiad team raises $15,000 to $16,000 from Sweet Grass County and out of state. Mr. Karlin says that almost half of the money raised for the teams comes from relatives and corporations outside Sweet Grass County, many from all over the U.S.
Mr. Karlin, a dedicated Griz fan, shows off the kids Wall of fame behind his
teaching desk at Big Timber Grade School.
This year Science Olympiad Team with their 2nd place state trophy.
Winning first in state for a years past team.
News