THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) today announced that it now invites applications for its 19th annual Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence (AASTE). This award is designed to recognize and honor extraordinary science teachers at the K-12 level who significantly impact their students through exemplary science teaching and who achieve demonstrated results in student learning in communities where Amgen operates.

With a longstanding commitment to science education, Amgen established the teacher awards program to promote and encourage science excellence in public and private schools. Since the program's inception in 1992, Amgen has awarded nearly $2.5 million to educators who have made exceptional science-teaching contributions and who have significantly impacted the lives of their students.

Amgen will honor a total of 34 teachers in states where Amgen has operating sites: California, Colorado, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Washington and Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec).

"Outstanding teachers motivate, inspire and prepare students for a better understanding of science and how it applies to the world around them," said Phyllis Piano, vice president, Corporate Communications and Philanthropy at Amgen. "Amgen is proud to honor educators in our communities who are dedicated to science teaching excellence and we look forward to recognizing their accomplishments."

The 34 selected winners within the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada will receive the following benefits:

    --  An unrestricted cash award of $5,000 USD or $5,000 CAD; and

    --  A restricted $5,000 USD or $5,000 CAD cash grant to the recipient's
        school for the expansion or enhancement of a school science program,
        science resources, or the professional development of the school's
        science teachers.

Applicants are required to submit an innovative lesson plan that they have successfully incorporated into their classroom and that can be shared with other teachers. A panel of independent judges will select the winners based on the following criteria: creativity and effectiveness of teaching methods; innovative lesson plan; and the plan for the use of grant money to improve science education resources in their schools.

A select number of the lesson plans submitted by 2010 AASTE Award winners will be posted to Amgen's Web site, with the intent that other teachers will benefit from these innovative materials. Select lesson plans from 2007 through 2009 AASTE Award winners are available for download at no cost; educators are encouraged to review and implement any of these plans into their own curriculum.

Those interested in applying should visit http://www.amgen.com/citizenship/aaste.html for more information. The application can be completed online and French and Spanish applications are available in PDF format. Applications must be submitted by Feb. 5, 2010 to be valid. Winners will be notified in between April and June 2010.

About Amgen

Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis and other serious illnesses. With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people's lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and our vital medicines, visit: www.amgen.com.

    CONTACT:  Amgen, Thousand Oaks
              Kristen Davis, (805) 447-3008 (media)

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SOURCE Amgen