The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring are the nation's highest honors for those who have made significant contributions to mentoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The awards are managed by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
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Pause of the PAESMEM program
On July 18, 2025, NSF announced that it will pause the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) and the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) programs until further notice. NSF administers these programs on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Any nominations submitted during the previously scheduled Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 submission window will not be considered, and there will not be any nominations and applications accepted for FY 2026.
The pause allows NSF to conduct a comprehensive review of the programs. NSF remains committed to supporting the nation's STEM teachers and mentors and looks forward to providing future updates.
NSF remains committed to supporting STEM educators and mentors. The pause is intended to allow time for a thoughtful review and planning process.
NSF will be conducting a comprehensive review to ensure that the two programs continue to meet their goals and effectively support STEM educators and mentors.
There is no set timeline for the completion of the review. NSF is working to ensure the review is thorough and strategic. All updates will be shared in the future.
Although there are no plans to host an awards ceremony, the winners have received their stipends.
This cycle is still under review.
No. Any nominations submitted during the previously scheduled FY 2025 submission window will not be considered.
NSF will send letters to applicants and state coordinators.
No.
After the review of the program, more information will be provided.
No, the two programs will not accept nominations for the FY 2026 submission window.
NSF will provide updates as soon as more information becomes available following the program review.
Information about the programs and past awardees will remain accessible at nsf.gov/honorary-awards/paesmem and nsf.gov/honorary-awards/paemst.
About the award
PAESMEM recognizes the critical roles mentors play in the academic and professional development of the future STEM workforce.
Colleagues, administrators and members of the public nominate individuals and organizations for exemplary mentoring sustained over a minimum of five years.
Since 1995, PAESMEM has honored the hard work and dedication of more than 357 individual and organizations that work to broaden participation in the STEM pipeline.
Awardees serve as leaders in the national effort to develop fully the nation's human resources in STEM. Mentors share their expertise and guidance with learners, sometimes through formal mentoring programs. Protégés are students and early career STEM and STEM-related professionals.
Credit: Andrés Harris
Why apply?
Recipients of the award receive the following:
- A certificate signed by the President of the United States.
- A paid trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities.
- A $10,000 award from NSF.
- An opportunity to build lasting partnerships with colleagues across the nation.
Who is eligible?
Individuals and organizations in all public and private sectors are eligible for PAESMEM awards, including industry, academia, K–12, military and government, nonprofit organizations and foundations. Exceptional STEM or STEM-related mentoring in both formal and informal settings is eligible for the PAESMEM award.
Applications are encouraged from all geographical regions in the U.S., including its territories, and particularly jurisdictions designated by Congress under the NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR).
Individual applicants must:
- Work in business, academia, primary or secondary education, military, government, nonprofit organizations, or foundations.
- Have at least five years of sustained, exceptional STEM mentoring.
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Not be part of a current organizational application.
- Not have received the PAESMEM award as an individual applicant in any prior competition.
Organizational applicants must:
- Be affiliated with a company, U.S. educational institution or agency, military, government, nonprofit organization or foundation.
- Have at least five years of sustained, exceptional STEM mentoring.
- Be a mentoring program or activity within an organization.
- Not be a current individual applicant.
- Not have received the PAESMEM award as an organizational applicant in the past 10 years.
The award process
1. Nomination
Anyone can nominate an exceptional STEM mentor or mentoring organization for the PAESMEM award. Self-nominations are also eligible for consideration.
Nominations can be made for individual and organizational PAESMEM awards. To submit a nomination, complete the nomination form, which requires the mentor's name, organization and email address.
2. Application
The application consists of two components: Administrative and Narrative. These components allow applicants to showcase how their mentoring activities go above and beyond to meet the needs and interests of the mentees.
Applications for individual and organizational nominees will be evaluated using the following four dimensions of outstanding mentoring:
- Mentoring philosophy and strategies.
- Assessment and outcomes.
- Reflective practice.
- Leadership and sustainability.
3. Selection
Selection committees will include outstanding scientists, mathematicians, engineers, STEM education researchers, STEM educators and other STEM or STEM-related professionals. These committees will review applications and make recommendations to NSF.
NSF will consider the advice of reviewers and will formulate the recommendations for both individual and organizational awardees. After review and consideration of appropriate factors, NSF will provide its recommendations to the White House for final selection. All awardees will be subject to a Federal Bureau of Investigation background check.
4. Recognition
Each Presidential Awardee receives a certificate signed by the President of the United States, a $10,000 award from NSF, and an all-expenses paid trip to a recognition event, which includes an award ceremony. Activities at the event may also include professional development opportunities and discussions with policymakers on how to improve STEM mentoring.
Awardees also join a national cohort of award-winning mentors, providing opportunities to impact mentoring on a national scale.
Past awardees
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Contact us
Contact paesmem@nsf.gov if you have any questions about the awards or would like to join the PAESMEM mailing list.
Media inquiries should be directed to media@nsf.gov.