School of Electrical and Computer Engineering alumnus Mars Berwanger has been selected to receive a highly competitive Woodrow Wilson Georgia Teaching Fellowship. The Woodrow Wilson Fellowship Foundation seeks to attract recent graduates and career changers with backgrounds in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields to teach in Title 1 high-need schools throughout Georgia.  

Berwanger, who earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 2016, is one of 63 aspiring educators selected for the third cohort of Fellows. Berwanger is attending Kennesaw State University and will receive $30,000 to complete a specially designed master’s degree program combined with practical teaching experience in a high school in Dallas, Georgia.

During the year-long program, Berwanger will spend four days a week at the high school gaining teaching experience alongside his coursework at Kennesaw. Upon completion of the program, Fellows commit to teaching for three years and will receive ongoing mentoring.

Berwanger’s program will certify him to teach grades six through 12 in the subject of mathematics. He anticipates staying in a high school setting where he will teach classes in geometry, algebra, pre-calculus, and statistics.

The Fellowship, which aims to produce a strong pipeline of STEM educators for Georgia’s underserved secondary schools, represents a unique opportunity for Berwanger to switch from engineering to teaching. He always felt a draw toward teaching and mentorship. At Georgia Tech, he was an outdoor recreation coach for fellow students where he taught rock climbing. The experience struck a cord and he knew he would eventually decide to be a teacher.

“It really is a calling for me. I love the idea of sharing my knowledge and experience with others. It was only six years ago that I was in my students’ position. I hope I can be a relatable mentor to them and get them excited about math and science,” Berwanger said.