In 2017, OCACS instituted an Award for the Orange County Chemistry Teacher of the Year. In 2024, the grateful members of the Board of OCACS decided to name this award for Dr. Carol Grimes who had guided the growth and development of the numerous education activities of OCACS for many years.
Past winners of the Carol Grimes Chemistry Teacher of the Year Award have been:
| 2024 -Anie Robinson, Sage Hill High School (photo) |
| 2023 – Valerie Thompson, Corona Del Mar High School (photo) |
| 2019 – Kim Ngo, Corona Del Mar High School (photo) |
| 2018 – John Burns, Westminster High School, Westminster (photo) |
| 2017 – Kelli Gaines of Trabuco Hills High School, Mission Viejo (photo) |
All nominees must be full-time teachers in Orange County at either a public or private high school. It is not necessary to be a member of ACS to be eligible. Nominations should be submitted by teachers and administrators at High Schools in Orange County, CA (i.e. teachers may nominate their colleagues).
The award is presented at the annual Orange County High School Awards Dinner in May. The winning candidate is awarded a plaque, a year’s membership in the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT),and a cash prize.
For more information about this Award, contact Shannon Regli at sregli@gmail.com.