The Philadelphia Eagles and Axalta Coating Systems announce that nominations are now being accepted for the 2017 Axalta All-Pro Teachers program. In its third year, the program recognizes outstanding sixth through 12th grade teachers concentrating on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Former or current school principals, students, colleagues, as well as members of the community can nominate teachers in school districts throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. Based on their educational drive, innovation in the classroom, and community ownership, 10 teachers will be selected as an All-Pro Teacher and recognized at an Eagles home game in 2017. Each teacher’s school will receive a monetary donation from Axalta for STEM programming or school supplies, tickets to an Eagles home game, a personalized Eagles jersey and football, and a nomination for Axalta All-Pro Teacher of the Year. The 2017 Axalta All-Pro Teacher of the Year will receive an additional donation to his or her school, an Eagles Pep Rally hosted at their school, and a vacation for two.

Nominations for qualified teachers can be submitted by visiting www.philadelphiaeagles.com/allproteachers.

The 2017 Axalta All-Pro Teachers initiative is supported by a unique promotion designed to increase the visibility of the program in the greater Philadelphia area, as well as draw attention to the importance of STEM education nationally. The Axalta All-Pro Teachers logo will be prominently displayed on two-time Daytona 500 champion Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 Chevrolet SS for the Pocono 400 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, June 11 at Pocono Raceway. Axalta is a primary sponsor of Earnhardt and is an official partner of NASCAR and 12-time Cup Series champions Hendrick Motorsports. To download a rendering of the car, click here.

“Having terrific partners really helps to make programs like the Axalta All-Pro Teachers reach a larger community,” said Axalta Chairman and CEO Charlie Shaver. “The exposure that the Axalta All-Pro Teachers program will receive at the Pocono 400, thanks to Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s popular No. 88 car, will showcase the campaign to a national audience. We thank the Philadelphia Eagles, Dale Jr., and Hendrick Motorsports for their dedicated support of such a worthwhile program.”

Axalta has been a corporate partner of the Eagles since 2015 and extended their partnership with the team to run through the 2021 season last year. In 2016, the team unveiled the all-new Axalta Tunnel Club, a 1,400-square-foot premium lounge space located inside the Eagles tunnel at Lincoln Financial Field. Axalta is committed to corporate social responsibility initiatives with a special focus on STEM education to help teach the next generation of engineers. Axalta employs more than 1,200 engineers and scientists.

“This is the third year of the Axalta All-Pro Teachers program and we receive hundreds of enthusiastic nominations from students, education professionals and community members who have been positively impacted by STEM teachers throughout Greater Philadelphia,” said Eagles President Don Smolenski. “It is a privilege to partner with Axalta Coating Systems to honor these role models for their inspirational work in STEM education.”

The 2017 Axalta All-Pro Teachers kickoff was held at Lincoln Financial Field to celebrate the opening of nominations. Last month, 2016 Axalta All-Pro Teacher of the Year Patrick “Brooks” Twilley of Mount Pleasant High School (Wilmington, DE) and his students were surprised with a special after-school visit made by Eagles CB Ron Brooks, Eagles Cheerleaders, and SWOOP. Brooks and his students were on-hand at the launch event where they provided a demonstration of their robotics project which inspired Brooks’ students, friends, and colleagues to nominate him.