The Academy is pleased to be recognized as a finalist for a Special Focus Prize for democratizing science education in the U.S., sponsored by the Jhumki Basu Foundation. The Academy was recognized for its STEM Mentoring Program, which recruits, trains, and supports young scientists, placing them in educationally underserved schools and afterschool programs where they can interact with and inspire students. The Special Focus Prize is sponsored by the Jhumki Basu Foundation, which honors the memory of Professor Jhumki Basu, who believed that the most effective way to engage students in science is to partner with them and give them a voice in what they learn and how they learn.