The Florida West Coast Section of the IEEE Lignell Award annually recognizes outstanding mathematics and science teachers who have significantly impacted the lives of their students through highly engaging science, technology, engineering, and mathematics activities both in and out of the classroom. The program is open to all educators teaching classes in mathematics or science in public schools in the Tampa Bay area. IEEE is the world’s largest professional association advancing innovation and technological excellence.

Three recipients are selected from 12 counties in Southwest Florida. This year's winners were invited to attend the Tampa Bay Engineers Week Banquet held at the A La Carte Event Pavilion where they were presented with the award and an honorarium.

Karina Bletsch, Alonso High School science teacher, has been selected as the 2012 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Lignell winner for Hillsborough County.