North Carolina Students Excel in International Science Competitions

Research Triangle Park, NC, May 22, 2008 --(PR.com)-- North Carolina students are among the best science students in the country. Several students who had placed in top positions at the State Science and Engineering Fair of North Carolina (SSEFNC) participated in several national and international competitions this month.

The first International Sustainable World Energy, Engineering and Environmental Project Olympiad (I-SWEEP) was held in Houston, Texas May 1-5. Five students from North Carolina placed in the competition. Corey Li and Lisa Zhang of Apex, N.C. who attend the NC School of Science and Mathematics, received a gold medal. Martha Hall of Sylva, N.C. who is home schooled, and Taylor Courier of Hendersonville, N.C. who attends the NC School of Science and Mathematics each received a bronze medal. A special award for Environmental Friendly Engineering Design was awarded to Andrew Lomax of Dublin, N.C. who attends West Bladen High School. The competition was attended by students from 52 countries and 38 states.

Eight students were selected by Fair judges to present their six projects from SSEFNC at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Atlanta, Georgia on May 11-16. More than 1,550 young scientists from 51 countries, regions and territories were selected for projects demonstrating their commitment to innovation and science.

Selected students from North Carolina included: Shivani Sud from Jordan High School in Durham, Rebecca Gregory from Camden County High School, Alexander Amaya from Hoggard High School in Wilmington, Andrew Miller from Western Alamance High School, and Corey Li, Lisa Zhang, Lucy Yao, and Sajith Wickramasekara from the NC School of Science and Mathematics.

Awards won by these students at ISEF include the following:
Grand Awards:
Shivani Sud - 1st Place Medicine and Health Services, $3,000
Andrew Miller - 3rd Award in Energy and Transportation, $1,000
Corey Li and Lisa Zhang - 3rd Place Team Awards, $1,000 to share
Special Awards:
Andrew Miller - US Air Force - 1st Award for $3,000; American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics - 2nd Award of $200; Drexel University - Full tuition scholarship;
Shivani Sud - American Association For Clinical Chemistry - 2nd Award of $1,000; Ashtavadhani Vidwan Ambati Subbaraya Chetty (AVASC) Foundation - 1st Award of $1,000; National Anti-Vivisection Society - 1st Award of $5,000.

“It is important for students from North Carolina to have the opportunity to participate in national and international competitions so they can be intellectually challenged and can see the level of science and technology that is being conducted throughout the world. Today’s fellow students from around the world will be tomorrow’s colleagues and peers,” commented Sam Houston, president and CEO of the North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center (SMT Center). The SMT Center is actively promoting several science and mathematics competitions that allow students to participate on a local, regional, state and national and/or international level.

About the SMT Center

Founded in 2002, the SMT Center promotes and supports innovation in science, mathematics, and technology learning. Focusing on North Carolina’s elementary and secondary schools, the SMT Center works to provide all children in North Carolina with the necessary knowledge and skills to have successful careers, be good citizens and advance the economy of the state. For more information about the SMT Center, please see the website: www.ncsmt.org.

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