Posts Tagged ‘Braeden Benedict’

President Obama Puts the Spotlight on STEM Education, Young Scientists

February 7, 2012 | by aharris
Neil deGrasse Tyson and DE3MYSC Winner Braeden Benedict

Neil deGrasse Tyson, Director of the Hayden Planetarium, and DE3MYSC Winner Braeden Benedict

Today I had the honor of attending the second White House Science Fair, hosted by President Barack Obama to shed light on the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and our next generation of scientists. It was an amazing experience, and not just because it was at the White House.

Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge Winning Team 6000 n 60 with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson

Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge Winning Team 6000 n 60 with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson

For several hours, students and guests were immersed in a world where Bill Nigh and Neil deGrasse Tyson are the rock stars and immediate plans for middle schoolers include obtaining patents and meeting with legislators to influence future policies. Among the 100 students from more than 45 states attending the event were winners of the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge and the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge (view more pictures from today on Flickr).

The President took the opportunity to meet with several of the students (including the We Can Change the World Middle School Winners, Team 6000 n 60) before addressing an audience of science leaders, teachers, students, parents and media. Taking the time to recognize several of the budding scientists present, including one young scientist who got the news that she had won her contest as her family was living in a homeless shelter. You can read the President’s remarks online or watch the press conference below:

Congratulations to all of the students honored today!

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Discovery Education Heads to the White House Science Fair

February 5, 2012 | by aharris
DE3MYSC 2011 Winner Presentation

Benedict with 3M CEO George Buckley, Discovery Communications' Bill Goodwyn and Reed Timmer

On February 7, the White House will celebrate budding scientists with the second White House Science Fair, welcoming student winners representing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions across the U.S. Among the approximately 100 young scientists participating on Tuesday you’ll find student winners from the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge and the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge.

Both competitions honor the next generation of scientific leaders, as Discovery Education partners with leading organizations like 3M, Siemens & NSTA. Braeden Benedict, winner of the 2011 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, is a 15-year-old, 9th grade student from Rancho Palos Verdes, California who developed a low-cost impact detection device for use on youth and high school contact sport helmets to warn coaches and trainers that a player has received a hit with enough force to cause a concussion.

Also joining Braeden will be Team “6000 n 60″ from Kohala Middle School in Kapaau, Hawaii, and winners of the 2011 Middle School Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge. For the Challenge, the team focused on the disposal of household batteries in the absence of a local opportunity to recycle them and developed “6000 n 60,” a household battery recycling effort to collect 6,000 batteries in 60 days. After collection, the students used the data to lobby for better battery recycling opportunities.

Several of the students invited to the White House will have the opportunity to exhibit their work at the Fair, at which the President will address students, science educators and business leaders about the importance of STEM education to the U.S. economy. And we’ll be keeping you updated on the Fair — from the set up tomorrow to the event on Tuesday from @DiscoveryComm on Twitter (make sure to follow #WHScienceFair, too).

As the President when he hosted the first White House Science Fair, “If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if you’re a young person and you produce the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too.” Hear, hear!

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‘America’s Top Young Scientist’ Uses Science to Help Athletes

October 8, 2011 | by aharris
DE3MYSC 2011 Winner Presentation

Benedict with 3M CEO George Buckley, Discovery Communications' Bill Goodwyn and Reed Timmer

Thinking back to middle school, science projects seemed to revolve around model volcanoes and basic chemical reactions. However, in 2011, young scientific minds are using the power of science to solve problems, big and small. The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge is committed to encouraging budding scientists and rewarding innovation among students each year, and Braeden Benedict of Rancho Palos Verdes, California is the latest to earn the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.”

Benedict competed alongside nine other finalists during the competition’s final event held at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota last week. As the grand prize winner, he has won $25,000 and a trip from Discovery Student Adventures for his innovation in developing a low-cost impact detection device that can make it easier to spot harmful concussions in athletes (watch his video entry).

Over the past three months, all of the finalists spent their summers participating in a mentorship program working directly with a 3M scientist as they created an innovation that solved a problem in everyday life. During the final event, the finalists presented their completed innovations to a panel of judges, including Reed Timmer from Discovery Channel’s Storm Chasers, Discovery Education and 3M representatives and educators from across the country.  In addition to presenting their prototypes, the ten finalists competed in two additional challenges, which tested their scientific knowledge, creativity and use of 3M technology.

Along with naming Benedict as the grand prize winner, Discovery Education and 3M awarded the nine other finalists with prizes. The second, third and fourth place winners each received a $1,000 cash prize and a trip from Discovery Student Adventures. Congratulations to:

  • Cheyenne Hua from Hunter College High School in New York, New York
  • Nolan Leonard from St. Luke’s Episcopal School in Mobile, Alabama
  • Caroline Boschetto from Villa Joseph Marie High School in Holland, Pennsylvannia

The fifth through tenth place winners each received a $1,000 cash prize and a $500 gift card from Discovery Experiences. These finalists include:

  • Jack Andraka from North County High School in Glen Burnie, Maryland
  • Austin Curtis from Bedford Middle School in Bedford, Indiana
  • Shawn Farmand from Arcola Intermediate School in Eagleville, Pennsylvannia
  • John Holtgrewe from Paducah Middle School in Pudacah, Kentucky
  • Diyva Ravinder from Lawton Chiles Middle Academy in Lakeland, Florida
  • Albert Tung from University High School in Irvine, California

To learn more about this year’s finalists, please visit YoungScientistChallenge.com.

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