2012 Government News
Four outstanding Science Olympiad champions and their coaches were honored by President Barack Obama on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at the second annual White House Science Fair, an event highlighting the achievements of student winners from major national science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions. Students and coaches in attendance at the White House represent the two winning teams from the 2011 Science Olympiad National Tournament, Solon Middle School and Solon High School in Solon, Ohio. During the White House Science Fair, student exhibited devices from these Science Olympiad events: Mousetrap Vehicle, Robot Arm, Towers and Sumo-Bots. A ceremony and speech by President Obama followed, and the students mixed with such dignitaries as Neil deGrasse Tyson, John Holdren of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Charles Bolden of NASA, Jane Lubchenco of NOAA, Nobel Prize winner Carl Wieman and Bill Nye The Science Guy. This is the third time Science Olympiad has been lauded by a sitting president; in March of 1992, President George H.W. Bush and Education Secretary Lamar Alexander hosted 180 Science Olympiad dignitaries and students at a Washington, DC, ceremony, and in October 2010, six students and two coaches attended the inaugural White House Science Fair.
- "Obama Praises Top Students at White House Science Fair," US News & World Report, February 7, 2012, with comments from Solon students
- "Four Solon High School Students participate in White House Science Fair," Cleveland.com, Chagrin Solon Sun, February 12, 2012
- "Visit with president is scientifically 'cool'," Chagrin Valley Times, Februrary 15, 2012.
- "Solon Students Honored at White House," WKYC-TV NBC, February 7, 2012, with footage of Solon students at the White House Ceremony with President Obama.
- Yahoo News pickup of Jason Koebler's US News & World Report article, February 7, 2012
- "Solon Students Honored in Washington," WKYC-TV NBC, Cleveland, February 6, 2012 - Live student interview from outside the White House gates!
- "Solon Students To Be Honored By President Obama at White House," Solon Patch, February 6, 2012.
- White House Press Release with student team info, February 6, 2012.
- White House Press Release Update, February 6, 2012.
- Ohio State University Office of Continuing Education Release
- Solon Schools District Web Page Announcement
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How You Can Join the White House Science Fair (Virtually)
Science Olympiad students (L to R) Katrina Mikofalvy, Andrew Mikofalvy, Lisa Guo and Kevin Sun at the 2012 White House Science Fair in Washington, DC. © Jason Koebler/US News & World Report
Science Olympiad students demonstrated their devices to "Bill Nye The Science Guy" at the White House Science Fair.
Coach Drew Kirian from Solon Middle School, Coach Donna Ross from Solon High School and four students will represent the 2011 Science Olympiad National Tournament winning teams at the second annual White House Science Fair on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, in Washington, DC.
