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Submitted by the parents of Nathan Wagner, SEFNK participant 2012.
Very nice event this weekend. My son had a blast and was very excited to have finished 1st. I think he has a new outlook on his future after seeing what he can accomplish.
Submitted by the parents of Kelly Kleier, SEFNK(NACKES) participant 2009, 2010, 2011.
To say that Kelly's science research experience helped prepare her for college and her future is a vast understatement. We continue to see what a positive impact science fair experience has had on her future!
First of all, there is the obvious - scientific experience. Kelly learned a great deal from working with Sr. Mary Ethel in developing her pump. She learned the ups and downs of how research works or sometimes doesn't work. She learned that a good scientist is persistent, diligent, and patient!
Kelly also developed tremendous presentation skills through her science fair experience. Dealing with judges and their tough questions taught Kelly to think on her feet and communicate effectively with adults. This was a great skill to possess for college interviews!
Kelly also not only made many friends from all over the world at science fairs but many good connections for the future as well. She keeps in touch with many students that she met over the last few years and she learned to network with professors, judges, and business people that she met as well.
Kelly is now a freshman at Xavier University majoring in Biology. She isn't sure where that will take her but she knows she loves it. She hasn't had much opportunity to work on her water pump since graduating from Notre Dame but she keeps it set up in our basement and tinkers with it in her spare time. Her goal for the pump was never to patent it or sell it but she truly would like to use it in a developing country some day to bring a water source to those in need. Sr. Ethel not only taught Kelly a great deal about science but she was very influential in instilling in Kelly how important it is to use the gift of science to make the world a better place rather than make money.
The resume Kelly was able to present when applying to colleges and universities was impressive. Kelly is a bright girl and a good student with many extracurricular activities and leadership experiences. Her science fair awards are a very impressive part of her resume. She received over $400,000 in scholarships and I have to believe her science fair experiences and wins played a great part in that.
Kelly also began working at Wood Hudson Cancer Research Laboratory in Newport this summer. The director of the center was very impressed with her science research and lab experience and that played a large part in Kelly receiving the internship. She plans to continue to work there as her schedule allows this semester and throughout the upcoming summer.
We have good reason to be thankful for science fairs! Our son, Danny, is in 8th grade and headed to Covington Catholic next hear. Our next goal is to convince the Science Department there how important science fair involvement is for their students!
Take care and good luck!
Jane Kleier
