SENATOR
BOB CASEY LAUDS 2010 SCIENCE
HALL OF FAME AWARD WINNERS
News Date
April 24, 2010
United States Senator Robert P. Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania praised the Lehigh Valley region's dedicated young scientists and inspiring teachers in a video message shown Saturday night during the Da Vinci Science Center's 2010 Science Hall of Fame Awards program.
Senator Casey lauded especially the work of 12-year-old inventor Billy Schopf of Whitehall, Pa., winner of the Science Hall of Fame's inaugural Young Scientist Award. A sixth-grader at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School, Billy has developed a patent-pending wind-powered generating system for solar and electric vehicles that can work at night and with low-speed wind.
Billy conceived his invention
while participating in a Saturday morning program for children whose families
hold Da Vinci Science Center membership. With the guidance of Dr. Frank Schweighardt,
who now is the Da Vinci Science Center's vice chairman, Billy was able to
file the original provisional patent paperwork and the full patent application
for free.
"At ten years old, Billy began spending his Saturday mornings in supplementary science programs. And at 12 years of age, he has found new insight into how we create a 21st century green economy," Senator Casey said in the video message. "His turbine innovations have been lauded as a leap forward in green, automotive technology."
Since their inception in 1999, the Da Vinci Science Center's Science Hall of Fame awards have honored high school students who show a unique passion for science inside and outside the classroom, the teachers who inspire their students to explore science actively, and community leaders who support the Center's mission. The Center created the Young Science Award this year to acknowledge elementary and middle school students who shown a significant interest and aptitude for science.
The Science Hall of Fame Awards is the Da Vinci Science Center's largest fundraising event annually. The 2010 Science Hall of Fame Keynote Presentation was delivered by former NASA Astronaut Winston Scott - who overcame segregation and poverty to become the second African-American to walk in space.
A transcript of Senator Casey's video message is as follows:
"Good evening. I'd like to thank the organizers of this event, and the sponsors of the awards for their dedication to the education of the next generation of scientists.
"The award winners are a credit to their families, their teachers, their community, and, of course, to our whole commonwealth.
"It's rare for children and teenagers to spend their free time revolutionizing awkward rehabilitation devices, or analyzing the effects of ultraviolet radiation on yeast in order to treat cancer, or tinkering to improve heart monitors, and, finally, shattering records at the prestigious Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.
"So I want to extend my congratulations to Debbie Chi, Anisha Garg, Raina Jain, Vincent Mattiola, and Callie Woods for their Apprentice Awards.
"The level of achievement being recognized tonight demonstrates the important role that the Da Vinci Science Center and science education play in creating a more scientifically-literate Pennsylvania.
"I want to give special recognition to Bill Schopf. At ten years old, Billy began spending his Saturday mornings in supplementary science programs. And at 12 years of age, he has found new insight into how we create a 21st century green economy. His turbine innovations have been lauded as a leap forward in green, automotive technology.
"It's safe to call Billy a genius. But I also want to thank his parents, and the parents of all the award winners for encouraging their children to pursue excellence and for giving them the support they need to be creative.
"I hope that everyone
has a wonderful time tonight. This is really a night of celebration. Thank
you."
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