CEE's Research Science Institute Alumni Take First and Second Place at the Intel Science Tale

PRLog (Press Release) - Mar. 14, 2013 - MCLEAN, Va. -- The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) announces that 2012 Research Science Institute (RSI) Alumna, Sara Volz of Colorado Springs, CO, was awarded the $100,000 First Place Award in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search.  Sara was selected for her research of algae biofuels and the investigation to increase the oil content of algae to create an economically viable source of biofuel.

Jonah Kallenbach, of Ambler, PA, took Second Place Honors and the $75,000 Scholarship at the Intel Science Talent Search. His bioinformatics study breaks new ground in predicting protein binding for drug therapy.

Ms. Volz and Mr. Kallenbach participated in the Center’s 2012 Research Science Institute (RSI), a six-week summer enrichment program jointly sponsored by CEE and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). To date, RSI alumni have included 488 Intel Science Talent Search semifinalists, 155 finalists, and 9 first-place winners.

RSI is a summer science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) program that combines on-campus course work in scientific theory with off-campus work in science and technology research.  The students conduct original, cutting edge research in state-of-the-art university laboratories, hospitals, and corporate research facilities. Students make oral and written presentations based on their research during the last week of the program.  RSI is offered at no cost to all students competitively selected to attend.

“This is a wonderful accomplishment for Research Science Institute alumni and CEE” said Joann DiGennaro, CEE President. “I am so very proud of Sara Volz and Jonah Kallenbach who represent the future of U.S. global leadership in science and technology.”

About the Center for Excellence in Education

The Center for Excellence in Education was founded in 1983 by the late Admiral H.G. Rickover and Joann P. DiGennaro, President of the Center. The Center's mission is to nurture high school and university scholars to careers of excellence and leadership in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and to encourage collaboration between and among leaders in the global community. CEE sponsors the Research Science Institute (RSI), the USA Biology Olympiad (USABO), and the Teacher Enrichment Program (TEP).  For more information about the Center and its programs, visit CEE’s Web site, www.cee.org