2/14/2006

Contact: K.E. Schwab  -- 724-738-2199;  e-mail: karl.schwab@sru.edu

 $24,000 in Scholarship Funding Available to 500 Budding Scientists –

SRU TO AGAIN HOST REGION IX PA. JUNIOR ACADEMY OF SCIENCE EVENT  

     SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Nearly every aspect of science will be on display Feb. 25 when Slippery Rock University again hosts the annual Region IX Meeting of the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science and offers $24,000 in scholarship funding to the 500 budding high school scientists.

     The university has hosted the science program, open to seventh through 12th graders in the PJAS region, for the past nine years. The region includes students from Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence and Mercer counties.

      Headed on campus by Dr. William Sigmund, SRU professor of biology, the program has traditionally drawn students with specific interests in math and science. “We use the event to show off the campus and allow the region’s high school science students to see how their work compares with other students in the region. It is really an exciting – and educational -- time for all of the participating students, many of whom work months on developing their scientific projects.”

      In addition to the individual $12,000, four-year scholarships offered to the top senior and the top junior winner if they attend SRU, the program offers $100 each to the top senior and junior presented by Sigma XI, the SRU chapter of the national scientific research society. Top presenters in each discipline also earn cash or bond awards from the Region IX committee or other program sponsors. SRU’s mathematics department presents a $100 award to the top senior high student and junior high student involved in mathematics presentations.

      College faculty, high school teachers, business leaders, medical professionals and college students serve as judges as competitors offer 10-minute oral presentations discussing results of their independent research projects. Judges may ask questions before rating the presentation. "First Place" winners earn the right to compete at the state competition in May.

      Nearly 175 judges will attend an 11:15 a.m. complimentary luncheon in Boozel Dining Hall before the event where they will be welcomed by SRU President Robert Smith. Student scientists will assemble for an orientation meeting at 12:45 p.m. in the University Union and presentations will run throughout the afternoon followed by a 6 p.m. awards ceremony in the union preceded by dinner in Weisenfluh Dining Hall.

PN, PgN, WPN, PR

PJAS06.kes.doc