Young Scientists Honored at ExxonMobil Texas Science and Engineering Fair

SAN ANTONIO--April 4, 2011: More than two hundred bright, young Texans were recognized with awards today at the ExxonMobil Texas Science and Engineering Fair (EMTSEF), a four-day competition that brings together top science fair winners from across the state. Madeleine Ball of Dallas received Best of Fair in the senior division, and Kaleigh Gallant and Emily Lowry, both of Frisco, won the top honor for the junior division. The event was hosted by The University of Texas at San Antonio at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio.

“ExxonMobil is committed to encouraging the next generation of scientists and engineers through initiatives such as the Texas Science and Engineering Fair”

Students competed in two divisions - junior (grades six through eight) and senior (grades nine through 12) - in one of 17 categories. Selected from more than 1,000 entries, awards were given to first through fourth place winners in each category as well as Grand Prize and Best in Fair projects in each division.

Senior division Grand Prize winners received all-expense paid trips to compete at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair May 8--13 in Los Angeles. The top 10 percent of competitors in the junior division qualified to participate in the Broadcom MASTERS program.

"ExxonMobil is committed to encouraging the next generation of scientists and engineers through initiatives such as the Texas Science and Engineering Fair," said Suzanne McCarron, general manager, public and government affairs, Exxon Mobil Corporation. "We are proud to recognize their achievements and expect to see these brilliant, young students at the forefront as our country tackles significant technology challenges in the future."

For the 11th consecutive year, ExxonMobil sponsored the state-level competition and provided a grant of $75,000 that also funded a diversity recruitment initiative to aid with project and travel expenses for those students who would otherwise be unable to participate. The University of Texas at San Antonio has hosted the fair since 2004 and the Texas Science Careers Consortium has managed the fair since its inception 25 years ago.

"On behalf of UTSA, I'd like to congratulate the winners of this year's ExxonMobil Texas Science and Engineering Fair," said Dr. George Perry, dean, The University of Texas at San Antonio College of Sciences. "We are honored to host this outstanding competition and are continually astonished by the ingenuity, creativity and hard work we see in their projects. We also applaud the parents and teachers who provide support and daily encouragement to these budding scientists."

Students qualified to compete in the EMTSEF by being selected as the Grand Prize winner or placing first, second or third in one of 12 regional fairs held throughout the state. Each regional fair is sanctioned by Science Service, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the understanding and appreciation of science among people of all ages.

Additional information on the 2011 ExxonMobil Texas Science and Engineering Fair can be found at EMTSEF .