United Way honors “Young Scientists of the Year”

BOSTON - On June 12, 2009, leaders from the Commonwealth's life sciences, health care, education and technology industries will come together with United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley to honor Medford's Zipporah Velasco and Shawn Allien, both 11, as 2009's "Young Scientists of the Year."  The youth are participants in United Way's Math, Science and Technology initiative (MSTi), a community partnership that is engaging kids in the sciences through hands-on learning in after-school programs and local science and tech companies.  The MSTi event will also honor the staff of the Yawkey Club of Roxbury, an MSTi partner agency, for their strong dedication to helping youth pursue the sciences.

"The goal of our Math, Science and Technology initiative is to expand young people's perspectives on the world of science and technology," said Michael K. Durkin, president and chief executive officer at United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley.  "By partnering with local science-related companies and afterschool programs we can bring science beyond the classroom and help youth envision academic and professional careers that can that can transform their lives."

To date, the life science, education, technology and health care industries and their networks have raised more than $1.5 million for MSTi, enabling the effort to grow from three science clubs to nearly 40, serving close to 700 youth in Greater Boston and Merrimack Valley.  MSTi is supported by leading corporations in the region - Cabot Corporation, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc., Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, EMD Serono, Nixon Peabody, LLP, Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Waters Corporation have provided key funding to enable MSTi to be a success for youth.  These companies have also provided students the opportunity to investigate math, science and technology-based careers via site visits to area companies.

Today, United Way will present Young Scientist Awards to two students - chosen among a field of hundreds - who exhibit enthusiasm and curiosity for science and display a high level of commitment to learning as a team. For the first time both award recipients are from the same MSTi program at the Medford Boys and Girls Club.

According to Kimberly Loud, program director at the Medford Boys and Girls Club, "Zipporah is always eager to serve others and lend a hand when needed. She did not skip a beat with her classmates as she was quick to help answer questions and show others how her dissection was going and what she found in her cow heart."  Zipporah said that she has learned through MSTi that "science is everywhere." She looks for ways to incorporate her new knowledge in her every day life.

Shawn Allien was selected as a "Young Scientist of the Year" because his desire to learn new things never ceases, whether it's in the gym or in the classroom. "He tirelessly tries to better himself in all areas," said Kimberly Loud, "He often puts his new knowledge to use in practical situations. This week at running club, he initiated a conversation about heart rates and getting his blood pumping by doing sprint intervals." Shawn is aware that science is all around. "When you look at a grain of sand, it's all atoms. So when you go to the beach, it's all science," said Shawn.

The MSTi event will also present the "Science Club of the Year" award to the Yawkey Club of Roxbury. Andrea Swain, executive director of the Yawkey Club, Dan Buckland, education director, and group leader Deanna Nettles-Young will all be on hand to accept the award. The Yawkey Club was selected for its enthusiasm for the program and inspired support of the youth within it. Education Director Dan Buckland has been actively engaged in the MSTi programming, running sessions of "Blood and Guts" curriculum with its middle-school aged participants and introducing science programming to his kindergarten and first grade students.