"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Cherokees Students Advance to ISEF

GROVE, OK - Hard work and a love of science will again take three Cherokee students from Grove High School to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) that will take place in Atlanta, Georgia.

ISEF is the world’s largest pre-college science competition and is the only science project competition open to students in the ninth through twelfth grades. Intel ISEF brings together students, teachers, corporate executives and government officials from around the globe. Participating students will compete for over $4 million in scholarships, tuition grants, scientific equipment and scientific trips. Held annually in May, the Grove students will compete with nearly 1,500 other students from 40 nations.

This is the fourth year in a row that the students will represent their school, state and tribe at ISEF. Encouraged and supported by their teacher Keli Steen, the Grove students, Katie Nix, Lindsay Stewart and Carter Londagin, have participated in several other science competitions and have achieved great success.

“Two of my students this year were fortunate enough to be chosen as top award winners at the Cherokee Nation Science & Engineering Fair (CNSEF),” said Steen. “These top award winners were able to advance to the National American Indian Science & Engineering Fair (NAISEF), where they were chosen as grand award winners.”

Lindsay Stewart, a senior, has participated in ISEF for four years in a row. For this year’s competition she researched an alternative for fuel.

“For my project, I tested glucose levels of the Kudzu vine to see if there is a sufficient amount of sugar to use for the production of fuel or ethanol,” said Stewart. “I proved that the there was a sufficient amount of glucose in the stems and leaves to be used for ethanol.”

Steen commends the Cherokee Nation for its support of secondary education science programs through funding and through the tribe’s annual science fair. According to Steen, the Cherokee Nation Science & Engineering Fair provides an important venue to students and encourages Cherokee citizens in junior high and high school to excel in science research.

“I think the Cherokee Nation is funneling their educational efforts in the right direction,” said Steen. “Participation in science programs such as the American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES) and science fair competitions will help give Cherokee students the confidence they need to succeed in college and possibly lead them to choose science related careers.”

“It is very important for Native American students to get involved in science and engineering,” said Stewart. “We need to show the world that we are just as competitive and that we have a lot to offer in each of these areas.”

Carter Londagin says that science fairs provide opportunity to students and believes that teachers are the key to a student’s success in a competition.

“The number one thing that is needed for great science fairs are teachers who are dedicated to helping students with their projects and who are excited about their job,” said Londagin. “Science fairs provide a great opportunity to get students interested in school and provide them a path to college.”

Through funding from the tribe as well as Harley Buzzard and Curtis Snell, Tribal Council members representing Delaware County, the students will have yet another opportunity to showcase their knowledge of science on an international level.

“Being a part of the Cherokee Nation has really helped me to excel,” said Grove High School junior, Katie Nix. “The tribe is very encouraging and supportive. Their sponsorship made attending NAISEF easier for all of us, and helped to open the door to another invitation to participate in ISEF.”