Discovery Young Scientist Challenge Winners Awarded $100,000 in Scholarships and other Prizes

-Top Three Winners to Appear at 9:00 PM Tonight on "Science Daily," Discovery Science Channel's Daily Newsmagazine Show-

BETHESDA, MD (October 26, 2000)-Today, Discovery Communications, Inc. (DCI) announced the winners of the second annual Discovery Young Scientist Challenge (DYSC). Shana Matthews, 14, of Palm, Bay, Florida, was awarded the top prize-a $10,000 scholarship-at an awards ceremony in Washington, DC. Ms. Matthews won first prize for her individual science project, "An Investigation of the Factors Affecting Colony Transformation Efficiency Rates" as well as her excellent performance during three days of intense science competition held at the Smithsonian Institution earlier this week. Ms. Matthews is a ninth grade student at Palm Bay High School.

Ms. Matthews is also the winner of the Travel Channel Dream Science Trip, a special discretionary prize awarded for her individual science project as well as her performance during the DYSC. Ms. Matthews wrote an essay explaining that her dream science trip would be to visit the Roslin Institute in Midlothian, Scotland, where "Dolly" the sheep was cloned. Although closed to the public, the Institute granted Ms. Matthews a rare visit after reading her essay. During her visit, Ms. Matthews will meet the team responsible for creating "Dolly," as well as "Dolly" herself.

Jimmy Yang, 13, of Plano, Texas, won a second prize scholarship of $5,000. His individual project is titled "Plant, Are You in this Genus?". Mr. Yang is an eighth grade student at Robinson Middle School.

Jonathan-James Eno, 14, of Kahului, Hawaii, took the third place prize, a $3,000 scholarship. His individual project is titled "Phytoremediation of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soil". Mr. Eno is a ninth grade student at H. P. Baldwin High School.

The top three winners were selected from 40 DYSC Finalists who represent 22 states. From October 23-25, 2000, the Finalists competed in sophisticated science challenges and communication challenges at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History and National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The Finalists worked with Smithsonian scientists in public and private research laboratories using the museum's private collections. Finalists were judged on their scientific abilities, as well as their oral and written communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

Additional scholarship monies and prizes were rewarded to the remaining top ten winners. Those students, ranked fourth through tenth respectively, include: Neal Amin, 14, of Lansdale, PA; David Meigooni, 14, of Lexington, KY; Madison Jones, 14, of Dallas, TX; Marissa Ingrum, 14, of Northridge, CA; Sylvie Bushwick, 14, of York, PA; Victoria Clark, 14, of Waycross, GA; William Muroski, III, 13, of St. Cloud, FL.

Special discretionary prizes, based on the student's individual project and their performance during the science challenges, were also awarded:

• Discovery Channel "Enthusiasm for Discovery" Award-awarded to Jessie Atterholt, 13, of Hesperia, CA. Ms. Atterholt won a trip to the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, South Dakota to participate in an archaeological excavation.
  
  
• Travel Channel "Dream Science Trip" Award-awarded to Shana Matthews, 14, of Palm Bay, Florida. Ms. Matthews wrote an essay detailing her dream science trip to the Roslin Institute in Midlothian, Scotland, where "Dolly" the sheep was cloned. The prize will be fulfilled by the Travel Channel.
  
  
• Animal Planet "Emergency Vet" Award-awarded to Alyssa Hapgood, 13, of Edmond, OK. Ms. Hapgood won a trip to Denver, Colorado for an experience as an "Emergency Vet" at the Alameda East Veterinary Hospital-site of Animal Planet's hit television series, "Emergency Vets."
  
  
• TLC "Techno-Challenge"Award-awarded to Matthew Peneston, 14, of Pennellville, NY. Mr. Peneston will be TLC's guest on the set of the new series, "Junkyard Wars." In this series, two mechanically-minded teams are pitted against each other to develop the "challenge" of the day out of parts and scraps they find in a junkyard.
  
  
• Discovery Science Channel "Experimental Aircraft Association Aviation Air Youth Camp" Award-awarded to Rebecca Totten, 14, of Abita Springs, LA. Ms. Totten won a trip to Osh Kosh, Wisconsin to attend an EAA Air Academy Youth Camp in summer 2001. The camp includes on-the-ground, "hands-on" activities as well as a flight simulation and an "in-the-air" experience.
  
  
• "Smithsonian Young Naturalist" Award-awarded to Vaishali Grover, 13, of Miami, FL. Ms. Grover won the opportunity to participate in an expedition with Nate Erwin, a scientist with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's O. Orkin Insect Zoo.
  
  
• "Smithsonian Young Innovator" Award-awarded to Neal Amin, 14, of Lansdale, PA. Mr. Amin won the opportunity to spend a day in Washington, DC at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, and lunch with a Nobel laureate. Mr. Amin will also participate in a symposium related to the museum's 2001 symposium and program series, Nobel!
  
  
• Department of Commerce Award for Technology-awarded to David Meigooni, 14, of Lexington, KY. Mr. Meigooni won the Youth Technology Medal and the opportunity to return to Washington, D.C. in 2001 for the White House Ceremony honoring the nation's major technology achievers.
  
  
• National Park Service "National Park Explorer" Award-awarded to Marissa Ingrum, 14, of Northridge, CA. Ms. Ingrum will join scientists at Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior, Michigan to study its fascinating ecosystem.
  
  
• University of California at Santa Barbara "Marine Science Institute" Award-awarded to Kolea Zimmerman, 14, of Volcano, HI. Mr. Zimmerman will spend 3-5 days working on ocean coastal research with scientists from UCSB's Marine Science Institute.
  
  
• Polaroid "Visual Learning" Award-awarded to Betsy McQueen, 14, of Pensacola, FL. Ms. McQueen received a PDC-640 Digital Camera Kit, including PhotoMax Software.
  
  
• Discovery KIDS "Mad About Science" Award-many of the discretionary prize winners will go to fascinating places or take part in amazing experiences. Discovery will loan these winners a digital video camera so they can capture their experience on film. If they wish, these winners can submit their video to Discovery KIDS. The winner(s) who best communicates their passion for science in this video compilation, will appear on television, on Discovery KIDS.
  
  
• Discovery Channel Store Prizes-Each Finalist received a science-related gift. The first through third place winners received a $500 shopping spree, and the fourth through tenth place winners received a $250 shopping spree.
  
  

The DYSC was created in 1999 by DCI and Society for Science & the Public to encourage the exploration, understanding and communication of science among America's youth. The contest targets middle school students because recent studies suggest children lose interest in science as they get older. According to a September 2000 report by the National Commission on Math & Science Teaching for the 21st century, American fourth graders rank among the world's best in math and science; however, by the time they reach high school, they slip to nearly last among major industrialized countries.

"We are proud to have created a national contest that gives students the unusual opportunity to compete in a hands-on scientific environment," said Judith A. McHale, president and chief operating officer of DCI. "We congratulate all of our Finalists. And we hope the DYSC has made a positive and lasting impact on these talented, young students, for they truly represent the future of scientific achievement in our country."

During the Finalists' all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., student teams competed in four science challenges related to paleontology, "textile forensics," ichthyology, and geology. In addition, every Finalist was required to participate in three "communication challenges," one of which included an oral presentation of the science project that won each student a nomination to the DYSC.

The 40 Finalists were chosen from 1,623 DYSC entrants who qualified for the DYSC through their participation in a Society for Science & the Public-affiliated regional or state science fair. The Finalists' projects cover a wide variety of scientific disciplines, including biochemistry and microbiology, as well as behavioral, environmental and social sciences. Their topics range from exploring whether fruit enzymes can control garden snails, to evaluating whether turmeric powder can help arthritis sufferers, to searching for new, natural forms of antibiotics.

"It is our collective hope that these students' achievements will provide inspiration and help position them as teenage role models," states Ann Korando, director of development and public relations at Society for Science & the Public, Inc.

"Science Daily"-the new one-hour daily science newsmagazine on Discovery Science Channel-will feature three of the winners of the Discovery Young Scientist Challenge on its Thursday, October 26 program. Discovery Science Channel, a Discovery Digital Network and the on-air home of the Discovery Young Scientist Challenge, launched the first and only daily science newsmagazine in the United States on Monday, October 23. "Science Daily" will be supported by around-the-clock science news updates covering key stories from the world of science and technology. Discovery Science Channel broadcasts breaking updates throughout the competition and taped this year's competition for broadcast next year.

Discovery Communications, Inc. (DCI) is the leading global real-world media and entertainment company. DCI has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, first launched in the United States in 1985, to current global operations in 150 countries with 180 million total subscribers. DCI's programming is tailored to the specific needs of viewers around the globe, and distributed through 69 separate feeds in 32 languages. DCI's networks encompass 14 entertainment brands including TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids, and a family of digital channels. DCI's other properties consist of Discovery.com and 165 Discovery Channel retail stores. DCI also distributes BBC America in the United States.

Society for Science & the Public, founded in 1921, is one of the most respected non-profit organizations advancing the cause of science. Based in Washington, D.C., Society for Science & the Public seeks to keep the public abreast of the latest in science information and technology. As publishers of Science News, and administrators of the Intel Science Talent Search - the "Nobel Prize" of high school science - and the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, Society for Science & the Public encourages students, parents, teachers and communities to explore the vast world of science.

The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History is the world's most visited museum and expects to welcome more than 9 million people during the year 2000. Opened in 1910, the green-domed museum on the National Mall was the first Smithsonian building constructed exclusively to house collections, and the curators and scientists who conserve and study them. It remains the largest of the Smithsonian Institution's bureaus, which encompass the National Zoo and 16 museums and galleries in Washington and New York.

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History traces American heritage through exhibitions of social, cultural, scientific and technological history. Collections are displayed in settings that recapture and interpret the American experience from Colonial times to the present.

For more information about the DYSC, including a complete listing of the 40 Finalists, their school, state and project title, please visit the DYSC website at www.school.discoveryschool.com/sciencefaircentral/dysc/index.html.