For immediate release: June 1, 2012
Carter and Smith Congratulate Westwood High Students on National Science Competition Award

Congressmen John Carter (TX-31) and Lamar Smith (TX-21) congratulated students from Westwood High School for placing second in the 10-12 grade division at the Toshiba/National Science Teachers Association ExploraVision Contest, a nationwide science competition focused on the future of technological innovation. The Westwood High students were awarded second place for their team project, which integrates nanotechnology, photothermal therapy, and biomecular recognition in pancreatic cancer therapy. More than 4,800 entries and 14,600 students from the U.S. and Canada competed in the 20^th annual Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Contest.

Corinne Alford, Aneesha Kommineni, Eley Ng, and Shruti Subramanian were each awarded a $5,000 U.S. Savings Bond.

Congressman Carter:“This is precisely the type of science education achievement we need to be promoting as a nation.  These young people are showing the way forward in both health improvements and technological competitiveness in a global economy.  I congratulate our students, their parents and teachers, and the Association for their success with this program and for helping build a stronger science future for America.”

Congressman Carter is Secretary of the House Republican Conference, and Co-Chairman of the House Army Caucus.

Congressman Smith: “I congratulate the Westwood team on their extraordinary achievement in the national ExploraVision Competition. It’s not every day that you see high school students developing new technologies to treat cancer. Soon to be seniors in high school, these young women plan to continue their pursuit of scientific exploration and discovery in college, and I hope they will inspire their classmates to do the same. We can all be encouraged that these are the bright minds of America’s future.” 

Congressman Smith is vice-chair of the House Science Committee’s Space & Aeronautics Subcommittee.  He supports legislation to help encourage science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education for America’s youth.

For more information about the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Contest, please visit www.exploravision.org.