News Release

Local angles: Aurora, Belmont, Burlington, Cary, Greenville, Hamlet, Kinston, Mamers, Raleigh, Rutherfordton, Stanfield, Troutman, Walnut Cove, Wilkesboro, Wilson

CHAPEL HILL -- Fourteen teenagers statewide have been named recipients of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s second annual Carolina Award for Outstanding Achievement in Science.

UNC’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions, in consultation with UNC’s Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, administers the award. A $10,000 gift from Dr. Peter and Lisa Gardner of Stamford, Conn., is funding the awards program.

The Carolina Award is designed to cultivate students’ excitement for the sciences and recognizes outstanding eighth- and 11^th-grade students in the state’s educational districts. Science teachers nominated students, and the recipients were selected based on a review of their transcripts, achievements in science and short essays on topics related to the field.

Award recipients, their parents and nominating teachers were recognized at a recent ceremony on the UNC campus. Chancellor James Moeser presented each student with a certificate and gift commemorating the occasion. Teachers also received a certificate of appreciation and a $100 stipend to supplement their classroom teaching.

The day included viewing "Life in the Universe" at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, in addition to a visit to the Morehead Observatory. Dr. Dan Reichart, assistant professor of physics and astronomy in UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences, gave a presentation on the SOAR, PROMPT and SALT telescopes, in Chile and South Africa. UNC was instrumental in the creation of the SOAR and PROMPT telescopes, which already are being used by UNC students.

Dr. Gerald Cecil, professor of physics and astronomy, demonstrated the remote viewing room where UNC students can control the SOAR telescope in Chile.

The 2005 Carolina Science Award recipients are listed below, alphabetically by N.C. county:

• Savannah Helvey, an eighth-grader at Turrentine Middle School. Helvey, of Burlington, is the daughter of Laura Roselle. Nominating teacher: Mechelle Norenha.

• Mark Hamilton, an 11th-grader at Southside High School. Hamilton, of Aurora, is the son of Velma and Winfred Hamilton. Nominating teacher: Tom Bartik.

• Josh Thompson, an 11th-grader at Highland School of Technology. Thompson, of Belmont, is the son of David and Jane Thompson. Nominating teacher: Bobby Padgett.

• Daniel Stanley, an eighth-grader at Western Harnett Middle School. Stanley, of Mamers, is the son of Lyndell Stanley and Ronnie Stanley. Nominating teacher: Michelle Vuncannon.

• Daniel Godfrey, an eighth-grader at Troutman Middle School. Godfrey, of Troutman, is the son of Pam Godfrey. Nominating teacher: Vanessa White.

• Kimberly Dixon, an 11th-grader at Kinston High School. Dixon, of Kinston, is the daughter of Palmer and Curtis Dixon. Nominating teacher: Dorcas Green.
  
• Chelsea Viscardi, an eighth-grader at Arendell Parrott Academy. Viscardi, of Greenville, is the daughter of Amy and Jeff Viscardi. Nominating teacher: Dr. David W. McLawhorn.

• Jordan Jernigan, an 11th-grader at Richmond Senior High School. Jernigan, of Hamlet, is the daughter of Joey and Judy Jernigan. Nominating teacher: Vivian Hilton.

• Morgan Parrish, an eighth-grader at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy. Parrish, of Rutherfordton, is the daughter of Yvette and Lowell Parrish. Nominating teacher: Les Hall.

• Meredith Hyatt, an eighth-grader at the Stanfield School. Hyatt, of Stanfield, is the daughter of Pamela and Daron Hyatt. Nominating teacher: Sandra Brundin.

• Matthew Poindexter, an 11th-grader at South Stokes High School. Poindexter, of Walnut Cove, is the son of Susan and Scott Poindexter. Poindexter is the second student from South Stokes to receive the award; both winners were nominated by Susan Orr.

• Brennan Eberle, an 11th-grader at Green Hope High School. Eberle, of Cary, is the son of Karen and Kevin Eberle. Nominating teacher: Beverly Graziani.
  
• Svyatoslav Petrov, an eighth-grader at Ravenscroft School. Petrov, of Raleigh, is the son of Konstantine Petrov and Nadezhda Mashenets. Nominating teacher: Tim Phillips.

• Emily Wayne, an 11th-grader at Wilkes Central High School. Wayne, of Wilkesboro, is the daughter of Nancy and Dale Wayne. Nominating teacher: Marian Marley.

The award program is part of an initiative showing high school students how they may immerse themselves, as undergraduates, in the physical sciences and technology at UNC. A Web site, sciencecarolina.unc.edu, focuses on how undergraduates and world-renowned faculty work together in the classroom and research settings.

For more information, contact Sue Klapper, senior assistant director of undergraduate admissions, at (919) 966-3987 or sklapper@email.unc.edu.

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News Services contact: Deb Saine, (919) 962-8415 or deborah_saine@unc.edu