Congratulations to the 2011 EnergySolutions Foundation Distinguished Award Recipients

$25,000 National Distinguished Award  Recipient –James Andress, Oak Ridge High School, Tennessee
James is looking forward to majoring in computer science and working with simulations and virtual testing. This direction is exciting to him because he will use his math skills as well as collaborate with researchers in many fields.

James has taught himself several programming languages such as C+ in 8^th grade, FORTRAN in 9^th grade and several robotic languages. James used FORTRAN to work with a chemistry professor at the University of Tennessee to write a simulation program that modeled the movement of polymers and then analyzed their paths. This year he placed first in the nation in the Electronic Game Design, Electronic Apps, Systems Control Programming division in the Technology Student Association Conference and is currently the president of the chapter. Also, this year his Math Bowl Team placed first in the state at the University of Tennessee Pro2Serve Math Contest.   In 9^th grade he was first in the state in precalculus on the Tennessee Mathematics Teachers Association State Math Competition. He has also competed in MathCounts, Franklin Math Bowl, Pellissippi State Middle School Mathematics Competition, American Regions Mathematics League, and the school Math Club and Science Bowl.

His AP calculus BC teacher said “Jim is a spectacular mathematician; in fact, he is one of the top ten young people I have taught in my 43-year tenure.”

James is also an accomplished double bass player and has performed with the Knoxville Youth Symphony Orchestra for the last three years.

$5,000 National Distinguished Award Recipient – Dalton Chaffee Bearden High School, Tennessee
Dalton is interested in studying engineering at Stanford University.  He has participated in several math competitions. In 8^th grade he took first place at both the Tennessee Math Teachers Association Math Competition and the American Math Competition.  In 9^th grade he was the regional winner of the International High School Model Bridge Building Competition.  He has also participated in Science Bowl, Scholars’ Bowl, Science Olympiad, Energy Bowl and the Research in Computational Science Club.

The last three summers Dalton has been involved in a variety of camps or courses including MathPath Camp, Wesleyan Summer Gifted Program, and Material Science Camp. Last summer he took a national earthquake course at the University of Tennessee where he designed homes on the computer and then tested models of the homes on a shake table.

In addition to his many math, science, and engineering activities, Dalton is a member of the Key Club and has played both jazz and classical piano for the past ten years.

$2,500 Sangeetha Thevuthasan – Kamiakin High School, Washington
Sangeetha plans to become an engineer. For the last three years she has participated in the Mid Columbia Regional Science Fair where she won first place in both 8^th and 9^th grade. Earlier this year, Sangeetha’s team won the state Real World Design Challenge.

In both 9^th and 10^th grade Sangeetha has been involved in Science Olympiad and the Department of Energy Science Bowl.  She is currently a member of the Math Club and has participated in MathCounts and Math Olympiad.

Sangeetha is on the varsity tennis team and her high school basketball team. She is also the sophomore class vice president.

$25,000 Utah Distinguished Award Recipient – Ethan Swanson, Clearfield High School
Ethan wants to major in both physics and mathematics with the goal of becoming a theoretical physicist.  As a theoretical physicist, Ethan hopes to “make discoveries that revolutionize science” such as discovering a method to more efficiently use fusion for energy production or making advancements in energy transmission and storage.

During his 8^th grade year, Ethan competed on his school’s MathCounts team where at state he took fourth place in the countdown round. As a top four competitor in the state, he then went on to represent Utah at the National MathCounts Competition.  In 9^th grade Ethan competed in the Utah State Science Olympiad where he won first place in the Physical Science Lab and Compute This competitions. He also took third place in the Trajectory competition.  That same year he took fourth place in the Utah State Math Contest.  For the past three years Ethan has competed in the American Regional Mathematics League where his team took seventh place at the national level in 2009. Ethan founded the Clearfield High School Math Club. He is also the coach for the Clearfield Junior High MathCounts Team and tutors peers at his school. In 9^th grade Ethan scored a perfect 36 on the math portion of the ACT.

In addition to math and science skills, Ethan is an accomplished actor and has performed in several leading roles in both community and school productions.

$5,000 Utah Distinguished Award Recipient – Michael Zhao, Skyline High School
Michael wants to study mathematics and hopes to work on mathematical problems that remain unsolved.  Michael has participated in a variety of math clubs and competitions including the American Mathematics Competition, the Utah State Math Contest, MathCounts, the University of Utah Math Circle, and the American Regions Math League.

For the past three years Michael has participated in Math Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA). In 9^th grade he was honored as the District Outstanding MESA Math Student. Since 8^th grade he’s tutored students in math and science. He also organized a U.S. Physics Olympiad team. Michael coordinates meetings for the team during which the students study topics not taught in honors physics. He also plays the flute and is a member of the History Club.

Michael’s AP Calculus BC teacher says that “Michael demonstrates his passion for mathematics, not only by solving complex problems, but also by his focused leadership in math competitions.”

$2,500 Utah Distinguished Award Recipient – Helena Ma, Davis High School
Helena plans to study computer science or computer engineering at Harvard University. Since 8^th grade Helena has competed on her school’s Science Olympiad Team.  The team has won three national and nine state medals. She has also participated in the State Math Contest where she took first place in 8^th grade and ninth place in 9^th grade.  Helena is a member of the University of Utah Math Circle and the Davis High School Chemistry Club.

Helena’s former teacher and Science Olympiad coach stated that “Helena is without a doubt the finest student to come through our school’s doors. She gives me hope for our nation’s future.”

Helena is also an accomplished pianist and recently performed with the Salt Lake City Symphony.