Intel Science Talent Search Awards $600,000 to 300 Student Semifinalists and 166 Schools

Prestigious Science Competition Celebrates 60th Anniversary

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 17, 2001 -- Intel Corporation today announced that it is awarding $600,000 to 300 students from across the country, as well as the schools they attend, as semifinalists in the Intel Science Talent Search (Intel STS). America's oldest and most prestigious pre-college science competition, the Intel STS is often considered the "Junior Nobel Prize."

Each of the 300 students will receive $1,000 in recognition of their scientific achievements. In addition, each of the schools that placed a semifinalist in the competition will receive $1,000 per semifinalist to be used in support of the school's science and math education programs.

From these 300 semifinalists, 40 finalists will be chosen and announced on Jan. 31, 2001. These students will take an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the Science Talent Institute (STI) where they will participate in final judging and compete for college scholarships totaling $530,000. The winners will be selected based on rigorous interviews, and announced Monday, March 12, at a black-tie banquet.

Intel STS Semifinalists
Selected from 1,592 applicants, the semifinalists range in age from 15 to 19 and represent 36 states and the District of Columbia. Forty-nine percent are female and fifty-one percent are male. The high schools with the most semifinalists are Bronx High School of Science in Bronx, N.Y., with 17; followed by Stuyvesant High School in New York, N.Y. (16), Ward Melville High School in East Setauket, NY (12), and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Va. (11). The five states with the most semifinalists are New York (154), Virginia (17), Maryland (14), California (13), and Florida (12).

Students were judged based on their individual research reports on their research ability, scientific originality and creative thinking. The research projects cover all disciplines of science, including chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering, social science and biology. All Intel STS entries were reviewed and judged by top scientists from a variety of disciplines. The judging process was overseen by Dr. Andrew Yeager, director of Stem Cell Transplantation at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

In addition to the scholarship award, all semifinalists and their teachers are honored with certificates of merit. These students are recommended to select colleges and universities for admission and financial assistance.

Science and Technology: Basic Skills for the 21st Century
The scientific-technological sector of our economy has driven the economic boom and helped lead us to the longest period of prosperity in our history. Science and mathematics drive new technologies, and new technologies drive the U.S. standard of living and economic growth. Science and technology skills have become basic skills -- like reading, writing and arithmetic -- necessary to be competitive in today's economy. The next innovations and ideas will come from these Intel STS students and other young people who are comfortable with technology and have a solid grounding in science and math.

Background
This year, the Science Talent Search celebrates 60 years of recognizing and rewarding America's best young scientists. Over 100 winners of the world's most coveted science and math honors are alumni of the STS, including three National Medal of Science winners, ten MacArthur Foundation Fellows, two Fields Medallists and five Nobel Laureates.

Science Service, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the understanding and appreciation of science through publications and educational programs, has administered the program since its inception in 1942. Over the past 60 years, the STS has recognized more than 2,000 finalists with more than $5 million in scholarships. For more information on Science Service or the Intel STS, visit http://www.sciserv.org/.

Intel's sponsorship of the Science Talent Search is part of the Intel® Innovation in Education initiative to prepare today's teachers and students for tomorrow's demands. Intel develops and supports education programs that help meet the needs of students and communities worldwide through improving science, math, engineering and technology education; improving education through the effective use of technology in classrooms; and broadening access to technology and technical careers.

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