President Praises Budding Scientists

President Obama honored promising science and math students at the White House Monday with a reception and science fair aimed at highlighting the administration-wide goal of improving American students’ standing in the fields.

The science fair consisted of projects from the winners of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) competitions, and featured both research and inventions.

During the reception, the President noted that while athletes from winning teams are typically invited to the White House, academic achievements often don’t receive the recognition they deserve, an idea he had initially voiced during the November 2009 launch of the Educate to Innovate campaign.

“To all the young people who are here, I could not be prouder of you,” Obama said. “I expect some of you to be back here as Nobel Prize winners.”