In honor of the 2011 American Indians in Science event at the Science Museum of Minnesota on Jan. 22, the Museum recognized three students from St. Paul and greater Minnesota as recipients of the Good Job Student Award. The award program recognizes Minnesota middle- and high-school students who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in or passion for a STEM (science, technology, engineering or math) discipline, either in the classroom or outside of school. Students are nominated for the award by teachers or mentors and publicly recognized at one of the Museum's Science Fusion events.The 2011 "Good Job" Student Award winners are: Emma Rousu, Cass Lake-Bena High School, Cass Lake.; Rainey Rock, Battle Creek Middle School, St. Paul; and Courtney Jackson, Cloquet Senior High School, Cloquet.
Emma Rousu is active in the Cass Lake-Bena High School community, serving on student council and participating in athletics and knowledge bowl. She helped her First Robotics team win an award in its first active year, and she has assumed a leadership role in the school's Tech Club. She has excelled in engineering, ethnobiology and ecology courses and has earned college credits for her coursework, which she continues during summer vacations.
Rainey Rock, who was nominated by two teachers at Battle Creek Middle School, was named the American Indian Studies Middle School Ambassador for St. Paul Public Schools for the 2009-2010 school year, a title that focuses on community leadership, academic success and regalia/dance. She also excels at her studies, which include pre-AP coursework in math and science. Her interest in science extends to her community involvement, as well, where she participates in service learning projects that focus on buckthorn eradication and rain garden cultivation.
Courtney Jackson won numerous regional, state and national science fair awards and has extended her studies to include a project with University of Minnesota- Duluth professor Dr. Vicky Hansen to map the surface of Venus using Magellan radar data. In addition to her exceptional academic work and research, Jackson has cultivated her organizational and leadership skills and donates considerable time coaching middle school students with their science fair work.
Rousu, Rock and Jackson attended the American Indians in Science presenters' brunch on January 22, where they accepted their $100 cash prize and Science Museum membership in recognition of their selection as Good Job Award winners.
Rainey Rock, who was nominated by two teachers at Battle Creek Middle School, was named the American Indian Studies Middle School Ambassador for St. Paul Public Schools for the 2009-2010 school year, a title that focuses on community leadership, academic success and regalia/dance. She also excels at her studies, which include pre-AP coursework in math and science. Her interest in science extends to her community involvement, as well, where she participates in service learning projects that focus on buckthorn eradication and rain garden cultivation.
Courtney Jackson won numerous regional, state and national science fair awards and has extended her studies to include a project with University of Minnesota- Duluth professor Dr. Vicky Hansen to map the surface of Venus using Magellan radar data. In addition to her exceptional academic work and research, Jackson has cultivated her organizational and leadership skills and donates considerable time coaching middle school students with their science fair work.
Rousu, Rock and Jackson attended the American Indians in Science presenters' brunch on January 22, where they accepted their $100 cash prize and Science Museum membership in recognition of their selection as Good Job Award winners.
