FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contacts:

Sara Gomez, Program Director, saragomez@mnmas.org, 612.643.0627

Lara Maupin, Communications, laramaupin@mnmas.org

SEAGATE MOTIVATES SCIENCE STUDENTS WITH GENEROUS AWARDS

More than 400 students to present original STEM research and compete for prizes and awards

[ST. PAUL, MN, March 28, 2019] -- More than 400 middle and high school students from across Minnesota will come together March 30 - 31, 2019, at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center, MN, to compete in the 82nd Annual Minnesota State Science & Engineering Fair (SSEF), hosted by the Minnesota Academy of Science (MAS). These students were selected from among 2,500 students in grades 6 - 12 competing at regional science fairs.

Seagate has been a long-time sponsor of SSEF. “We are so grateful to have Seagate as a sponsor. Their generous awards help inspire students to spend hundreds of hours outside the classroom conducting scientific research and creating projects that have personal meaning for them,” said MAS Executive Director Celia Waldock. “Through years of watching science fair participants, we have seen how the opportunity to be recognized for their hard work and to connect with professional scientists motivates students to tackle the world’s problems and become our future leaders and scientists.”

After judging is complete, students -- and some of their teachers -- will receive more than 100 awards and prizes on March 31, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. during an awards ceremony at the Embassy Suites Grandview Ballroom in Brooklyn Center, MN. During the ceremony, Seagate will confer three primary awards:

• Seagate Excellence in Science Mentoring Award - This award recognizes two outstanding science teachers who find creative ways to nurture students’ interest in scientific research and discovery. Award recipients receive $1,000 and a Seagate portable hard drive. The teachers’ schools also receive a $1,000 award.

• Seagate Rising Star Award - This award recognizes two emerging student scientists whose projects not only exemplify excellence in their category but also demonstrate high degrees of difficulty, thoroughness, complexity, creativity, innovation, and effective communication. One high school student receives a $2,000 award, trophy, and a Seagate portable hard drive; one middle school student receives a $1,500 award, trophy, and a Seagate portable hard drive.

• Seagate Emerging Scientist Award - The Seagate Emerging Scientist Award recognizes excellent scientific research conducted by students competing for the first time. The top 10% of first-year students receive trophies.

Seagate also consistently sends a large number of volunteers to work as scientific judges. Seagate employees assess student projects, ask questions, and offer feedback. "The fair enables students to communicate their research findings to professionals who work in their fields of interest, and the event reinforces that excitement and passion for STEM can translate into real opportunities," said Sara Gomez, program director.