TWO TEACHERS HONORED BY SEAGATE FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE EDUCATION

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — March 27, 2009 — Two Minnesota science teachers have been chosen to receive Seagate Science Mentor Awards, a statewide recognition for educators who have mentored student participants in the regional science fairs across Minnesota. The awards will be presented at the Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair awards ceremony, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown St. Paul. Receiving the Seagate Science Mentor Awards for 2009 are Sonja Dunlap from Murray Junior High School in St. Paul and Lois Fruen from Breck School in Golden Valley.

Seagate Science Mentor Awards recognize junior and senior high school science teachers who have found creative ways to nurture students’ interest in scientific inquiry and promote science education in their schools. The award criteria specifically considers the nominees’ support of students’ hands-on projects and experiences outside the classroom that generate interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). There are two award categories – one for a teacher with one to 10 years of experience, and another for a teacher with 11 or more years of experience.

“The Seagate Science Mentor Awards are very significant, because the teachers are nominated by their students, parents and school staff,” said Lise Weegman, director of the State Science and Engineering Fair, Minnesota Academy of Science. “These educators have gained the respect of their students and peers and have made exceptional contributions in promoting science and influencing students to consider STEM-related careers.”

Receiving the award for teachers with one to 10 years of experience is Sonja Dunlap, who is a science teacher at Murray Junior High School in St. Paul. Dunlap was nominated because of her ability to provide a learning environment that excites and inspires her students to take on challenging science fair projects and work to their full potential. According to her students, when obstacles arise as they prepare their science fair projects, Dunlap is there to help them overcome those hurdles. She builds the student, teacher, parent team and brings out the best in her students by understanding and adapting to their learning styles. Many of Dunlap’s students have continued their participation in the Twin Cities Regional Science Fair and State Science and Engineering Fair during their senior high years. She has mentored them, along with her junior high students, going above and beyond expectations year after year.

“Mrs. Dunlap’s teaching helped me fall in love with science,” said Chee Xiong, now a senior at Como Park Senior High in St. Paul, who helped nominate Dunlap for the award. Xiong will be participating in both the Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair and the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s largest international pre-college science competition, in Reno, NV, May 10-15, 2009.

Lois Fruen, science teacher and science department chair at Breck School in Golden Valley, will receive the Seagate Science Mentor award for teachers who have 11 or more years of experience. During her more than 30-year teaching career at Breck School, Fruen has guided the development and implementation of a research-based science curriculum. This approach has been used to build community throughout the entire school by having students at different grade levels complete scientific research together.

“Mrs. Fruen is, without a doubt, the most influential teacher I have had in my life,” said Stephen Trusheim, a Breck School senior who is one of 40 finalists in the national Intel Science Talent Search competition and a participant in the Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair. “She has inspired me to move beyond classroom science, and she has given me the motivation to excel as both a scientist and individual.” Like Xiong, Trusheim also will be participating in ISEF in May 2009.

“It is a privilege to recognize these outstanding teachers for their commitment to generating student interest in hands-on science,” said Bob Whitmore, chief technical officer at Seagate. “They have proven track records of nurturing scientific inquiry through mentoring students, promoting creativity, and reinforcing the practical application of skills.”

Award winners receive a plaque and $1,000, and their respective schools also receive a plaque and $1,000 for their science programs.

About the State Science and Engineering Fair

Approximately 450 students from across Minnesota will be showcasing the state’s most advanced and interesting science projects at the 72^nd annual Minnesota Academy of Science State Science and Engineering Fair, March 29-31, 2009 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown St. Paul.

This statewide science competition, which is for Minnesota students in grades seven through 12, is sponsored by Seagate Technology, 3M, Ecolab and Medtronic. Of the nearly 3,000 students who compete in regional science fairs across Minnesota, about 450 students, or 15 percent, advance to the State Science and Engineering Fair.

State Science and Engineering Fair awards are given to students with the highest scoring projects and research papers in 17 categories: Animal Sciences; Behavioral and Social Sciences; Biochemistry; Cellular and Molecular Biology; Chemistry; Computers; Earth and Planetary Science; Energy and Transportation; Engineering-Materials and Bioengineering; Engineering-Electrical and Mechanical; Environmental Management; Environmental Science and Analysis; Mathematical Sciences; Medicine and Health; Microbiology; Physics and Astronomy; and Plant Sciences.

State Science and Engineering Fair Schedule – all media are invited to the following:

Sunday, March 29 5 – 6 p.m. Opening ceremony; welcome by Karen Klinzing, assistant commissioner, academic excellence, Minnesota Department of Education and Alex Cirillo Jr., vice president, 3M Community Affairs and 3M Foundation.

Monday, March 30 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Project judging takes place.

4 – 5:30 p.m. Science Fair is open to the public. Student projects on display. Admission is free.

7:30 – 9 p.m. Grand Awards Ceremony. Top scoring projects are awarded.

Keynote speaker: Chris Shaffer, WCCO-TV meteorologist.

Tuesday, March 31 9 – 11:00 a.m. Special Awards Ceremony. Additional industry and corporate-sponsored awards are presented. Keynote speaker: Richard Hudson, director of science production, Twin Cities

Public Television.

All activities will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Riverfront, 11 East Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, Minn. 55101. Students, Minnesota Academy of Science representatives and Science Fair judges will be available for interviews at the times indicated above.

About the Minnesota Academy of Science

The Minnesota Academy of Science encourages and facilitates excellence in science education and encourages active participation in scientific inquiry. Since 1873, the organization has been striving to foster students’ interest in science, promote quality scientific research, and recognize high achievement in science, education, engineering and technology. Additional information regarding MAS and its programs can be found at http://www.fair.mnmas.org.

About Seagate

Seagate is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of hard disk drives and storage solutions, providing products for a wide-range of applications, including Enterprise, Desktop, Mobile Computing, Consumer Electronics and Branded Solutions. Seagate's business model leverages technology leadership and world-class manufacturing to deliver industry-leading innovation and quality to its global customers, with the goal of being the time-to-market leader in all markets in which it participates. The company is committed to providing award-winning products, customer support and reliability to meet the world’s growing demand for information storage. Seagate can be found around the globe and at http://www.seagate.com.

Seagate, Seagate Technology and the Wave logo are registered trademarks of Seagate Technology LLC.

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