One son's now in colÂlege, but the Ylitalo famÂiÂly reÂmains a forÂmiÂdaÂble presÂence in reÂgionÂal and state sciÂence fair comÂpeÂtiÂtion — and that's good news for Stillwater Area High School.
This month, Max Ylitalo, 15, a sophoÂmore, won the right to repÂreÂsent Minnesota at the I-SWEEEP (International SusÂtainÂaÂble World Energy Engineering and EnÂviÂronÂment Project) OÂlymÂpiÂad in Houston in May.
His proÂject, "GarÂbage ReÂducÂtion to Energy ProÂducÂtion: ConÂvertÂing Waste Paper to EthaÂnol," capÂtured the enÂviÂronÂmenÂtal exÂcelÂlence aÂward at the Twin Cities Regional Science Fair, the eÂvent that qualÂiÂfied him for the Houston trip.
Ylitalo and five othÂer Stillwater Area High stuÂdents — Nate FarÂmer, Ben FarÂmer, HanÂnah FarÂmer, Max Vogel and PeÂdro Angulo-Umana — also adÂvanced to the state sciÂence and enÂgiÂneerÂing fair to be held March 30 to April 1, a school disÂtrict news reÂlease said.
Last year, Ylitalo's oldÂer brothÂer, Andy Ylitalo, comÂpeted in the InÂtel International Science and Engineering Fair. His proÂject was tiÂtled, "Functionalization of HexÂagÂoÂnal BoÂron NiÂtride Monolayers and Analysis with TransÂmisÂsion EÂlecÂtron MiÂcrosÂcoÂpy."
Andy Ylitalo, a 2013 Stillwater graduÂate, now atÂtends StanÂford University.
Last year, CaÂroÂline Ylitalo, the boys' mothÂer, told the Star Tribune that workÂing on sciÂence projects durÂing cold-weathÂer months is a famÂiÂly traÂdiÂtion.
Max Ylitalo, conÂtacted by the newsÂpaper when school was canceled in JanÂuÂarÂy due to cold weathÂer, said at the time that he didn't mind the time off beÂcause it would alÂlow him to hone the presÂenÂtaÂtion asÂpect of this year's proÂject, which he said inÂvolves makÂing bioÂfuel out of reÂcycled paÂper.
In May, Max Ylitalo also will repÂreÂsent the state as a stuÂdent obÂservÂer at this year's InÂtel fair in Los AnÂgeÂles.
Stillwater
High school exchange program recognized
Stillwater Area High School last month received the 2014 Top AFS School award in recognition of its student exchange program.
Officials at the high school, with an enrollment just shy of 2,100, were presented with the honor at the Feb. 27 school board meeting. The award is given out each year by the AFS-USA, a leading foreign exchange organization.
Criteria include partnering with AFS "to promote global citizenship through intercultural learning — both inside and outside of the classroom."
According to a news release posted on the Stillwater School District's website, the school was recognized for hosting 30 AFS students from 20 countries over the years, sending its own students abroad and incorporating "intercultural learning in the curriculum," all in the name of "fostering global competency" in its student body.
"We're so thankful and proud to work in educational partnership with schools like Stillwater Area High School," Tonya Muro, director of school outreach and educational partnerships at AFS, said in the release. "These educators are at the forefront of bringing global awareness and intercultural experiences to their students. In doing so, they are providing students, teachers and the greater community profound opportunities to broaden their knowledge of other cultures and peoples, which is indispensable in this day and age."