UPDATE: Below are a few photos of Gabriela and Li outside the White House today.

The answer is Gabriela Farfan and Li Boynton!

I am thrilled and proud to share the news that in recognition of his commitment to have “scientists and engineers stand side by side with athletes and entertainers as role models,” President Obama has invited two of the nation’s brightest young scientific minds – one is a winner from the Intel Science Talent Search 2009 and the other a winner from Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2009 – to sit with Mrs. Obama at tonight’s State of the Union Address. Gabriela Farfan, of Madison, Wisconsin earned 10th place at the Intel Science Talent Search 2009 and Li Boynton, of Houston, Texas was one of the top 3 winners in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2009 and is a semifinalist in the Intel Science Talent Search 2010. These young scientists were singled out for their early achievements and contribution to science.

Congratulations to Gabriela Farfan and Li Boynton for your accomplishments. We plan to post some updates from the State of the Union, so stay tuned.

Also big kudos to the Administration for making Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education a priority. Research has shown that 80 percent of jobs created in the next decade will require math and science skills, and President Obama has publicly committed to moving the United States “from the middle to the top of the pack in science and math over the next decade.” The president has also repeatedly stated that he is counting on today’s students to meet the Grand Challenges of the 21st century.

We are putting our hopes for a better future in these young people’s hands and there are definitely many challenges ahead for them. However, I’ve had the honor of experiencing and seeing what these young scientists are capable of at the Intel science competitions every year, and I take comfort in knowing that our next generation of leaders are up for the challenge.

To all the aspiring scientists out there, keep up the great work!

Tags: Gabriela Farfan, inspire, Intel, Intel education, Intel ISEF, Intel STS, Li Boynton, Math and Science, State of the Union

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