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June 18, 2015

‘Did You Bring Your Genius?’

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'Did You Bring Your Genius?'

In Search of Genius students

In Search of Genius encourages kids from underserved communities to discover new life skills and sparks a sustained interest in science.

North Park hosts In Search of Genius science competition for third consecutive year

CHICAGO (June 18, 2015) — Summer months can be a little quieter on the North Park University campus. That was not the case on Tuesday when hundreds of area elementary school kids filled the gymnasium for the In Search of Genius (ISOG) Inter-School Science Competition.

For the third consecutive year, North Park hosted the event, which has students participate in a series of hands-on science challenges related to the environment, electricity, and physics. Founding Director of ISOG, Gary Walanka, rallied the kids at the start of the day by asking them, “Did you bring your genius?” The students responded with a resounding yes that echoed through the gymnasium. This is the sixth competition in all for the organization, which Walanka has described as “a unique, living example of how to involve several generations, including the youngest at a key age, with STEM.”

The competition is the culmination of ISOG’s educational program, which provides critical enrichment education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields to elementary students in Chicagoland’s most underserved communities. ISOG encourages students to discover new life skills and sparks sustained interest in these critical fields through a 20-week, hands-on program delivered by young, successful mentors and role models.

“You all have schools that you go to every day to learn,” North Park University President David Parkyn said as he welcomed the students. “I'm happy because today you get to visit my school. Learning is about discovering something you never knew before, and that is the most exciting thing you can do in life.”

Near the end of the day, one student from each school received the Perplexus Award, acknowledging their persistence to succeed even when faced with the difficulties and challenges of STEM learning.

Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Cook County Board, has been on hand the last several years for the event. “We’re proud of you,” she told students at the start of the competition. “You’ve worked hard all year long, and that makes all of you winners today.”

Dr. David Parkyn with R2D2 at the In Search of Genius Event

President David Parkyn got to meet one of the event's other celebrity guests, R2-D2.
Hibbard Elementary team and teacher at In Search of Genius event

Hibbard Elementary, a neighborhood school just down the block from North Park University, took home the prize for the physics challenge.
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