There are some days that seem to never go right and then there are days that start with a bang. I received email from a student I’ve met several times in the science fair. As a Navy judge at the regional, state, and international fairs, I try to engage the students, talk to them, and keep them interested in science and engineering. If it takes judging a science fair project to do that, then I’ll judge the science fair project.

Over the years I’ve met some really great students–students who show me that there is a future and it is bright. They are the students you never hear about because they are not arrested, never get in trouble, and generally do run for student body president. Some may play sports but by and large, they are not the star athletes. These students are the ones who study and work hard. They go home and work on projects. They spend extra in the science lab or programming the computer. And they also happen to be nice people who are fun to talk to.

There has been off an on talk in the Navy about whether or not they should continue to support the Science and Engineering fairs. They do cost a lot of money and take up a lot of time. But I’ve always thought they were worth the effort. A few years ago an improvising employee in the Office of Naval Research realized that the Navy Reserve could help. She happened to be a Reservist herself so she understood the talent available and that they happened to live throughout the US and not just in the fleet concentration areas. What better place to look judges! Since that time, judges have been free. There is some cost involved with travel for the International Science and Engineering Fair, but no pay for the judges.

So, what brought this on? Well I received this email (names and places changed to protect the innocent)

I was looking at the MSU website today and came across your name. What a shock! I am not sure if you will remember me or not but I thought I would write either way. My name is *****. I was a Science & Engineering Fair participant from ****** High School. I competed on the junior high and high school level from 1998-2003. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend ISEF in May 2002 as an observer and compete in 2003. Every year I remember bumping into you. I think this may be the perfect time to let you know what impact you had on me. Each year I looked so forward to explaining my project to you, just to see your reaction. Thank you for always encouraging me. I truly feel that it is because of you, the Science & Engineering Fairs, and ISEF that I decided to major in chemistry. I am currently a sophomore at ******. Soon I will be transferring to a university to complete my degree and then continue on to medical school or graduate school. This past summer I worked at *****in the ****** Building in a program called REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates). I tell you this just to prove to you that science is my true love. I want to thank you for always being a positive influence for me. You made my Science & Engineering Fair experiences memorable. I wanted you to know that you had something to do with my love for science and to thank you!

Now that makes it all worth the effort. I’ve often wondered if I, or any of the judges, were having an impact so to hear that I did on at least one student was great.

It turns out I did remember the student (honestly, over the years you meet so many it is hard to keep them straight) and she was a great student. I have no doubt that she will go on to do great things and I am proud that I and the US Navy had some small role in it.