ANOTHER KID WITH A BRILLIANT THOUGHT -- AND THE COURAGE TO VOICE IT - IS 9-YEAR-OLD JACOB LEGGETTE, WHO VISITED THE WHITE HOUSE EARLIER THIS YEAR TO PRESENT HIS SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT TO PRESIDENT OBAMA – AND, WHILE THERE, MADE A SUGGESTION:
[WHITE HOUSE VIDEO CLIP]
ON JACOB’S SUGGESTION, PRESIDENT OBAMA ESTABLISHED THE FIRST-EVER KID’S SCIENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO ASK YOUNG PEOPLE HOW TO BETTER ENGAGE STUDENTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH FIELDS. UP NEXT, WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BOY BEHIND THE BIG IDEA.
"This could change the world someday."
THIS IS BALTIMORE'S 9-YEAR-OLD JACOB LEGGETTE BACK IN APRIL OF 2016. GROOMING HIS 3-D PRINTING CRAFT AHEAD OF THE FINAL WHITE HOUSE SCIENCE FAIR, AND WHILE HIS CREATIONS GOT HIM TO THE WHITE HOUSE, HE SET HIS SIGHTS BEYOND IT WITH A PITCH.
( Jacob Leggette / Nine years old ) "I had to practice it a bunch of times in the car, while I was in the car riding to D.C. I practiced it so many times that, while I was at the White House, I almost forgot it."
( President Barack Obama ) "We should have a kids advisory group that starts explaining to us what's interesting to them and what's working and could help us shape advances in STEM education. Anyway, that was Jacob's idea, so way to go Jacob, we're going to follow up on that." ...AND WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT?
MONTHS LATER, THAT'S WHAT THEY DID -- MAYBE SUMMED UP BEST BY JACOB HIMSELF.
( Jacob Leggette / Nine years old ) "It was pretty exciting to hear President Obama took advice from a child."
"I thought, that's why you're smarter than me. So we in fact have formed a science advisory group."
...AND FRIDAY MARKED THE FIRST OFFICIAL KIDS SCIENCE ADVISOR MEETING, BRINGING 11 OF THE BRIGHTEST YOUNG MINDS IN THE COUNTRY TO ONE TABLE.
EVEN ASTRONAUTS ARE IMPRESSED.
AMONG THOSE SEATED: JACOB'S SIX-YEAR-OLD SISTER.
( Omar Jimenez / Reporter ) "Why were you a little a nervous and excited?"
( Alexis Leggette / Six years old ) "Because I thought I was going to meet the President and I was really excited to meet the whole group."
AWAY FROM THE TABLE, THE BRAINS BEHIND THE BRAINS: A PROUD FAMILY, A PROUD MOTHER.
( Stephanie Leggette / Mother of Alexis and Jacob ) "For them to actually come through... I've never seen anything like that before -- especially with such a quick turnaround. That was just, as they would put it, amazing."
AMAZING MIGHT BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT, BUT IT'S WHAT BOTH JACOB AND ALEXIS HOPE TO ACHIEVE.
...AT LEAST, IF THEY LISTEN TO THEIR MOM.
( Stephanie Leggette / Mother of Alexis and Jacob ) "I know they're going to hate me saying this but there's a lot more schoolwork coming."
Instructional Links
Website Article: The Whie House, How I Became a Kid Science Advisor
https://medium.com/the-white-house/how-i-became-a-kid-science-advisor-af5958b6fc69#.bagjch5j5
Video: YouTube, Calling All Kid Scientists!