America's Top Young Scientists to Receive Scholarships for Winning Eggs-Periments

RJ Note: Fayette County Middle School Science Olympiad Teams have a great record of winning and placing at tournaments. Kudos to all the great teachers who inspire our young minds. Will we have any egg-cellent wins this year?

/PRNewswire/ -- Where can you find America's brightest young minds launching rockets, crashing vehicles and cracking eggs? These activities and many more are part of the 25th annual Science Olympiad National Tournament in Augusta, GA, on May 16. For the first time, the incredible edible egg, on behalf of America's egg farmers, will celebrate the incredible achievements of science-minded students by awarding four $1,000 college scholarships. The tournament is the culmination of what began with 200,000 students across the nation competing in local tournaments, and has been narrowed to a group of 2,500 who will compete in a series of scientific challenges that require a unique level of focus, precision and skill.

As part of the incredible edible egg's partnership with Science Olympiad, two of the 46 events will be "egg-centric." In the "Scrambler" competition, students are challenged to design and build mechanical devices to transport eggs, while at the "Egg-O-Naut" event, students design and launch rockets that deploy parachutes to carry a raw egg without breaking. Each member of the gold medal winning teams will receive a $1,000 scholarship towards college.

"I co-founded Science Olympiad to bring science to life for students through hands-on, minds-on learning challenges," said Dr. Gerard Putz, co-founder and president of Science Olympiad. "We are excited for this first-time partnership with the incredible edible egg. It's a natural and important educational component of this year's competition - encouraging kids to learn more about science while emphasizing the importance of eating a balanced breakfast, including eggs, for sustaining mental and physical energy."

Fuel Energy for Mind and Body

Coaches and parents of Science Olympians know that it's important for students to have a healthy, balanced breakfast. In fact, research shows that there are cognitive benefits to eating breakfast, such as improved memory recall time, improved grades and higher test scores.(1,2)

"Serving kids eggs for breakfast is important because the high-quality protein in eggs provides the energy for the body and mind they need to stay alert and active throughout busy days," said Keith Ayoob, EdD, RD, FADA, pediatric nutritionist and associate professor of pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. "For 70 calories and an average cost of 14 cents apiece, eggs are one of the most affordable breakfast options and can be combined with almost anything already in the fridge or pantry."

Help encourage your kids to eat incredible and be incredible on competition day, and every day, with these tips from Ayoob:

-- Pack a hard-cooked egg as a snack for kids so they can avoid the
afternoon slump. Pack it in an insulated bag with a cold pack for
freshness.
-- Get your kids involved in planning and preparing meals to help instill
good eating habits. Kids love to eat what they help prepare!
-- Have a one-pan meal like a frittata or strata for dinner once a week.
It's easy, affordable and kids love it.



You can also try your hand at these nutritious breakfast recipes that offer an easy solution to a hectic morning, take less than 10 minutes to prepare and cost less than $2.00 a serving(3):

-- Cereal Bowl Egg & Cheese Breakfast Burrito ($0.50/serving)
-- Easy Egg Breakfast Quesadillas ($1.91/serving)

-- Mini Breakfast Pizzas ($0.59/serving)



Visit www.eatincredible.com for quick and easy egg breakfast recipes, official Science Olympiad experiments to try at home and to share videos of incredible science experiments.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow on Twitter and Facebook

James Brown Memory

A few years back a group of us were in Augusta for a convention. One night we hit a local bar and restaurant on the river for dinner. We hadn't been there long before James Brown and his entourage dropped in. We didn't know it was one of the places he liked to frequent, but we soon learned he was somewhat of a regular.

It was interesting talking with him for a few minutes. If I hadn't been at the right time at the right place that little tiny exchange wouldn't have happened. Can't tell you the name of the restaurant 'cause I don't remember, can't tell you what I said to him 'cause it was no more than typical surface talk that you have with someone you don't know.

What is interesting is how when paths cross, no matter how lightly, some sort of connection is formed. I payed attention to new articles and was saddened to hear of his death. He was so alive it was hard to imagine a world without him.

Now I find that I click on stories about all the hoopla that continues to occur after his death.

Five of his children are contesting his will. It's a family brawl that I imagine will leave scars that will never heal.

Money has a way of tearing people apart. Brothers and sisters who have shared their closest confidences become bitter enemies when a parent dies and things have to be split.

Brown left a large portion of his estate to charity. Commendable. He also took care of his grandkids. Again, commendable. I would assume he felt his older children were capable of standing on their own two feet, taking care of themselves. Obviously, they disagree.

While he definitely didn't lead a perfect life by any stretch of the imagination, most of us will remember Brown for his antics, his enthusiasm, his music. I think it's time for me to stop reading articles about James Brown and let the memories of his music be what I think about when I hear his name.