Sixth-grader Taylor Wingo, left, and eighth-grader Benjamin Woolen from Woodall Public Schools, prepare their VEX robot to take with them on their trip to Washington, D.C., and the White House.

By a bit of serendipity and the recognition of someone with hometown ties, a few eastern Oklahoma middle school students are getting the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit the White House and share their hard work and achievements with President Barack Obama.

Eighth-grader Benjamin Woolen, seventh-graders Ty Brant and Anthony Maldonado, and sixth-grader Taylor Wingo, from Woodall Public Schools, have been invited to the sixth and final White House Science Fair of the Obama administration.

The students will be in Washington, D.C., this week (April 12-13) to show off awards they’ve received and projects they’ve been working on.

Through a somewhat convoluted series of events, the hard work and dedication of students– in activities like VEX Robotics and LEGO Robotics – landed them a spot at this year’s science fair. Students will be taking two small robots with them, along with their trophies and a few projects, to show to the president.

Local school district science teacher Dr. Geary Crofford said James Townsend, a teaching intern at Tahlequah High School in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, recently received recognition for his accomplishments with Starbase, a science, technology, engineering and math program through the Department of Defense. Because of the coverage, higher-ups at Starbase asked about what kind of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) work local schools have been doing.

Mike Ridley, a local Starbase instructor, forwarded information from Crofford to the state director of Starbase, and Crofford said that material was then sent to the DoD.

“I sent [Ridley] a few articles I’d written about what the kids had been doing,” Crofford said. “They sent me an email telling me what they did, told them I appreciated everything and never thought much more about it until we got the invitation to the White House last week. It’s a fantastic opportunity, and even as an adult, I haven’t wrapped my head around the idea of going to the White House and meeting the president. I’ve always heard it’s a complicated process to get to go inside, and here these guys are being invited.”

Crofford said this is great example of how a student’s hard work can pay off in a big way. He said Woodall wasn’t selected for winning a bunch of awards, but for its hard work on STEM projects.

“A school may not be doing anything that seems spectacular, but there are so many things you can do that are worthwhile and fruitful if you stick with it,” Crofford said. “The advantages and benefits compound over time, and eventually, possibly something like this happens. It’s not that these students set the world on fire in any specific activity, but that they were consistent in all of them. I think this really reinforces the idea that anything is possible if you just keep plugging away and keep doing the right thing.”

Wingo said she originally joined the robotics team to improve on her teamwork skills. She said although she was looking forward to the trip, she is scared of heights, so the initial idea of the plane flight was somewhat intimidating.

Wingo hopes to become an engineer or work for Google when she grows up.

“I think going would be a great opportunity, plus I’d be there for the rest of team,” Wingo said prior to the White House visit. “Also I think it’ll be good teamwork to get everything ready for the trip. That’s really why I joined this, for the teamwork – because my parents said the teamwork will help be get into college.”

Woolen said he and the other students were excited, but also nervous, about their trip. He was initially unsure of what to expect from the trip, but is thankful for the opportunity.

Woolen said robotics and other extra-curricular activities have multiple benefits, and he suggested other students get involved to see what programs are offered.

“You get core skills from them,” Woolen said. “Like teamwork, you learn social skills; you can make friends and the chance to do stuff like that is amazing. I highly recommend participating in robotics clubs and other activities, especially girls; we need to have more girls in robotics.”

Lane writes for the Tahlequah, Oklahoma Daily Press.