I would like to thank everyone involved in the Supercomputing Challenge. It has been a wonderful and I have learned many important aspects of teamwork and time management during my participation and has been well worth the time and effort. - Nicholas Kutac The Supercomputing Challenge has been a valuable experience in developing a project to its greatest integrity and has also been a great strengthener of friendship and camaraderie. - Alan Hshieh The Supercomputing Challenge has given me insight into my future career as a computer programmer. I have gained invaluable experience from the challenge and from its mentors. - Chris Morrison The Supercomputing Challenge has been a very interesting learning experience. I enjoyed working on our project with my teacher, team and mentor. It was a fun and exciting way to learn about computers and programming; to meet kids my age with similar interests; to view state of the art technology; and to meet the people who work with it. When I am a senior, I look forward to taking full advantage of the many scholarship opportunities offered to Supercomputing Challenge participants. I believe the Supercomputing Challenge is a great opportunity for students to show their creativity and intellect in using computers to solve today problems. This is important because today Supercomputing Challenge contestants are the forerunners of tomorrow innovative technology. - Daniel L. Parrott This Challenge was definitely one of the best perks of my senior year, and it proved to me that I am capable of doing anything I want so long as I put my mind to it. - Kyle Fitzpatrick, Onate High The Challenge is just that: challenging. But you won't regret a minute of the work and the learning you will do over the year. Don't be afraid to challenge yourself. - Meghan Scott, Onate There is no I in Teamwork. - Unknown No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it. - H.E. Luccock Wearing the same shirts doesn't make a team. - Buchlola and Ruth None of us is as smart as all of us. - Ken Banchard A boat doesn't go forward if each one is rowing their own way. - Swahili proverb Teamwork: Simply stated, it is less me and more we. - Unknown In teamwork, silence isn't golden, it's deadly. - Mark Sanborn Michael, if you can't pass, you can't play. - Coach Dean Smith to Michael Jordon in his freshman year. Supercomputing gave me a great experience in inspiring me in what I want to do in my future years. I developed a computer program that would show the risks of gene doping to any person. It included variables such as cancer, age, injury, and energy levels. The Supercomputing Challenge was very challenging but in the end it was worth it. - Danielle Charly, Navajo Prep The Challenge is like a long hike up a treacherous mountain. You spend a lot of time and a lot of effort to reach the top, and when you get there, you know it was worth the trouble. - Jessica MacKinnon, Artesia High Supercomputing builds teamwork - you learn a lot more than ou ever knew before about how to do things together. Now when I go to a website or a computer program, I think about all the work involved to make it. - Jessie Bohn, Los Alamos Middle We feel that our kids are really benefiting from the Supercomputing project. We think that they are getting good experience with research, writing and public speaking/presentations that they would ordinarily not get in the 7th and 9th grades. Thanks again, Jerri and David Rush Parents of Richard and Randall Rush Melrose, team 68 The Supercomputing Challenge is indeed an unique experience and I personally have learned so much. Not only have I learned, but I have also picked up interest in many different aspects of science. Thank you for the award, and it is extremely satisfying to be rewarded for our hardwork. - Tony Huang La Cueva High My husband and I would like to express our appreciation for the work that you do with the Supercomputing Challenge. We feel that our kids are really benefiting from this project. We think that they are getting good experience with research, writing and public speaking/presentations that they would ordinarily not get in the 7th and 9th grades. - Jerri and David Rush, Melrose TEAM = Together Everyone Achieves More It was a great experience, and if it weren't for the fact that I'm a senior, I would most definitely consider doing the challenge again. - Artesia High student I just received a letter of acceptance to UNM! Being in the Challenge gave me the confidence to apply to UNM. - Samantha, student from Nuestros Valores Charter School The award ceremony was the most entertaining ceremony we have attended for a long time. We look forward to participating again next year and I will encourage children, mine and others, to do so too. - Aik-Siong, father of LAHS Challenge participant The Challenge is such a unique opportunity for us as teachers to challenge and channel our students into a world of scientific inquiry and academics that goes beyond high school. - Beckey, Melrose High School If it wasn't for the Challenge, I probably would not be in the position I'm in today as a Senior Staff Engineer - Network Architecture, so I owe it a huge thanks. Robert Though we each had our designated work, we all helped each other in any areas needed. Nuria Clodius Los Alamos High School It seems prudent to write an essay about how my successes with Supercomputing Challenge improved my leadership character and scientific understanding. However, I think a more compelling story is told by my failures. Daniel Cox Los Alamos High School Overall, my experience with Supercomputing Challenge has had its share of failures, followed by a few key successes. However, that's what computer science is all about, and that's what makes it so irresistibly fun. Daniel Cox Los Alamos High School Supercomputing Challenge has taught me responsibility, commitment, and teamwork; these are skills I will use for the rest of my life. Daniel Cox Los Alamos High School It gets stressful at times but it can be fun when you are making your own fun programs such as soccer, racing games or just bees chasing a guy. Erica Ceniceros NVCS Our project has now morphed into a lifestyle, and I have been very lucky to have participated in the Challenge. Avery Rowlison Desert Academy Turtles are like robots and you tell them whatever you want them to do. Ivan Rodiguez NVCS Our team works together playing each other's strengths. Brandon Ramirez McCurdy High Each team member provides a vital perspective and personal thought process. Brandon Ramirez McCurdy High An environment of answers, questions and work surrounds us as we progress in our project. Brandon Ramirez McCurdy High We have so many wonderful ideas, and everyone is so enthusiastic about our subject that sometimes we need reminding of what our final goal is, so we do not get too side tracked. Charlotte Rose Morris-Wright Desert Academy Our roles complement each other synergistically, and as we respect the other's contributions, we work together smoothly as a team. Plus it's fun! Kristin Cordwell Manzano High I learned another important lesson in the research process. Things don't always work! Tony Huang La Cueva High On a team, each person can best express his or her strengths to best benefit the team: for me, this was the modeling aspect of our project. Tony Huang La Cueva High Previous to my participation in the Challenge, I had competed in Science Fair, which is similar in its research orientated focus. However, I gained one crucial aspect in the Challenge that I did not find in other competitions - teamwork. Tony Huang La Cueva High I never thought I'd become part of something that would pave a path for me in the future. Kandese Spikes Artesia High As I have progressed this year, the Challenge has shown me that my team's project, like life, is continually morphing into something bigger and better. Kandese Spikes Artesia High I learned how important setting goals for myself was, and how through this I could show leadership through how I live my life. Kandese Spikes Artesia High We do not always agree on what the "right way" to solve something is, but our different viewpoints and us questioning each other helps us to derive a very good solution to our problem. Ted Benakis Silver High The Supercomputing Challenge has opened the door which allowed me to grow into a greater leader. Shane Wilson Artesia High During that year, I learned many valuable skills about time management in a group, and I learned how to keep the group on task. Ben Batha Los Alamos High Successful leadership is the most important skill because it allows the group to complete the task on time and allows for icing to be placed on the cake. Ben Batha Los Alamos High Without good time management leadership, most projects collapse. Ben Batha Los Alamos High I would describe the Supercomputing Challenge as getting involved in a project with mathematical and scientific concepts way over one's head and being challenged to understand the material to a point that they can develop a good project from those efforts. It may sound like a bad thing but it isn't. Francisco Vigil McCurdy High I owe the Supercomputing Challenge great thanks for giving me the opportunity to learn and for opening the doors it has for me. Francisco Vigil McCurdy High The judges were impressed enough with Carson's February Project Evaluation presentation a few weeks ago that I think they are creating a summer internship for him. That is huge. Thanks so much for creating this opportunity for this bright student. Joan, teacher Albuquerque High We would like to thank you for your time. We are very happy about participating in the Supercomputing Challenge. This has been our first year competing and it was an awesome experience. Yoliy and Joel, your fellow friends from Hatch Valley High School The experience of the challenge is bound to be life-changing for some of our students. Some have never traveled or stayed in a motel. Some would never be able to imagine the kinds of careers they could have, because they've never seen universities or places like Los Alamos. Everything was so well-organized and it was an incredible time. Thanks very much! Carol, Edgewood I would also like to say what an amazing experience the Supercomputing Challenge has been for me, this being my first time to participate in it. I look forward to taking the Challenge again next year. Austin, Silver High Thank you for the blessing of working with all of you. I have become a better person/teacher because of your push/instruction/encourangement and continual support. You are individually and collectively the most awe inspiring group of people. Thank you for taking me in. Your appreciative teacher, Karen, Jackson Middle School Thanks for giving us the opportunity to give back to the challenge! Looking back on my experience in the Challenge, I feel like it was something that really shaped my future career. Alex, a 1997 Challenge participant, current LANL employee/Challenge volunteer Thank you for giving my students an opportunity to participate in the challenge. You have no idea what it means to them. I have another excited bunch this year! They already chosen their projects and began working on their proposals. I hope that it will be another year full of fun, success and exciting stories to tell. Zeynep, teacher, Aspen Elementary If you still need judges, I will be glad to volunteer. I was a judge two years ago and it was a great experience. Thanks, Patrick I adopted our project into a science fair project and competed in the senior division. I won first place overall in the NSBE national science fair. Daniel I am very impressed with this whole Supercomputing Journey!! Thank you for helping with this. Kim, parent I had fun programming and found the entire experience to be intellectually stimulating. Peter, Los Alamos High School This was my first year at the SuperComputing Challenge, and I truly enjoyed it. Who knew computer-modeling could be so much fun? I hope to be part of this amazing experience next year as well, and I will encourage some of my fellow classmates to join the SuperComputing Challenge. Anji, Annunciation Catholic School "... my experience in the challenged was awesome." Jose, Quemado Supercomputing was a great experience for both of us. The opportunity the Supercomputing Challenge provides for doing research on a team was a great learning experience. Being able to work with advisers throughout the process of the project was extremely helpful, as was the feedback on our final report. Thanks again! Alexandra and Evan My experience with the challenge was not always the best, and I was even discouraged about re-entering the competition this year because of the difficulty that my team had when trying to make a computer model. However, with much help from many judges and adults, my team members and I completed our project and had fun in the process. It was difficult, and it took us many long nights to complete all our project. In the end, the things that we learned about modeling and science in general made all of the hard work worth it. Thank you so much for providing New Mexico students with the opportunity to participate in something like this. It is so obvious how much every person who puts effort into this program cares about educating young people about science. I appreciate everything you have done for me and my team members. Lindsay, McCurdy High With the knowledge I have gained from the challenge, I feel that I will be well prepared for college. Michael, CEPi#1 I have had such a great experience this year with SCC. The whole organization is thoughtful, youth-centered, well-planned, and remarkably humane in a way that education often isn't. Thanks for providing this opportunity. Acacia, teacher NMSA Thank you again for the scholarship opportunity. I never thought that hard work can go a long way. It was definitely worth it. Bethany, SODA I loved this experience and hope to follow through with the learning process. Bethany, SODA This year's Challenge was awesome! I had a blast! Thank you for all your help. Cindy, Las Cruces YWiC I really wish I had joined Supercomputing before my senior year, because I really felt like I learned so much. Cindy, Las Cruces YWiC Our team learned a lot. We had fun working together and doing our research. We learned some computer modeling and learned how to write reports and make deadlines. It was a lot of work, but it was a really good experience. I plan to continue this project next year, and hope the rest of my team does too. Tazler, Aspen Elementary School Honestly, my participation in Supercomputing has been a blast. Jennifer, Las Cruces YWiC. I love going to the Kickoff. I will miss not going this year. Stephan, Teacher at Mazano High. I thought it was a great Kick-Off! Thank you for letting me be a part of it! Larry, facilitator. Participating in the Challenge remains one of the highlights of my teaching career. Paula, teacher from Moriarty. We learned a lot about programming and science from the lectures, people kind of enough to review our code, and everyone else who lent a hand. Gaspert, student from La Cueva. Having the gumption to risk failure in order to succeed is a notion that touches all professionals involved in important enterprises at one time or another in a career. Dealing with the frustration and continuing on past the urge to just toss a task or project 'in the can' is more than just a character builder, but an integral part to measurable, and unmeasurable success. Bob, Challenge Board member Having failed one or more times is considered a valuable part of your experience. Ed, Challenge Board member. I've come to realize that effective teamwork can be even more important to the project than the code. Sara, Desert Academy "The challenge was my first 'real' experience as a team leader, real in the sense that it actually resembled the leadership I have done later in the 'real' world. Looking back, I did a number of things poorly, especially relating to time management. However the fact that I was able to lead a team to victory in the challenge helped give me confidence to continue taking on leadership roles and building my technical leadership skills to where they are today." - Thomas D., Eldorado High, 2004.