Parents' Corner
by
Johnny Jones
5/20/91

 Bryan had high hopes for his project's doing well at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)  after winning the regional fair at Cape Girardeau, Missouri with his robotic model for fighting underground mine fires.  Although he had investigated infrared sensors early on, the price was prohibitive.  At Cape, an engineer gave Bryan his card and said, "Come down. I can get you an infrared sensor off the shelf, and we can even build a fire and extinguish it."

 Bryan's first priority was to strengthen the platform, then to make the computer control the stepper motors, the Polaroid ultrasonic sensor, and the water gun. Bryan worked at metal shop in school, and at our computer at home.  After a couple of weeks I asked, "How's it coming?"  His reply? "Medium."

 A week before the fair he was still programming.  Since the thing still did not work, we had not made it to Cape for the infrared sensor.  Now the question was, "Can you get what you have to work?"

 "I think so," he replied, his emphasis on the "think," not the "so."  I was renewing my hatred for electronics.  They are so finicky!  I was reminded of the saying of science fair judges:  "If it's biology, it turns green; if it's chemistry, it stinks; if it's physics it doesn't work for the judges; if it's engineering, it doesn't work at all."  Bryan's was engineering.

 I packed most of Bryan's things, to give him every possible moment on his project.  But I was working too - on the display, on the packing boxes, on putting together the materials for his notebook.

 "It's time to get out the books and electronics you need to put in suitcases, Bryan," I warned.  Bryan was still at the computer.  "I can't," he replied.  "I'm not done.  And I need some parts from Radio Shack." Groan!  A trip to Rolla, an hour away, just prior to one to Cape Girardeau over two hours, in the same day.

 I returned with the parts to find Bryan still at the computer.  The dog had not been walked, his contacts were not in, and parts of a meal were still on the counter.  I was starting to get nervous.  "Bryan, you will have to stop working at some point, because we have to go!" I said.

 "I can make it work.  Just give me a few more minutes," he said.

 I had heard that song before.  Time was running out.  "I'll call down and tell them we'll be late," I replied.  "But you have got to quit in thirty minutes.  I'm setting the clock."

 In twenty five minutes, it was working!  "Video it while it works," I shouted.  At this point I didn't trust electronics to work when they should. While Bryan was narrating and Chip was taping, Amy and I were throwing the project boards into large plastic bags, books into suitcases, and the VCR into its box.

 At last we were ready.  By the time we got to Cape and got the project transferred to the U-haul and Lester Leaton's car, it was 10:30.  Lester was leaving for the ISEF in Orlando at 4:30 the following morning.  All the way to Cape, I kept thinking, "What did we forget?"  By the time we got down there, I remembered:  a tie tac, Bryan's money, the extra chip, and a lantern battery.

 Fortunately Lester, Bryan, and the other science fair winners from southeast Missouri were staying with my sister in Dothan, Alabama, that night.  I called her and got a loan on what he needed, then express-mailed the chip down.

 The project worked for the judges!  We were happy, but we were also wondering how Bryan would place.  When we looked at the projects Thursday, Chip said, "He's got some tough competition."

 We were in Orlando for the first Awards Ceremony Thursday night.  We had picked up Mama and Daddy in Dothan, and we wanted them to have the thrill of seeing Bryan walk up on that stage.  He did - but only once.  IEEE, which gave him their Second  Award last year, did not call his name.  JETS, where he was pretty sure he could place, ignored him.  However, he got first place from Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, and he was happy about that.

 The next morning we thought sure NASA or the Army, or Department of Energy would reward him.  Not a sniff.  We all felt pretty discouraged by Friday night, when it was time for the Grand Awards.  Normally, you can tell who will place at the Grand Awards by who places earlier.

 Wayne Crump furnished the Missouri group with flags; I went to the Missouri kids and said, "I hope you guys have a chance to wave them."  You wave the flags when someone from your state wins.

 I crossed my fingers when Engineering was announced.  First the hundred dollar fourth awards, then the $250 third awards.  I kept hoping I'd hear Bryan's name.  Since he didn't place more in the earlier ceremonies, I thought he didn't have a shot at anything above third.  In fact, after the third awards, I turned to Mama and said, "I don't think Bryan will get any-." My word was cut short by the announcer's saying, "From Viburnum, Missouri, Bryan Allen Jones."  We waved our flags with a vengeance!

 That meant Bryan's work was vindicated.  The  most professional judges, the PhD's or equivalent, judged the Grand Awards.  In fact, to bolster the prestige of these awards, they are increasing ten-fold for next year.  In other words, instead of the $350 Bryan received, the Second Awards will be worth $3500!

 Bryan was thinking he might get a First.   It turns out he was pretty close to it, by the rumors we heard.  A mother of a finalist in biochemistry told me, "Everyone is talking about your son's project."

 Missouri was mentioned only once more than evening:  in mathematics, for a Third Award.  That meant Bryan scored higher than any other student from this state, which made all of us proud.

 So somehow it all worked out.  I don't believe it would have without the fervent prayers we all offered on his behalf.  We felt gratified.  We had to say once again, "Thank  you, Lord."