TALENTED STUDENT FROM ELK RIVER REWARDED FOR UNMATCHED ACHIEVEMENT

Twenty bright young people named as 2014 Davidson Fellows exemplify the extraordinary work that can be accomplished by U.S. students who are given opportunities to excel. One of these gifted students is 18-year-old Josh Wolf of Elk River, Minn.

Josh won a $10,000 scholarship for his work in creating biofuels from algae. His project, “Shocking Lipid Production: Oil Extraction by Novel Electrical stimulation of Botryococcus braunii,” is modeled after the electrical activity of neurons, and utilizes an electrical source applied to algae to create a biodiesel fuel in a cost effective manner. Josh is currently patenting his invention and hopes to license his technology to algae biofuel companies. His work has the potential to reduce the price per gallon of biodiesel fuel from $4 to $1.30, dramatically reducing transportation costs around the world.

Josh is a 2014 graduate of Elk River High School and will attend St. Olaf College in the fall. He plans to major in biology with a neuroscience emphasis to study the cure of neurodegenerative disease.

The Davidson Fellows Scholarship program offers $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 college scholarships to students 18 or younger, who have created significant projects that have the potential to benefit society in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, literature, philosophy, music and outside the box. The Davidson Fellows Scholarship has provided more than $5.8 million in scholarship funds to 246 Fellows since its inception in 2001, and has been named one of the most prestigious undergraduate scholarships by U.S. News & World Report. It is a program of the Davidson Institute for Talent Development, a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Reno, Nev. that supports profoundly gifted youth.

“The Davidson Institute is built on the belief that individuals, who have extraordinary intelligence and talents, when encouraged and supported, can improve the quality of life for us all,” said Bob Davidson, co-founder of the Davidson Institute. “We are delighted to recognize this group of resourceful and distinguished young people for their fascinating projects – projects that have the potential to benefit society.”

The 2014 Davidson Fellows will be honored at a reception in Washington, D.C., on September 26, 2014.

Producing highly-qualified professionals, including scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs is critical to economic development in the United States. Public discourse on our nation’s competitiveness tends to focus on the needs of low-performing students. As important to our country’s future success are the most capable of students, such as the 2014 Davidson Fellows, who are reaching high levels of academic and innovative excellence, and are strong examples of what students can achieve with the proper support.

About the Davidson Institute

Founded by Bob and Jan Davidson in 1999, the Davidson Institute for Talent Development recognizes, nurtures and supports profoundly intelligent young people, and provides opportunities for them to develop their talents to make a positive difference. The Institute offers support through a number of programs and services, including the Davidson Fellows and The Davidson Academy of Nevada. For more information about the 2014 Davidson Fellows, please visit www.DavidsonGifted.org/Fellows.