On Oct. 8, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Dr. John P. Holdren met with winners of the 2009 Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge — Team DeadWeight from West Branch.


West Branch Middle School pupils Jathan Kron, 13, Justin Roth, 13, and Brennan Nelson, 13, along with their teacher, Hector Ibarra, won the inaugural year of the challenge with a project that raised awareness about the dangers of lead wheel weights in vehicles to help phase out this hazardous material in the tire industry.

Ibarra said the team spent 40 minutes with Holdren before Duncan joined the group for a photograph.

“I applaud the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge and all its participants,” Duncan said. “Jathan, Justin, Brennan and their teacher, Hector, are representative of how a great teacher can empower students to reach their fullest potential and positively impact their local community and the world.”

Holdren added, “Building a sustainable America is critical to our nation’s long term prosperity. I congratulate Team DeadWeight, their teacher, Hector Ibarra, and all the participants in the Challenge for their leadership in creating solutions to America’s environmental challenges.”

As part of their trip to Washington DC, the team also met with U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack for 20 minutes, Senator Charles Grassley for 10 minutes, and Environmental Protection Agency Hazardous Waste Chief Linda Barr for 40 minutes.

“The meetings were excellent,” Ibarra said. “The students explained the project. All the policy makers listened intently and with interest. Team DeadWeight was well-received and thanked for their service in helping to clean up the environment.”

The group also met with two representatives of the DC Metro to discuss another project: replacing old “T12” fluorescent light bulbs with more efficient T5 or T8 versions.

The grand prize-winning team, DeadWeight, received a prize package which included an appearance on Planet Green, Discovery’s multi-platform network dedicated to the environment, a Discovery Eco-Adventure Trip, a $5,000 U.S. Savings Bond, the opportunity to present their project before a panel of environmental experts at the United Nations, and more.

Since the Challenge, the winning team has lobbied at the Iowa State Capitol for a bill banning lead wheel weights and phasing in use of steel weights instead; presented their project to the West Branch City Council and convinced the municipality to remove lead weights from all city vehicles; and presented their project to a global audience of students and United Nations representatives during United Nations International Youth Day.