The following is a press release from the Sumner School District:

On May 27, the White House honored Celine Patrick and Ashlee Tarro of Sumner High School FFA at The White House Science Fair celebrating the student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions across the country.

This year’s White House event focused on girls and women who have excelled in STEM and are an inspiration to future students.

Patrick and Tarro won first place in their division at the 2013 National FFA Agriscience Fair with a project that dealt with a school greenhouse infestation of aphids. The National FFA Agriscience Fair is an annual competition during the National FFA Convention & Expo that features the research and results of FFA members who plan on pursuing careers in the science and technology of agriculture.

Their accomplishment earned them the invite to the White House

“I was so excited for Celine and Ashlee to have the opportunity to represent both Sumner, and the National FFA, at the White House,” Sumner High School FFA Advisor, Jessica Treich, said. “This was a project that they completed last year and they never believed that it would be able to take them this far. It was exciting for them to be able to share information about FFA and agriculture with the other attendees at the White House STEM fair. They were able to interact with other students who have a passion for science and learn about their research.”

Over 579,000 students nationwide belong to FFA. The Sumner Chapter is one of 7,570 chapters in the United States.