Oceanside High School science winner receives proclamation from Congresswoman McCarthy

Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy visited Oceanside High School senior Blake Smith on Jan. 13 to congratulate him on his 4th place win in the national Siemens Science, Math and Technology competition and to present him with a Congressional Proclamation.



McCarthy encouraged Smith’s interest in science and medicine, talking about her nursing background and how far medicine, technology and attitudes have come since the 1960s, when cancer was a word that was too frightening to even say. After chatting with Smith a bit, the Congresswoman prepared to present the proclamation, referencing her shyness when she first entered politics and how she is now expected to be a talker.



“Would you like me to read it?” asked Smith. “I can be a talker.” McCarthy agreed and Blake easily read the title of his project with its arcane scientific terms. “That’s why I wanted you to read it,” joked McCarthy, as everyone laughed.


“I’m just so proud that we have such a brilliant and remarkable young man in my district and I wanted to recognize him with remarks that I’ll make on the House floor and put into the Congressional Record,” McCarthy said. “When the president gave his State of the Union address last year, he called it ‘Winning the Future’ and focused on how student success in science and math are the path to our nation’s global competitiveness. Blake is a perfect example of that — he’s proof that you can find great opportunity in our public schools, and if you work very hard you can earn recognition on a national scale.”

Smith was accompanied by his mother, Deborah Smith, Science Research Coordinator Heather Hall, teachers Lisa Mehr and Maureen Bodkin, Director of Science Kathy Chapman, OHS Principal Mark Secaur and Assistant Superintendent for Business Louis Frontario.