2 Lansing Students Brief President On Their New Technology To Reduce Drownings

LANSING (WWJ/AP) - Two Lansing-area students got the thrill of a lifetime when they personally briefed President Obama about their new technology to warn swimmers about dangerous off-shore currents.

Nineteen year-old Spencer Ottarson and 17 year-old Julie Xu represented Williamston High School as 12 teams from around the country presented their projects at the third annual White House science fair.

Mr. Obama checked out their Offshore Rip Current Alert System (ORCAS), the goal of which is to reduce drownings caused by rip currents in the Great Lakes.

In January, the Lansing-based Prima Civitas Foundation recognized the winners of its recent 2012 Young Innovators Competition by distributing more than $10,000 in cash prizes at an awards ceremony in East Lansing.

In addition to the awards, PCF will also work with students to locate local resources for nurturing and launching their innovative ideas.

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