Council Rock students honored for science

BUCKS COUNTY

Council Rock students honored for science prowess

NEWTOWN Students are to hear from a leading scientist this week when they are inducted into the Science National Honor Society on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Council Rock High School North.

Eric Olson, chief scientific officer of Massachusetts-based Syros Pharmaceuticals, is credited with leading a team that developed Kalydeco, the only drug approved for treating the cause of cystic fibrosis. President Obama referred to the drug in a State of the Union address as he talked about the need for funding for medical invention. Kalydeco is considered a significant scientific breakthrough.

Olson will be joined at the lectern by his colleague and friend Scott Rakestraw, also a scientist and the father of two Council Rock High School North graduates. One of his children, Stephanie, a junior majoring in cell and molecular biology at the University of Michigan, is collaborating on research with the Whitehead Institute at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard Medical School. She will also address students.

The high school will induct 54 juniors and present graduation cords - for caps and gowns - to 55 seniors during the ceremony that focuses on "The Places You Can Go With Science." - Kathy Boccella