HAYS, Kan. -- Nick Van Swol, Everest, a 17-year-old student of the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science at Fort Hays State University, recently won an honorable mention award from the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in San Jose, Calif.

More than 1,600 high school students from nearly 60 countries, regions and territories from around the world entered Intel's ISEF, billed as "the world's largest international pre-college science competition."

Students become eligible by winning top prizes at local, regional, state or national science fairs. Awards presented at ISEF include scholarships, summer internships, book and equipment grants, and scientific field trips.

Van Swol was one of six students to receive honors from the American Meteorological Society and one of three to receive an honorable mention award. The American Meteorological Society awards were given to the best exhibits in the areas of atmospheric and related sciences.

Tyler Clark, St. John KAMS junior, also represented KAMS at the Intel ISEF.

"It's absolutely fantastic for the academy," said Ron Keller, director of KAMS. "We are very proud of Nick. The research that the students are doing is great for them, the academy and Fort Hays State."

KAMS is the state's premier academic high school program for the state's best and brightest high school students. It was established by legislative action in 2006, and the FHSU campus was selected as its home. KAMS gives high school juniors and seniors a unique residential learning experience while providing them with college-level instruction, hands-on research and much more, including a high school diploma and 68 hours of college credit.

Intel ISEF has been administered by Society for Science and the Public since its inception in 1950.

For more information on KAMS, go to www.fhsu.edu/kams. For more information on Intel ISEF, go to the Web site at www.societyforscience.org.