Four members of Centerville High School’s Science Olympiad team and their coach were invited to Monday’s inaugural White House Science Fair with President Barack Obama, in honor of the team’s second straight national championship in May.

Students Andrew Kerr, Emily Briskin, Seth Cazzell, Carly Graham and coach Penny Valentini joined award-winning science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) students from around the country in celebrating the importance of STEM education.

“It’s hard to describe just how impressive their work is,” Obama said of the students at the event, which included science fair demonstrations. “It is a testament to what awaits when we inspire young people to take part in the science enterprise.”

The CHS students were among those who sat on the stage behind the president as he spoke.

“The kids got to shake his hand on stage and interact briefly,” Valentini said. “He just said ‘great job,’ and was very congratulatory.”

Kerr said he was impressed with the fact that they were “recognized on that level.”

Graham added that it was surreal meeting the president and being in the White House.

“I just think it’s good that we’re finally putting science on the forefront,” she said. “We also got to meet some really cool kids.”

Obama noted that the United States has fallen behind other nations in science and math education and that his Educate to Innovate campaign aims to get U.S. students back on track in math and science.

He told the students that winners of science fairs, robotics contests and math competitions should be celebrated to the same degree as championship sports teams.

“Nobody’s rushing the field or dumping Gatorade on your head, but in many ways our future depends on what happens in those contests,” Obama said.

Valentini, who also teaches physics at CHS, agreed.

“Not to take anything away from NCAA athletes,” she said, “but there should be a clear change in focus as to who should be called celebrities.

“We are a technologically based society at this point, and that’s where we heading. The fact that the White House is acknowledging these kids is phenomenal.”

The event also was attended by Nobel laureates, White House senior administration officials and STEM educators Bill Nye the Science Guy and “Mythbusters” Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage.

Valentini said the students got to take pictures with their TV science heroes. “And pictures of our guys are now on Bill Nye’s iPhone!” she said.

The White House Science Fair also began a week that will culminate in the USA Science and Engineering Festival this weekend on the National Mall and 50 satellite locations, including the Center of Science & Industry in Columbus.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7325 or jikelley @DaytonDailyNews.com.