FORT POLK, La., Aca,!" Students at Fort Polk's North Polk Elementary School received a big surprise April 23 when Louisiana's first lady paid a visit.
Supriya Jindal, the spouse of Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, along with help from McNeese State University chemistry professor Ron Darbeau, conducted science experiments for the school's students. Jindal has a degree in chemical engineering and worked in the industry before becoming first lady.
"We had invited the governor's wife to our 'Read Across America' event, but her office said she already had a commitment," NPE's Title One representative Becky Cyr said. "They asked if she could come at a later date and we were more than happy to have her whenever she could make time."
Jindal and Darbeau were an immediate hit with the Head Start, LA-4, kindergarten and first grade students at NPE. Experiments included freezing a banana, hot dog and carnation in liquid nitrogen. Jindal crumbled the carnation into sawdust-like pieces. When she tossed the hot dog on the floor, it shattered.
As the students began scrambling for the pieces of wiener strewn across the floor, Darbeau yelled, "Don't eat it; it's not any good."
Jindal quizzed the students, asking if they knew what the three stages of matter are. Hands immediately shot up and the correct answer - liquids, solids and gasses - was given.
Cheyenne Levengood, 7, said there were two reasons she was excited to see Jindal.
"I've never seen a governor's wife or a real scientist before," she said.
Anna Hilburgh was also impressed with Jindal.
"I want to be a scientist, too," the 7-year-old said. "I liked watching her do all of the experiments."
Jade Kurete, 6, said it was "pretty cool" watching Jindal and Darbeau conduct experiments.
"I'd never seen anything like that before in my whole, entire life," she said.
Davion Williams said he was surprised Jindal took the time to visit NPE.
"I didn't think anyone would come that far to see us," the 6-year-old said. "It was pretty cool coming all this way and conducting the experiments."
Jindal encouraged students to take an interest in math and science.
"Whether you want to be a scientist or a police officer, math and science are important," Jindal said.
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