Long hours of lab work and logarithms were honored at Fort Dodge Senior High Thursday.
The school honored 109 seniors for their diligence during the 26th annual Science and Mathematics Recognition Evening.
To qualify for recognition, a student must have taken at least eight credits of science or completed a math course schedule through precalculus.
"Many of these courses are not required for graduation," said David Keane, principal of Fort Dodge Senior High.
The school also gave awards to the best of the best, so to speak, among math and science students.
Top math honors went to Taylor Harlow, while Dustin Kendall was named outstanding senior science student.
Kendall also netted the "Lab Rat Award," given to an outstanding science student who completes at least 16 credits of science - which means they've taken a science class every semester of high school, said instructor John Wozniak.
Keane commended students for going above and beyond. He also thanked the "outstanding" parents of the recognized students.
"You've made great investments from which you will reap the benefits far into the future," he said. "From your ranks will come the innovators of the future."
As manager of Iowa Central Community College's Biofuels Testing Laboratory, Don Heck is on the front lines of such innovation.
Heck, who has worked at Iowa Central since 2005, spoke about career opportunities available in the math and science fields.
"You don't have to be working in a laboratory," he said.
For example, numerous well-paying jobs exist utilizing the business and marketing aspects of biotechnology, Heck said.
"The present economy hasn't been kind to the biofuels industry," he said. "But it's not going away. It's here to stay."
Contact Jesse Helling at (515) 573-2141 or jhelling@messengernews.net