For Immediate Release
Contact: Lynn Solorio, Manager of Stakeholder Communications, Carus Corporation, 815/224-
6682 or lynn.solorio@caruscorporation.com

LASALLE/PERU, ILLINOIS -- For the sixth consecutive summer, Carus Corporation has sponsored Carus Science Camp for junior high students. Local students entering the sixth grade participated in the weeklong day camp, which was held June 19-23, 2006 in the Science laboratory at Peru Catholic School. More than 140 Illinois Valley students have graduated from Carus Science Camp since its inception.

Carus Science Camp 2006 was free to the Illinois Valley junior high students, who came from a number of schools in LaSalle and Bureau counties. Carus Corporation, LaSalle-Peru, Illinois, sponsored the camp. State and federal legislators have endorsed Carus Science Camp. As part of the daily hands-on experiments, the 15 aspiring scientists learned about laboratory safety, keeping a lab notebook, and working with the scientific method. The theme for each day of Carus Science Camp was a different aspect of science: Geology, Biology, Physics, Astronomy, and Chemistry.

Exciting young students and increasing their interest in science and engineering is one goal of Carus Corporation’s extensive educational outreach. Donald Loebach, junior high Science teacher at Peru Catholic School, directed Carus Science Camp with the help of “Loebach’s Lab Rats,” a group of Carus Science Camp alumni who received special training in the experiments performed throughout Science Camp. Teachers Mary Boehm, Jennifer Lasik, and Melinda Reed assisted Loebach. Carus Corporation hired the four teachers as part of its SWEPT (Scientific Work Experience Program for Teachers) initiative. 2006 marks the ninth consecutive year that Carus Corporation has participated in SWEPT. The goal of the program is to help teachers become more effective and better able to explain to their students how the study of science and mathematics relates to the “real world.”

On the final day of Science Camp, United States Congressman Jerry Weller distributed certificates of graduation to the students. Weller said, “By providing this camp, Carus Corporation is exemplifying the importance of science and engineering, which is key to industry competitiveness and standard-of-living improvement.” Illinois Representative Frank Mautino sent a letter of congratulations to the campers stating, “I am very happy that Carus Corporation has initiated Carus Science Camp, which is aimed at reaching young students to excite and interest them in science and engineering, as well as enhancing Science teachers’ proficiency and experience.”

Following the graduation ceremony, parents, grandparents, siblings, Carus employees, and teachers joined the campers for a pizza lunch.

Hildi Grivetti, a Carus Corporation employee and mother of Sam Rizzo, who attended Carus Science Camp, said, “Sam absolutely loved the camp. Each day he ran out to the car, as I noticed all of the kids doing, shouting about all of the cool things they did and saying, ‘today was awesome!’ I am so happy that Carus offered this experience. It has made his summer so far.”

Carus Corporation is the world’s largest producer of potassium permanganate, which is used mainly in environmental applications: to improve the quality of drinking water, to treat municipal and industrial wastewater, in air purification systems, and in groundwater remediation.
Carus Corporation is a member of the American Chemistry Council and is an active participant in the industry’s award-winning Responsible Care® initiative, working to make life better, healthier, and safer through chemistry.

Photo caption: Camp Director Donald Loebach uses a ball and ring experiment to demonstrate the principles of expansion and contraction to students on Physics Day at Carus Science Camp.

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