Kurt with Gitanjali in 2018
In the December 9th edition of Time Magazine, Time named Gitanjali Rao its inaugural Kid of the Year. I was shocked to see someone I recognized as the recipient but not at all surprised that this award went to Gitanjali.
In early 2018, Leyendecker & Lemire awarded its first Junior Most Inventive Project Award to Gitanjali at the Denver Science and Engineering Fair for her device for detecting lead in water. I remember visiting Gitanjali’s booth and quizzing her about her project. Andrew Graff and I wanted ascertain whether she developed this ground breaking device through her own initiative without inordinate adult influence. She was poised, personable, and perhaps most of all exceedingly knowledgeable about her project and the technical aspects of it. It was a bit surreal listening to this 11-12 year old explain how she came up with the idea and pursued it to completion; we knew then that this kid was the real deal.
I am sure our little award has been long since forgotten by Gitanjali who had received many awards for her scientific work before and especially after. Her future is certainly bright- better get some shades Gitanjali! We are extremely proud of this flourishing inventor and wish her our heartiest congratulations.
Read the Time Magazine article here.
-Kurt Leyendecker
