Burton (right) receives his award from EISEF Awards Committee chair Wayne Brandt.
Here’s the testimonial speech that Linda Kelly gave to the Awards Ceremony audience, just before this:
There is a quote: “The wisest are not the ones with the most years in their lives, but rather the most life in their years.” Burton Loupee is putting a lot of life into his years. We’d like to honor Burton this evening with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in Science Education.
During high school Burton won the Iowa Science Talent Search. Later with a degree in electrical engineering from Iowa State and a master’s degree from Iowa, he went to work at Collins Radio now known as Collins Aerospace. At Collins Burton was asked to join the Iowa Academy of Science where he would eventually be elected to a 3-year term on the Governing Board.
Burton joined what was then the Eastern Iowa Science Fair in 1966. By 1969 he was Fair Director and the next year he was President. He has served on most of the committees of The Fair and was Fair Director again in 1984. He has escorted students to the International Fair multiple times and as a result he was on the International’s Advisory Council from 1994–96.
Burton has worked with the Academic Decathlon program. At that time compiling of scores was laboriously done by hand. The next year, he developed a computer spreadsheet to give fast results. That program was used for years at Washington High School until the state developed its own system.
Burton has also been an integral part of the Cedar Rapids Community Schools by being elected to the School Board for 9 years. During the years he has been involved with Talented and Gifted Program; he helped introduce “A World in Motion” to local elementary students. He has also worked with elementary students on basic physics and computer-controlled devices. He helped judge the Invention Convention, Science Olympiad, and Future Cities competitions.
A life of service. Burton Loupee has served young people in their pursuit of knowledge and he has volunteered countless hours to provide venues and encouragement so students could dream, set goals and reach beyond the classroom. A lifetime of making a difference in so many young lives. He has done this quietly and with humility. This evening our Fair Board would like to recognize Burton’s dedication and present him with this Lifetime Achievement Award. Burton, will you come forward!