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Obama blows bubbles with Digital Harbor Foundation student

Nine-year-old Jacob Leggette's 3D-printing work got a lot of attention at the White House Science Fair yesterday.

Jacob Leggette at the 2016 White House Science Fair. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Education)

Nine-year-old Jacob Leggette hasn’t been shy about writing to big companies. So when he came face-to-face with President Barack Obama at the White House, he already knew how to act.
From ABC News:

When Obama met with Jacob, who was donning a bow tie and suit for his White House visit, the Baltimore native made sure to answer all the president’s questions with a sharp “yes, sir.”

Leggette, a student in the Digital Harbor Foundation’s Mini Makers program, was one of the students at Wednesday’s White House Science Fair. The Baltimore native brought a 3D printer and a display of projects that he created.
Because it’s his house, Obama opted to blow bubbles indoors. The scene became one of this year’s featured photos of the event. The Daily Mail has a full photo gallery.


Before watching the president use his 3D-printed wand, Leggette devised a way to get 3D printers that rival any entrepreneur’s hustle. He wrote letters to big printing companies, and proposed a deal: If they provide the free printers, he would show how easy it is for an 8-year-old to use.
Leggette also had a proposal for Obama. ABC News reports he asked if the president has a child scientist adviser. In turn, Obama proposed a child adviser committee, with a light enough schedule for kids to do their homework.
While he certainly impressed, Leggette isn’t the first person affiliated with Digital Harbor Foundation to stand out at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. DHF was represented at the White House Science Fair last year, and former executive director Andrew Coy is serving as a senior adviser in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Companies: Digital Harbor Foundation / White House
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