We are very appreciative for the media coverage received by one of the students in our program, Lanair Lett, featured in the article "NCSSM Tops in Siemens Finalists" by Matthew Milliken.
However, the research opportunity, recruitment and selection of the scientists he worked with, his residence at Duke University, his transportation to the laboratory and even his special meals, were not provided by the NCSSM.
This was provided (and can be verified by NCSSM and Lett) by the N.C. Project SEED, a year-round program, places talented disadvantaged North Carolina high school students from all over the state, in academic, industrial and government research laboratories to experience "hands-on" research.
Each student does a scientific research project under the supervision of a scientist. Other follow-up activities during the year include participation at science conferences, competitions, scholarship counseling, undergraduate research programs, and career opportunities available to them. Last year each of our 22 senior participants received full college scholarships totaling just over $5.5 million dollars to colleges such as Stanford, Columbia, UNC, Duke, North Carolina State University, Wake Forest and North Carolina Central University.
KENNETH A. CUTLER
Durham
Whatever it wants
My healthy 22-year-old non-smoking farmer son has just received notice increasing his monthly premiums for 2010 by 23 percent from $275 to $339. The form letter accompanying the notice suggests five factors that may have caused the premium change: (a) medical cost changes, (b) change to a new age category, (c) move in regional residence, (d) maternity coverage and (e) "benefit choices and other factors."
Even though this has been a year of no overall inflation, I know that medical costs continue to go up -- but not 23 percent in one year. Going from age 22 to 23 surely does not change my son's health risks. He hasn't moved, he has no maternity coverage and he has not requested any change in benefits.
From 2007 to 2010, with no change in coverage, premiums have gone up 73 percent, from $196 to $339.
The real reasons for the change: BlueCross Blue Shield can charge whatever it wants. As a near monopoly, it uses the increases to raise salaries of top executives with impunity and spend millions on unnecessary advertising and lobbying.
We are not unique. Please join me in urging Congress members to pass meaningful health-care insurance reform.
RICHARD CRAMER
Chapel Hill
