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ST. GEORGE — Not many teenagers get invited to tour the White House and meet top ranking officials, but that happened for a 16 year-old boy from St. George who had a love for technology.
Kaydn Ence has always had an interest in technology and more specifically designing and building robots. It was a love that was fostered through his local 4-H program. And when Ence found out a large company wasn't going to expand operations in his hometown because of a lack of technological training in the community, he just couldn't accept that.
Ence looks like an ordinary high school student, but he has an extraordinary passion.
"Robotics has taught me to overcome my problems," Ence said.
When he realized there was a need in his community for more technology-driven activities for kids, he got to work. Ence raised more than $2,000 to fund and establish 4-H Robotics Clubs throughout Washington County.
"So, I got it going and it pretty much took off from there and one club turned into 10 clubs and 10 kids turned into over 100 kids now," he said.
To save money, the high school junior even built the necessary regulation robotics tables with the woodworking skills he learned in 4H. From there, he began teaching children ranging in age from eight to 14 how they too could make their own robots.
"You design your own robot so whatever you put into your robot," Ence said. "It's up to you how smart you want to make it or what you want it to do."
Impressed by the teenager's progress and initiative, Ence's 4H Advisor entered him in the National "Champions of Change" competition.
"Sure, he has shaggy hair and he looks kind of messy, but he's also really responsible and he's someone you can rely on for anything," said 4-H advisor, Paul Hill.
Within weeks, Hill received a phone call informing him that Ence had won and they had been invited to the nation's capital.
"I can't even believe it happened," Hill said. "We're both really goofy nerds and I was just really excited to go to the White House for this."
Ence had the opportunity to meet the top Science and Technology advisors to the President and he proposed some ideas for the future of 4-H.
But for Ence, the highlight of the trip was when he was taken behind the scenes around the White House.
"I really liked the bowling alley," he said. "I got to go in the Eisenhower building. It's the President's bowling alley- his private bowling alley. Most people don't get to see that."
He says the trip is something that he'll remember for the rest of his life. And he has plans to expand the 4-H Robotics Program to more rural cities.
