American Nobel Laureate Day

December 10th American Nobel Laureate Day

Darcy Eaton pushed her laptop’s ‘Enter’ key, launching a new website onto the Internet. Raising her head, she looked around the School of International Service Building’s conservatory. Students filled every seat and crowded the main floor, stairs and balconies. The glass ceiling and walled structure had amplified their conversations until now. Now their volume dropped as they watched her. She gave a quick nod and a long smile.
Cheers thundered off the glass.

A hard shove sent her roughly into the student sitting beside her on the couch. To see the screen better, Kent Sanderson, seated beside her, grabbed her laptop off of her lap, knocking her aside like the football defense tackle he was.

“Hey!” she protested.

“Sorry,” he said. “Have you uploaded it?”

She mimed an apology to the student she’d bumped. Turning to her boyfriend, she said, “Yeah, that’s why they’re cheering.”

“Awesome.”

She rolled her eyes and those standing or seated near them laughed. Kent looked up in confusion, then back to the screen. Despite her affection for him, Kent could be such a dufus.

Kent looked at the photograph glowing from the top of her website. The grandeur of receiving a Nobel prize from the King of Sweden was on full display. In the image, an American, Carolyn R. Bertozzi, accepting her 2022 prize for chemistry, shook the King’s hand. She was one of hundreds of Americans since 1901 to become a Nobel laureate. This winner radiated her own majesty in a flowing ruby-plum colored formal gown. Darcy concluded that Professor Bertozzi out shown all the other dignitaries seconds before Kent had rudely snatched her PC.

He asked her, “Have you verified the numbers?”

“Of course.”

“Read them off to me,” he said.

With a loud sigh, she scrolled on her phone to find her notes.

Looking at her with impatience, she gave him her own scowl. “Hold on to your horses. Here they are. America has 355 total Nobel Prize winners.”

She read her list of winners in each category.

1. “Physics: 90
2. Chemistry: 70
3. Physiology or Medicine: 100
4. Literature: 15
5. Peace Prize: 25
6. Economics: 55”

Standing up, Kent brought his bullhorn to his mouth. “Time to go, people!” His words blasted, causing some shrieks and many to jump.

Darcy groaned, not wanting to begin the march. Sure, she believed there should be a new holiday honoring American Nobel winners. Creating a website selling this idea was fun. But today’s four mile march to the US Capitol was going to be miserable. The forecast was for a high of 45 degrees with mist and fog.

“The busses are here,” blared from Kent’s bullhorn.

She knew her surprise at this showed. “Busses? How did you arrange busses?”

He winked. “I didn’t have to promise extra chores. Coach supports our plan to make December 10th American Nobel Laureate Day.”

“I take back all those terrible things I’ve said about you.”

He roared a laugh and gave her a hug.

Kent reminded her of another Nobel prize winner, Teddy Roosevelt. Like Roosevelt, her boyfriend was her force of nature: unstoppable and definitely loud. Some day he too would do great things. Maybe earn a Nobel prize himself.
Darcy had created her website to designate one day a year to honor Americans who have become Nobel laureates. The United States had won significantly more than any other country, reflecting the strength of American research institutions, universities, and scientific communities. Yet few Americans were aware of this.

After a bus ride from their campus to the Washington, DC mall, future graduates soon to be diplomats chanted and lofted banners, urging Congress to pass a bill creating a new national holiday on December 10th.

The students didn’t need to hold this demonstration. Many of the School of International Service students had visited every legislator in both chambers. As one of the project leaders, Darcy knew they had bi-partisanship support. Because she had prearranged it, she could see all their bill sponsors and many supporters coming out of the capital to join them.

Darcy looked at her phone for the time. It was almost 11:00 a.m. This was 5:00 p.m. in Stockholm. The ceremony was beginning. It was also the time she had arranged for the bill’s supporters and student leaders to give their speeches advocating the holiday.

Despite the chill, Darcy felt the warmth of pride. It was going to happen. Every year, America would honor and celebrate their wonderful insightful Nobel Prize winners.

WC: 749