~Contributed by Elizabeth Ceranowski~

If you have ever visited SAS headquarters or if you work in Cary, you know that the speed limit on campus is 23 mph.

This week the number 23 has taken on a new meaning. There are 23 papers being presented by students at SAS Global Forum in Las Vegas. Yes, I said 23!

That is a record. The topics range from a paper on analyzing tweets, to harnessing the power of the new ODS statistical graphics. There's even a paper on how a high school teacher is giving students 21st-century skills with SAS programming.

Ten of the students were selected in the competitive SAS Student Ambassador program. Their airfare to Las Vegas, hotel room, conference meals and registration fees were paid by the conference. They were also treated to a free pre-conference workshop.

Eleven students were selected to attend SAS Global Forum as a scholarship winner. Travel was not included in that award but it did cover registration fees, a workshop and the student’s conference meals.

Because there were so many great student papers, additional funding was secured to support nine additional students with registration fees, hotel rooms, conference meals and a free workshop. They hold the title of SAS Student Ambassadors Honorable Mention.

All of them are featured very prominently in the SAS Support and Demo Center ... look for the rollshades featuring with their photos, names, schools and majors.

Of the 11 scholarship winners, three are presenting at the conference. In addition, it has come to my attention that another student not supported by SAS is here presenting at the conference.

So that's 23 students presenting SAS Global Forum. The students competed against all other veteran SAS users to have their papers accepted. They received no special treatment or exception because they were a student. To have so many is very exciting. It's fun to see youth infiltrate the conference as their energy is so contagious.