WASHINGTON — President Obama welcomes more than 100 students from around the country to the sixth White House Science Fair Wednesday.

Two students participating in the science fair are from Minnesota. Eight graders Lydia Mindermann and Andrea Richard developed an app called Mayo Free Time, which helps patients at the Mayo Clinic get information about different activities happening around the campus.

President Obama spoke before the science fair and said the importance of young women and minorities participating in STEM industries is crucial to our country.

“We’ve got to get more of our young women and minorities into science and technology, engineering and math and computer science.”

The two girls from Kasson Minnesota have now developed their second app focusing on sex trafficking and educating students on the topic.