A Wyoming middle school student has won a statewide competition to name one of the world’s fastest supercomputers.

The winning name, Derecho, was selected out of more than 200 submissions from Wyoming K-12 students. 

The term “derecho,” derived from the Spanish word for “direct” or “straight ahead,” refers to a line of powerful and damaging storms that often pack hurricane-force winds and unleash heavy rains and flooding. It’s the type of destructive weather event that scientists hope to learn more about by using the new supercomputer. 

The name was submitted by Cael Arbogast, a student at Riverton Middle School.

“I picked this name because a derecho is an intense, widespread and fast-moving windstorm that travels long and great distances bringing many storms with it,” Arbogast wrote with his submission. “This new supercomputer has to move at fast speed for everybody to use all across the country. I thought this name would be a good fit provided that lots of scientists and others will be using this computer all across the country and for weather all throughout the world.”

“This name is perfect,” says Ed Synakowski, vice president for research and economic development at the University of Wyoming. “Cael’s suggestion projects intensity, directionality, connectedness and complexity. The name immediately conveys that one is talking about a machine that is exciting and purposeful. ”

“Our school and community are beyond proud of our student, Cael, for being selected for this prestigious honor,” says Aziz Waheed, the principal of Riverton Middle School. “To be able to name one of the fastest supercomputers for the National Center for Atmospheric Research is not something many people in the world can say they have done.”

“Hats off to Cael and the NWSC,” says Jillian Balow, Wyoming superintendent of public instruction. “Derecho is similar to a ‘perfect storm,’ and that’s what we have here. Cael and his classmates have the opportunity to learn computer science in school, and Wyoming maintains its status as a global leader in supercomputing.”

Funding for Derecho, which will cost $35 million to $40 million, comes from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NWSC is funded by NSF and the state of Wyoming through an appropriation to UW, and with support from Cheyenne LEADS, the Wyoming Business Council and Black Hills Energy.