Apr 22, 2021   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Leading U.S. Student Researchers in STEM and Humanities Connect Virtually to Compete for Scholarships and Awards at the 59th National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium

The Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS), the premier showcase for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) research by high school students, is pleased to announce the 2021 winners of the 59th National JSHS competition.

The competition, sponsored by U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force and administered by the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA), gives students (grades 9-12) a chance to present original scientific research and compete for scholarships and cash awards, while participating in workshops, panel discussions, career explorations, and research lab visits. This is the second National JSHS event that brought students and researchers together virtually.

The national winners, announced last Saturday at the virtual awards ceremony, first presented their original scientific research at one of 49 regional competitions hosted by universities and colleges in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Department of Defense (DoD) Schools of Europe and the Pacific Rim. The top five students from each region—245 high school students in total—then participated in oral or poster presentations during the national event. The first and second place regional finalists competed for a chance to earn scholarships ranging from $4,000-$12,000, while the third, fourth, and fifth place regional finalists competed in the poster competition for a chance to win cash awards.

The peer-selected peer poster awards were given to one poster presenter in each of the 8 competition categories. Additionally, National Finalists were challenged to create a 3-minute mini-film that spoke to their experiences this year through JSHS. All films were displayed in the National Mini Film Festival and top honors were announced as a part of the JSHS National Awards Ceremony.

“Our understanding of how to build and execute virtual programming has come light-years from our first virtual National event last April. Through collaborative planning and integration of technology, we were able to provide a rich National event experience for National Finalists, mentors, and guests alike. I felt privileged to be able to honor the hard work and dedication these students have demonstrated in extraordinary times with a National event that was meaningful and memorable,” said Alexis Mundis, JSHS Project Manager.

1st Place Oral Presentations:
Earning $12,000 scholarships

Environmental Science
Jacqueline Prawira
Virtual Region
Mountain House High School Mountain House, California

Biomedical Science
Rishab Jain
Oregon Region
Westview High Portland, Oregon

Life Science
Cheryl Quartey
Tennessee Region
Hume-Fogg Academic High School Nashville, Tennessee

Medicine & Health/Behavioral Science
Sahasra Pokkunuri
New Jersey Rutgers Region
Old Bridge High School Matawan, Jersey

Engineering and Technology
Brian Minnick
Virginia Region
Academies of Loudoun Leesburg, Virginia

Mathematics and Computer Science
Michelle Hua
Michigan Southeastern Region
Cranbrook Schools Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Physical Science
Samad Hakani
Georgia Region
The Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology Lawrenceville, Georgia

Chemistry
Eshani Jha
California No. & W. Nevada Region
Lynbrook High School San Jose, California

2nd Place Oral Presentations:
Earning $8,000 scholarships

Environmental Science
Eliana Juarez
Southwest Region
V. Sue Cleveland High School Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Biomedical Science
Chapin Zerner
New York Long Island Region
Commack High School Commack, New York

Life Science
Riju Dey
Wisconsin Region
Shorewood High School Shorewood, Wisconsin

Medicine & Health/Behavioral Science
Pratik Vangal
Oregon Region
Sunset High School Portland, Oregon

Engineering and Technology
Varun Chandrashekhar
Kentucky Region
duPont Manual Louisville, Kentucky

Mathematics and Computer Science
Laalitya Acharya
Ohio Region
William Mason High School Mason, Ohio

Physical Science
Ashini Modi
Louisiana Region
Caddo Parish Magnet High School Shreveport, Louisiana

Chemistry
Tianning Chen
North Carolina Region
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Durham, North Carolina

3rd Place Oral Presentations:
Earning $4,000 scholarships

Environmental Science
Kayla Livesay
Iowa Region
Van Buren County Community School Keosauqua, Iowa

Biomedical Science
Dheepthi Mohanraj
North Carolina Region
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Durham, North Carolina

Life Science
Meena Ramadugu
Iowa Region
Kennedy High School Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Medicine & Health/Behavioral Science
Bettina Wagner
DoDEA Europe
Stuttgart High School APO, Armed Forces Europe

Engineering and Technology
Ariel Ma
Hawaii Region
‘Iolani Honolulu, Hawaii

Mathematics and Computer Science
Ryan Park
New Jersey Shore
Millburn High School Millburn, New Jersey

Physical Science
Christine Ye
Washington State Region
Eastlake High School Sammamish, Washington

Chemistry
Steven Liu
Pennsylvania Region
Shady Side Academy Senior School Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1st Place Poster Presentations
Earning $550 cash award

Environmental Science
Gitanjali Rao
Wyoming-Eastern Colorado Region
STEM School Highlands Ranch Highlands Ranch, Colorado

Biomedical Science
Harnoor Sachar
New Jersey Shore Region
Bergen County Academies Hackensack, New Jersey

Life Science
Laboni Santra
Florida Region
Oviedo High School Oviedo, Florida

Medicine & Health/Behavioral Science
Vivian Yee
Michigan Southeastern Region
International Academy Bloomfield Township, Michigan

Engineering and Technology
Audrey Gruian
Washington State Region
Eastlake High School Sammamish, Washington

Mathematics and Computer Science
Itamar Pres
New York Metro Region
The Bronx High School of Science The Bronx, New York

Physical Science
Ramzi Saber
New Jersey Rutgers Region
Jose Marti STEM Academy Union City, New Jersey

Chemistry
Aaditya Saha
Georgia Region
Chamblee Charter High School Chamblee, Georgia

2nd Place Poster Presentations
Earning $450 cash award

Environmental Science
Meaghan Caron
New England Northern Region
Bangor High School Bangor, Maine

Biomedical Science
Weixuan Yan
Texas Region
Plano West Senior High School Plano, Texas

Life Science
Kara Fan
Virtual Region
Westview High School San Diego, California

Medicine & Health/Behavioral Science
Eyrin Kim
Tennessee Region
Farragut High School Knoxville, Tennessee

Engineering and Technology
Victor Cai
Pennsylvania Region
Parkland High School Allentown, Pennsylvania

Mathematics and Computer Science
Lauren Choi
Maryland Region
Walter Johnson High School Bethesda, Maryland

Physical Science
Kenneth Choi
Connecticut Region
Ridgefield High School Ridgefield, Connecticut

Chemistry
Suvin Sundararajan
New England Southern Region
Westfield High School Westfield, Massachusetts

3rd Place Poster Presentations
Earning $350 cash award

Environmental Science
Lana Van Note
New Jersey Shore Region
Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science Manahawkin, New Jersey

Biomedical Science
Aditya Koushik
Southwest Region
La Cueva High School Albuquerque, New Mexico

Life Science
John Lin
New England Southern Region
Boston Latin School Boston, Massachusetts

Medicine & Health/Behavioral Science
Shan Lateef
Washington D.C. Region
Thomas Jefferson High School For Science and Technology Alexandria, Virginia

Engineering and Technology
Gabriel Gurule
Southwest Region
Albuquerque Institute of Math and Science Albuquerque, New Mexico

Mathematics and Computer Science
Josh Sanyal
California No. & W. Nevada Region
Homestead High School Cupertino, California

Physical Science
James Gonzalez
Kentucky Region
duPont Manual High School Louisville, Kentucky

Chemistry
Paige Sherman
New York Metro Region
Hunter College High School New York, New York

Peer Poster Awardees (Peer Selected)
Receiving plaque and featured on JSHS website

Environmental Science
Gitanjali Rao
Wyoming-Eastern Colorado Region
STEM School Highlands Ranch Highlands Ranch, Colorado

Biomedical Science
Weixuan Yan
Texas Region
Plano West Senior High School Plano, Texas

Life Science
John Lin
New England Southern Region
Boston Latin School Boston, Massachusetts

Medicine & Health/Behavioral Science
Alay Shah
Texas Region
Plano West Senior High School Plano, Texas

Engineering and Technology
Alexis Harvey
Louisiana Region
Saint Joseph's Academy Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Mathematics and Computer Science
Lauren Choi
Maryland Region
Walter Johnson High School Bethesda, Maryland

Physical Science
Ramzi Saber
New Jersey Rutgers Region
Jose Marti STEM Academy Union City, New Jersey

Chemistry
Paige Sherman
New York Metro Region
Hunter College High School New York, New York

Mini Film Festival Awardees
Receiving plaque and featured on JSHS website

Tri-Service Choice Award
Ramzi Saber
New Jersey Rutgers Region
Jose Marti STEM Academy Union City, New Jersey

Best Film
Ramzi Saber
New Jersey Rutgers Region
Jose Marti STEM Academy Union City, New Jersey

Best Film- Runner Up
Ashini Modi
Louisiana Region
Caddo Parish Magnet High School Shreveport, Louisiana

Best in Comedy:
David Yan
Philadelphia Region
Charter School of Wilmington Wilmington, Delaware

During the 4-day virtual event, administered by the National Science Teaching Association, students also participated in interactive activities including virtual lab tours, DoD opportunities panel, and a virtual exhibit hall that highlighted STEM programs at the institutions and organizations that host regional JSHS competitions. Approximately 300 high school teachers, mentors, university faculty, ranking military guests, and others also attended.

For more information about the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS), visit https://www.jshs.org/.

About JSHS

The Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) is a Tri-Service program founded by the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force to encourage high school students to conduct original research in STEM fields. In cooperation with higher education, program sponsors include the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics & Technology); Office of Naval Research, Arlington, VA; and Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Washington, DC. JSHS is administered by the National Science Teaching Association, the larger professional organization in the world promoting science teaching and learning for all.