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ACPS Science Fair Winners

Thank you to all the judges, students, teachers, dedicated volunteers and families who supported the science fair this year, and congratulations to all students who competed in the 2023 science fair! 

2023 ACPS Science Fair Awards

Thank you to all the judges, students, teachers, dedicated volunteers and families who supported the science fair this year, and congratulations to all students who competed in the 2023 science fair this year! It was wonderful to be back in-person for our fair and to welcome almost 170 science projects to compete. 

Below is the full list of Category Winners, as determined by scientists and engineers representing multiple subject categories.

Category Winners

1st Place

Student

School

Category

Christabel Ellis

Minnie Howard

Animal Sciences

Harlow Babic

Alexandria City High School

Biochemistry

Siena Lester

George Washington Middle School

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Amelia Hazlett

George Washington Middle School

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Skye Witmer

Alexandria City High School

Biomedical and Health Sciences

Ayesha Anwar

Alexandria City High School

Biomedical and Health Sciences

Leia Hubbard

Alexandria City High School

Cellular and Molecular Biology

Seamus White
 Lillian Scharnweber

Alexandria City High School

Chemistry

 

Bridget Baron

Alexandria City High School

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Reese Waterhouse

George Washington Middle School

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Braelynn Tomanio

Alexandria City High School

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Evelyn Gennarelli

George Washington Middle School

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Alexander Hardies
Elias Anderson

Alexandria City High School

Embedded Systems

 

Amelia Snipe

George Washington Middle School

Environmental Engineering

Hennah Nizami

Patrick Henry K-8 School

Engineering Mechanics

Evan Khanna

Alexandria City High School

Engineering Mechanics

Rayyan Rami

Norah Curry

Alexandria City High School

Engineering Mechanics

 

Taylor Hoganson

Alexandria City High School

Engineering Mechanics

Zechariah Jermaneh

Alexandria City High School

Mathematics

Lauriston St. Clair

George Washington Middle School

Microbiology

Vivienne Hopkins

George Washington Middle School

Physics and Astronomy

Sebastian Iov

Massey Keene

Minnie Howard

Physics and Astronomy

 

Madison Enow

Lia Fitzgerals

Alexandria City High School

Plant Sciences

 

Mary Winn

Julia Sayre

Alexandria City High School

Systems Software

 

2nd Place

Student

School

Category

Ryan Webber

Francis C. Hammond Middle School

Animal Sciences

Sophia Bassingthwaite

Alexandria City High School

Biochemistry

Sophie Pezzulich

Alexandria City High School

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Karsten Tregaskis Gordon

George Washington Middle School

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Ava Marcy

Alexandria City High School

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Josephine Cunningham

Francis C. Hammond Middle School

Biomedical and Health Sciences

Benjamin Thulson

George Washington Middle School

Cellular and Molecular Biology

Afifa Opshara

Alexandria City High School

Chemistry

Gaia Sidahmed

Minnie Howard

Chemistry

Margaret McCommons

Minnie Howard

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Eleanor Bright

Gaetanina Verhoeven

Minnie Howard

Earth and Environmental Sciences

 

Caleb Etse

Alexandria City High School

Energy Chemical

Arianna Espiritu

Grace Hettinger

Minnie Howard

Environmental Engineering

 

Brannon Pulliam

Potter Hopfensperger

Minnie Howard

Engineering Mechanics

 

Semdon Azandegbe

Alexandria City High School

Engineering Mechanics

Sydney Robasson

Francis C. Hammond Middle School

Engineering Mechanics

Carly Witmer

Pintira Wudhapitak

Minnie Howard

Engineering Mechanics

 

Thomas Burks

George Washington Middle School

Engineering Mechanics

Aidan Muldoon

Minnie Howard

Microbiology

Thomas Newill

Alexandria City High School

Physics and Astronomy

Abigail Shewchuk

Ella Gannon

George Washington Middle School

Physics and Astronomy

 

Megan Collard

Alexandria City High School

Plant Sciences

Page Vogel

George Washington Middle School

Plant Sciences

Mia Quinoes

George Washington Middle School

Plant Sciences

Andrei Shiffer

Alexandria City High School

Systems Software

3rd Place

Student

School

Category

Luca Lorenzen-Schmidt

George Washington Middle School

Animal Sciences

Akeda Taxitiemuer

Alexandria City High School

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Isabella Sarai

Abigail Hailye

Alexandria City High School

Behavioral and Social Sciences

 

Mariel Carr

Alexandria City High School

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Deveneir Dudley

Amad Tajan-Bah

Patrick Henry K-8 School

Behavioral and Social Sciences

 

Husna Siddiqi

Rayahana Assadi

Francis C. Hammond Middle School

Biochemistry

 

Essey Tesfai

John Glade

Alexandria City High School

Biomedical and Health Sciences

 

Daniel Dawit

Alexandria City High School

Chemistry

Parker Norton

Minnie Howard

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Harper Kamens

Annalena Keeton

George Washington Middle School

Earth and Environmental Sciences

 

Henry Miller

Minnie Howard

Energy Chemical

Thomas Do

Minnie Howard

Engineering Mechanics

Kye Dementi

Francis C. Hammond Middle School

Engineering Mechanics

Quinn Lindsey

Alexandria City High School

Engineering Mechanics

Samah Shummo

Alexandria City High School

Environmental Engineering

Olivia Grajales

George Washington Middle School

Plant Sciences

Graham Oakey

George Washington Middle School

Plant Sciences

Vicky Ramirez Figueroa

Alexandria City High School

Plant Sciences

Honorable Mention

Student

School

Category

Andrew Matthews

Alexandria City High School

Animal Sciences

Hamilton Ridenhour

Alexandria City High School

Biochemistry

Zoe Zebre

Alexandria City High School

Biochemistry

Avery Bolte

George Washington Middle School

Biochemistry

Payton Feehely

Minnie Howard

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Thomas Shilling

Alexandria City High School

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Quinn McGlinchey

George Washington Middle School

Biomedical and Health Sciences

Malena Walker

Marisa Vidal

Alexandria City High School

Chemistry

 

Sol Taimanglo

Minnie Howard 

Chemistry

Ailinn Colarulli

Minnie Howard 

Chemistry

Fatima Perez Castanza

Patrick Henry K-8 School

Chemistry

Andrew Bryant

Francis C. Hammond Middle School

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Leah Forbes

Lucy Koeppen

Alexandria City High School

Earth and Environmental Sciences

 

Rosalia Finkelstein

Minnie Howard 

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Camila Rivera

Lola Raphael

Alexandria City High School

Earth and Environmental Science

 

Djibril Wone

Alexandria City High School

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Scarlett Yang

George Washington Middle School

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Hannah Mikolop

Alexandria City High School

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Margaret Solomon

Minnie Howard

Energy Chemical

Langlie Ferrick

Laela Ferrick

Minnie Howard

Environmental Engineering

 

Maxie Maultsby

Vahin Middough

Alexandria City High School

Engineering Mechanics

 

Efrata Ayele

George Washington Middle School

Engineering Mechanics

Natasha Yoo

Minnie Howard

Engineering Mechanics

Gabrielle Tappan

George Washington Middle School

Physics and Astronomy

Emily Krustapentus

Minnie Howard

Plant Sciences

Lyla Pinkos

Peyton Turnbull

Minnie Howard

Plant Sciences

 

Charlotte Ware

George Washington Middle School

Robotics and Intelligent Machines

2023 ACPS Northern Virginia Regional Science & Engineering Fair Awards

Below is the list of Category Winners from ACPS, as determined by scientists and engineers representing multiple subject categories.  

Category Winners

1st Place

Student

School

Category

Karsten Tregaskis Gordon

George Washington Middle School

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Amelia Hazlett

George Washington Middle School

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Siena Lester

George Washington Middle School

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Arianna Espiritu

Grace Hettinger

Minnie Howard

Environmental Engineering

Thomas Burks

George Washington Middle School

Engineering Mechanics

Bridget Baron

Alexandria City High School

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Mary Winn

Julia Sayre

Alexandria City High School

Systems Software

2nd Place

Student

School

Category

Christabel Ellis

Minnie Howard

Animal Sciences

Ava Marcy

Alexandria City High School

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Harlow Babic

Alexandria City High School

Biochemistry

Gaia Sidahmed

Minnie Howard

Chemistry

Evelyn Gennarelli

George Washington Middle School

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Reese Waterhouse

George Washington Middle School

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Braelynn Tomanio

Alexandria City High School

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Zechariah Jermaneh

Alexandria City High School

Mathematics

Alexander Hardies
Elias Anderson

Alexandria City High School

Embedded Systems

Josephine Cunningham

Francis C. Hammond Middle School

Biomedical and Health Sciences

Ayesha Anwar

Alexandria City High School

Biomedical and Health Sciences

Graham Oakey

George Washington Middle School

Plant Sciences

Megan Collard

Alexandria City High School

Plant Sciences

3rd Place

Student

School

Category

Luca Lorenzen-Schmidt

George Washington Middle School

Animal Sciences

Ryan Webber

Francis C. Hammond Middle School

Animal Sciences

Deveneir Dudley

Amad Tajan-Bah

Patrick Henry K-8 School

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Husna Siddiqi

Rayahana Assadi

Francis C. Hammond Middle School

Biochemistry

Benjamin Thulson

George Washington Middle School

Cellular and Molecular Biology

Seamus White
 Lillian Scharnweber

Alexandria City High School

Chemistry

Taylor Hoganson

Alexandria City High School

Engineering Mechanics

Amelia Snipe

George Washington Middle School

Environmental Engineering

Margaret McCommons

Minnie Howard

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Eleanor Bright

Gaetanina Verhoeven

Minnie Howard

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Skye Witmer

Alexandria City High School

Biomedical and Health Sciences

Lauriston St. Clair

George Washington Middle School

Microbiology

Page Vogel

George Washington Middle School

Plant Sciences

Olivia Grajales

George Washington Middle School

Plant Sciences

Mia Quinoes

George Washington Middle School

Plant Sciences

Madison Enow

Lia Fitzgerals

Alexandria City High School

Plant Sciences

Honorable Mention

Student

School

Category

Fatima Perez Castanza

Patrick Henry K-8 School

Chemistry

Afifa Opshara

Alexandria City High School

Chemistry

Kye Dementi

Francis C. Hammond Middle School

Engineering Mechanics

Hennah Nizami

Patrick Henry K-8 School

Engineering Mechanics

Sydney Robasson

Francis C. Hammond Middle School

Engineering Mechanics

Abigail Shewchuk

Ella Gannon

George Washington Middle School

Physics and Astronomy

Evan Khanna

Alexandria City High School

Engineering Mechanics

Andrei Shiffer

Alexandria City High School

Systems Software

Rayyan Rami

Norah Curry

Alexandria City High School

Engineering Mechanics

Andrew Bryant

Francis C. Hammond Middle School

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Harper Kamens

Annalena Keeton

George Washington Middle School

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Aidan Muldoon

Minnie Howard

Microbiology

Leia Hubbard

Alexandria City High School

Cellular and Molecular Biology

Vivienne Hopkins

George Washington Middle School

Physics and Astronomy

Sebastian Iov

Massey Keene

Minnie Howard

Physics and Astronomy


 

2023 Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge

The Thermo Fisher JIC (previously the Broadcom MASTERS from 2010-2022, the Society’s Middle School Program (2008), and the Discovery Channel Young Scientists Challenge (1999-2007), is the nation’s premier STEM research competition for middle school students.

Project

Name

School

7 AS 101

Karsten Tregaskis Gordon

George Washington Middle School

7 BE 200

Amelia Hazlett

George Washington Middle School

8 BE 205

Siena Lester

George Washington Middle School

8 EV 607

Thomas Burks

George Washington Middle School


Recommendations for Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair 2023

VSSEF 2023 will be held in-person on April 14th and 15th at Old Dominion University. The Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair is a state-level fair affiliated with the International Science and Engineering Fair (affiliate USVA50).  Students compete at local-level fairs to qualify for regional affiliate fairs, with the highest-ranking projects moving on to compete at VSSEF.  

Project

Name

School

9 EN 516

Arianna Espiritu

Grace Hettinger

Minnie Howard

11 EV 636

Bridget Baron

Alexandria City High School

10 MC 703

Mary Winn

Julia Sayre

Alexandria City High School

2023 ACPS Regional Science & Engineering Fair Society Awards

Below is the list of ACPS students receiving Society Awards.
 

Society Awards

AEROSPACE CORPORATION
  • Vivienne Hopkins, Honorable Mention: Certificate of Achievement and Opportunity to present at Robert H. Herndon Memorial Science Competition.
  • Zechariah Jemaneh, Honorable Mention: Certificate of Achievement and Opportunity to present at Robert H. Herndon Memorial Science Competition. 
AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE ASSOCIATION, POTOMAC SECTION
  • Bridget Baron, 1st Place: Certificate of Acheivement and $300 Award
AMERICAN NUCLEAR SOCIETY, DC SECTION
  • Skye Witmer,  2nd Place: Certificate of Acheivement and Cash Award 
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS, WASHINGTON DC SECTION
  • Thomas Burks, 3rd Place: Certificate of Acheivement and $25 Award
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NAVAL ENGINEERS 
  • Abigail Shewchuck and Ella Gannon, 3rd Place: One-Year ASNE Student Membership and $50 Award per Team Member 
  • Sydney Robasson, Honorable Mention: One-Year ASNE Student Membership and $50 Award 
  • Grace Hettinger and Arianna Espiritu, Honorable Mention: One-Year ASNE Student Membership and $25 Award per Team Member 
  • Taylor Hoganson, Honorable Mention: One-Year ASNE Student Membership and $50 Award 
AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION, VIRGINIA SECTION
  • Evelyn Gennarelli, 2nd Place:  Certificate of Achievement and $100 Award
  • Graham Oakey, Honorable Mention:  Certificate of Achievement  
  • Reese Waterhouse, Honorable Mention:  Certificate of Achievement  
  • Braelynn Tomanio, Honorable Mention:  Certificate of Achievement  
ARMED FORCES COMMUNICATION & ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATION–NORTHERN VIRGINIA CHAPTER
  • Bridget Barron, 1st Place: Letter of Recognition and $750 Award
  • Zechariah Jemaneh, 2nd Place: Letter of Recognition and $500 Award
  • Skye Witmer, 3rd Place: Letter of Recognition and $250 Award
  • Rayyan Rami and Norah Curry, Honorable Mention: Letter of Recognition 
  • Julia Sayre and Mia Winn,  Honorable Mention: Letter of Recognition 
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY ASSOCIATION
  • Reese Waterhouse, 3rd Place: Certificate of Acheivement and Pin 
  • Evelyn Gennarelli, Honorable Mention: Certificate of Acheivement 
FRIENDS OF ARLINGTON’S DAVID M. BROWN PLANETARIUM
  • Vivienne Hopkins, 1st Place: Certificate of Acheivement, Family Membership in Friends of the Planetarium, and One-Year Subscription to Sky & Telescope Magazine
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 
  • Graham Oakey, Honorable Mention: Certificate of Acheivement 
  • Thomas Burks, Honorable Mention: Certificate of Acheivement 
  • Reese Waterhouse, Honorable Mention: Certificate of Acheivement 
GRADUATE WOMEN IN SCIENCE–SIGMA DELTA EPSILON
  • Ayesha Anware, 2nd Place: Certificate of Acheivement 
  • Harlow Babic, 2nd Place: Certificate of Acheivement 
INSTITUE OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS, NORTHERN VIRGINIA SECTION 
  • Grace Hettinger and Arianna Espiritu, 2nd Place: Technology Excellence Award Certificate and $25 Award per Team Memeber 
NATIONAL CAPITAL SECTION/OPTICA
  • Vivienne Hopkins, 1st Place: Certificate of Outstanding Achievement 
  • Grace Hettinger and Arianna Espiritu, 2nd Place: Certificate of Notable Achievement 
NORTHERN VERGINIA DENTAL SOCIETY 
  • Leia Hubbard, 3rd Place: Certificate of Acheivement  
OFFICE OF NAVAL RESEARCH, NAVAL SCIENCE AWARDS, U.S. NAVY
  • Kye Dementi, 1st Place: Letter of Congratulations, : Certificate of Acheivement, and Medallion 
  • Thomas Burks 1st Place: Letter of Congratulations, : Certificate of Acheivement, and Medallion 
PATENT & TRADEMARK OFFICE SOCIETY 
  • Alexander Hardies and Elias Anderson, 1st Place: Certificate of Acheivement and Raspberry Pi Computer Kit
  • Rayyan Rami and Norah Curry, 2nd Place: Certificate of Acheivement  
SAE INTERNATIONAL –WASHINGTON, DC SECTION 
  • Thomas Burks, 1st Place: Certificate of Excellence in Mobility Engineering and $100 Gift Card
  • Taylor Hoganson, 2nd Place: Certificate of Excellence in Mobility Engineering and $50 Gift Card
SOCIETY OF WOMEN ENGINEERS- BALTIMORE/WASHINTON CHAPTER
  • Evelyn Gennarelli, 1st Place: Outstanding Engineer Award and $35 Gift Card 
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE 
  • Kye Dementi, 1st Place: Certificate of Achievement, Shoulder Sling Pack, Power Bank Charger, Dual USB Car Charger, and Dog Tag USB Flash Memory Drive 
  • Julia Sayre and Mia Winn, 1st Place: Certificate of Achievement, Shoulder Sling Pack, Power Bank Charger, Dual USB Car Charger, and Dog Tag USB Flash Memory Drive 

2022 ACPS Winners from the Northern Virginia Science and Engineering Fair

Thank you to all the judges, students, teachers, dedicated volunteers and families who supported the science fair this year, and congratulations to all students who competed in the 2022 science fair! 

Congratulations to the 2022 Northern Virginia Science and Engineering Fair winners from ACPS!  More than 30 projects were recommended from ACPS to the regional level of the fair, which was held in a hybrid format at the end of March, and numerous students received recognition and awards. The regional fair not only offers a chance for high school students to continue on to the state level.  In addition, students were eligible to receive additional recognition from various societies.

Congratulations to the 2022 Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair nominee—Alexandria City High School student Natalie Bowen. 

Below is the full list of Category Winners and Society Winners, as determined by scientists and engineers representing multiple subject categories.