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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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.