Local Middle School Students Excel at State Science Competition

This article contains content summarized with GPT-4 Learn more. It is based on information from qvsd.org, which reflects the perspectives and priorities of the organization. Please consider the specific interests of the source when reading

Quaker Valley Middle School (QVMS) participated in the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) state-level competition at Penn State University on May 20, 2024. Guided by Margot Bruno, an experienced teacher, 17 eighth-grade students from the advanced Physical Science classes presented their long-term experimental projects. These students had previously succeeded at the regional competition in February.

At the state competition, for the first time, QVMS students received perfect scores. Their projects spanned various scientific fields including botany, physics, zoology, and behavioral psychology. The projects were judged on scientific thought, experimental methods, analytical approach, presentation quality, and overall impression. A perfect score was achieved when all judges agreed on the excellence of a project.

Elena Cindrich and Carter Hawes were notable participants. Cindrich studied the impact of classical music on plant growth, and Hawes examined how far different brands of tennis balls could travel, both winning first-place. Zoe Hermenau and Cameron Neal also received top marks in zoology and physics, respectively.

Leasia Karto and Hannah Olawaiye each earned perfect scores. Karto investigated bacteria growth in liquid blush, and Olawaiye studied the effect of NPK levels on parsley growth. Both students credited their success to hard work and resilience.