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Aditya Bila Scholars
Think Quest Winners
Scholarship America
Imagine Cup Winners
CEC’s 2007
Yes I Can! Awards
Aditya Birla Scholars 2007
Imagine Cup 2007 Winners
The 17 Year old
CEO - Suhas
Gopinath
Milken Scholar 2007 -
Diana Avalos
Milken
Scholar 2007 - Amber
Carmi-Smith
Milken Scholar 2007 -
Steven Chua
Milken Scholar 2007 -Melinda
Grant
Milken Scholar 2007 -
Jung Hyun (Julie) Lee
Milken Scholar 2007 -
Jennifer Lew
Milken Scholar 2007 -
Kevin Martinez
Milken Scholar 2007 -
Alex Melamed
Milken Scholar 2007 -
Tsung Mou
Milken Scholar 2007 -
Kimberly Solomon
Milken Scholar 2007 -
Huy Tran
Milken Scholar 2007-
Wyles Vance
Milken Scholar 2007 -
Emanuel Yekutiel
Intel Foundation
Young Scientist Award 2006 -
Madhavi
Gavini
Intel Foundation
Young Scientist Award 2006 -
Meredith MacGregor
Intel Foundation
Young Scientist Award 2006 -
Hannah Wolf
Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC) 2005 Winners
"America's Top Young Scientist of the Year" - Discovery
Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC) -
Neela Thangada
Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC) -
Second Place - Nilesh Tripuraneni
Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC) - Third
Place - Mary Lou Hedberg
Intel Computer Clubhouse Participants Tell Their
Stories . Read more
Imagine Cup 2007 Winners
Giorgio Sardo, Massimo Paternoster, Silvia Perrone and
Andrea Sossich from Team Even .ctor from Polytechnic of Turin, Italy,
were declared the first-place in the worldwide Software Design Invitational and
were awarded a $25,000 cash prize. The Imagine Cup, Microsoft’s premier
competition for technology students, provides a forum to encourage creative and
technological innovations among university students worldwide.
A total of 181 students from 72 teams representing 42 countries were ultimately
selected to participate in worldwide Imagine Cup finals in six categories:
Software Design, Algorithm, IT, Short Film, Interface Design and Project Hoshimi
(Programming Battle). The student teams were asked to undertake a series of
challenges relating to multimedia or technology depending on the invitational.
The winners of the contest were as follows:
Software Design
1st place: Italy. Even .ctor: Giorgio Sardo, Massimo Paternoster, Silvia Perrone
and Andrea Sossich
2nd place: Brazil. Team Trivial: Carlos Eduardo Monteiro Rodrigues, Ivan
Cordeiro Cardim and Madson Menezes Costa
3rd place: Norway. Team NTNU, Jan-Kristian Markiewicz, Gøran Hansen, Hans Olav
Norheim and Jonas Follesø
Algorithm
1st place: Poland. Piotr Marek Mikulski
2nd place: Poland. Przemysław Dębiak
3rd place: Poland. Tomasz Blajek
IT
1st place: Austria. Andreas Tomek
2nd place: Romania. Valerica Greavu-Serban
3rd place: France. Daniel Boteanu
Short Film
1st place: Canada. Team Forest: Sam Chow, Nick Haffie-Emslie, Ryan Marr and Meg
Majewski
2nd place: Poland. Team Skylined: Jacek Barcikowski and Julia Górniewicz
3rd place: USA. Team LCL: Scott Lynch, Zach Lynch and Cam Crosson
Interface Design
1st place: Brazil. Team Virtual Dreams: Roberto Sonnino and Eduardo Sonnino
2nd Place: China. Team Frontfree Studio-MISG: Wang Guojing and Sang Yingshuo
3rd place: India. Team Avengers: Mohit Bhargava and Mitushi Jain
Project Hoshimi (Programming Battle)
1st place: France. Team Atomnium: Manon Gaucher and Flavien Charlon
2nd place: Republic of Serbia. Team R.A.F: Igor Kabiljo and Uroš Rajkovic
3rd place: France. Team Lya: Laure Portet and Régis Hanol
Diana Avalos
Believing that academic achievement is the key to success, Diana Avalos
refuses to be deterred by obstacles. "Anything is possible," is her
motto. Taking the initiative to create her own opportunities, Diana
sought out the gifted magnet program at John Marshall High School so
that she could be challenged with rigorous classes and academic
competition. Her efforts have been recognized with a Princeton Book
Award for Academic Excellence and selection as a National Hispanic
Scholar and an AP Scholar with Distinction. Ranked eighth in her class
of 919, she is described by a counselor as one of the magnet's "shining
stars." Ambition and self-motivation have helped make Diana a leader in
outside activities as well as academics. To gain knowledge about the
field of engineering, Diana became an active participant in the high
school's Architecture, Construction, and Engineers Program and spent a
summer interning at an engineering firm. She is credited as an
instrumental leader in the school's volunteer peer mentor program where
she was honored with the Extracurricular Achievement and Personal
Character Awards and invited three years in a row to present at the
national conference. "Because of my involvement with the peer mentor
program, I know the importance of leading a team and the value of
working together to fulfill a mutual goal." This fall Diana will study
engineering at Stanford University. Building on her intelligence and
determination, Diana is sure to construct a future that brims with
possibilities.
Amber Carmi-Smith
"I have always been enthusiastic about helping others and making a
difference in their lives," says Amber Carmi-Smith. When Amber sees a
need, she steps in. To assist foreign exchange students assimilate, she
founded a student hospitality club. She brought history and science
alive for elementary students by teaching at an outdoor school program.
Each week, she prepared food and dined with patients at an integrative
health center. For her work facilitating student discussions about
health issues, she was honored by the county as a Public Health Hero.
Her list of accomplishments is as vast as her community involvements. At
Santa Monica High School, she earned distinction as an AP Scholar with
Honor. "Amber embodies the ideals of success. She is an exemplar of a
scholar and extraordinary person," shared an AP Calculus teacher. A
violinist in the Youth Orchestra, Amber received the highest marks
possible at a competition in San Francisco. Her musical repertoire
ranges from classical to salsa. As a varsity member of the swim team,
Amber was chosen the "Most Spirited." Despite numerous personal
hardships, she meets life with intelligence, commitment and compassion.
Her resilient character helps her rise above every situation. "I believe
I will be successful because I have developed inner strength and
determination of character and am passionate about everything set before
me." What is set before Amber this fall will be the University of
California, Berkeley, where she will study chemistry with the goal of
becoming a scientist.
Steven Chua
National titles abound for Steven Chua from Chatsworth High School. He
earned marks of distinction at the Mandelbrot Competition in mathematics
and the USA Mathematical Talent Search, while also capturing the Math
League Bronze Medal. At the Robotics National Championship, he scored a
Silver Medal and was a finalist in the U.S. Chemistry Olympiad. An
outstanding exam score earned him the distinction of National Spanish
Exam Medalist. For his community service work, Steven was honored by Key
Club International as their Most Inspirational Member. His leadership at
the Los Angeles Model United Nations merited the Outstanding Delegate
Award. And yet, when Steven came from the Philippines to America at the
age of 13, he had only a scant knowledge of English. How was he able to
accomplish so much so quickly? Steven related, "I took on ESL as
ever-spirited learning. I took on failure like a friend, for it gives me
strength. I stood up when everything seemed to discourage me. I have
realized that we need to venture beyond our safe zone and find ourselves
and what we can do." The first in his family to go to college, Steven
will study bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and
dreams of many things, including ending world poverty. His teachers
marvel at the depth and scope of his interests and abilities. One
counselor forecast that Steven "will be the entrepreneur who will risk
everything knowing that it's worth it, the scientist who will venture
across the uncharted principles to solve life's mysteries, or the Third
World country president who will espouse budget deficits to save his
country from economic downfall."
Melinda Grant
Lawndale High School valedictorian Melinda Grant credits her grandmother
for instilling in her the value of education. "My grandmother's
sacrifice for her family has inspired me to reach for a college
education so that I can provide for my family with my mind. I want to go
to school to get a good education so that I can help my family, and
hopefully help many other people through my actions." Melinda's teachers
note that she is a remarkable student who strives to exceed her goals
instead of just accomplishing them. This fall, Melinda will enter
Stanford University to study biochemistry in preparation for a career in
medicine. "Not only does Melinda dedicate her time to her academics, but
she seeks to serve the community of Lawndale High," stated an English
teacher. For two years, Melinda has served as the president of
Lawndale's AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) club which
helps students learn about and prepare for college. She is responsible
for the entire program, including overseeing a fundraising effort that
netted in excess of $10,000. "What I find most meaningful out of my job
as president of AVID," Melinda shared, "is how happy I can make other
people. Helping others succeed is my greatest pride." Elected the Black
Student Union President, Melinda is also involved in the school-wide
Associated Student Body. She was personally selected by the district
superintendent to serve on the Superintendent Advisory Committee,
providing her the opportunity to function as the voice for students at
Lawndale High.
Jung Hyun (Julie) Lee
From the arts to ground-breaking research in swarm engineering and
artificial physics, Julie Lee is front and center. Her academic
achievements include graduating in the top one percent of her very
competitive class at Beverly Hills High School, selection as a National
Merit Finalist and an AP Scholar with Distinction, and winner of an
American Mathematics Contest. She edits two literary magazines and is
writing a research paper which earned her the Jisan Research Institute
Best Research Presentation Award and will be published in a scientific
journal. In music, she performs as the first violin with the Junior
Philharmonic Orchestra of California and was honored with the Royal
Schools of Music Piano Merit Award. An accomplished fine artist, Julie
earned a Kang's Gallery Scholarship for her outstanding portfolio. Top
honors in community service include the Girl Scout Gold Award,
Prudential Spirit of Community Merit Award, Beverly Hills Outstanding
Volunteer Award, Outstanding Young American Award, a Red Cross Award,
and a Presidential Volunteer Award. Each week she offers assistance to
young learners at the public library's homework helper desk. She shares,
"When I teach them the trick behind multiplying by zeros or the more
eye-opening facts behind European history not mentioned in the ancient
textbooks, they make the startling connection that academics can
sometimes be synonymous to interesting!" As her guidance counselor
notes, "Julie possesses a wonderful combination of high intellectual
ability, accomplished artistic expression and proven leadership
abilities." Julie, who was born in South Korea, plans to attend Columbia
University where she will study pre-med.
Jennifer Lew
Jennifer Lew's prowess in economics is exceptional. As the Economics
Challenge team captain for four years she captured the championship
title at state and regional levels, placed fourth at Nationals, and
received top scores in microeconomics and macroeconomics. This fall, she
will further her interest in the subject at the University of
California, Berkeley. However, Jennifer's wealth of knowledge isn't
limited to one area. Since the ninth grade, she has provided strong
leadership on the Academic Decathlon and anchored the team as captain.
Her honors include Most Valuable Decathlete, Top Scoring Student in the
Conference, third place in the honors category, medals in five subject
areas, and the individual record for the highest score in the history of
the school. Jennifer downplays her personal awards, saying that through
her involvement in the Academic Decathlon she learned that "putting the
objective of the group ahead of individual gain always leads to greater
personal satisfaction in the long run." Jennifer's academic
accomplishments are represented in her class standing as salutatorian of
Abraham Lincoln High School and as a National Merit Commended Student
and AP Scholar with Distinction. In each of Jennifer's recommendations,
her teachers credit her as one of the best students in all their years
of teaching. On Saturday mornings, Jennifer serves as a volunteer for
children with developmental disabilities. Assisting these children
provides her with "the unique opportunity to learn beyond what is found
in the standard textbook."
Kevin Martinez
Though raised in a nearly homogenous Hispanic community in East Los
Angeles, Kevin Martinez has developed a unique perspective. "In my eyes,
the world is a vibrant living entity composed of tiny particles that are
different, yet work together in order to help the world flourish; these
tiny particles are the world's cultures." Upon entering Woodrow Wilson
High School, Kevin endeavored to expand his understanding of diversity
and became the first non-Asian to be elected president of the Pacific
Asian Club. He also serves as president of the French and Key Clubs and
was the Science Club's Member of the Year. As he increased his cultural
awareness, he discovered a new passion and resolve in life, "to
encourage my peers to learn about and embrace foreign cultures, for it
is something of utmost importance." He will pursue these educational
interests as he undertakes East Asian studies and anthropology at
Harvard University. Kevin also has a passion for learning which is
apparent in his ranking of third in a class of 468 at Woodrow Wilson
High School. An AP Scholar with Distinction, Kevin was honored with a
Harvard Book Prize and is the first at his school to score a five on the
AP French Language exam. Kevin's maturity and empathy can be seen in the
skill with which he serves as a college peer counselor and as an
elementary school tutor. He shared, "I am passionate about the benefits
of education and try to instill this passion in the students in my
community."
Alex Melamed
To catch up with his classmates at a Jewish academy, eight-year-old Alex
Melamed, an immigrant from the Ukraine, had to learn English as a second
language and Hebrew as a third. And catch up he did as Alex is the class
salutatorian at Shalhevet High School, a National Merit Finalist, and a
recipient of the Harvard Model Congress Award of Excellence. "Never
seeing his education as static and ending at school" a great deal of
Alex's education has been done independently. "I am motivated by my
passion to fulfill my potential and to learn all that I can," he stated.
His work ethic, in the words of one teacher "is the greatest of all my
students. Though brilliant, Alex remains humble and diligent." In
addition to a challenging academic course load, Alex also assumed
significant responsibilities as the editor-in-chief of the school
newspaper and the captain and co-founder of the award-winning Harvard
Model Congress Team. Under his leadership, the school paper grew from a
small publication to a dense, widely distributed publication and Alex
was named to the National Scholastic Press Association Journalism Honor
Roll. Though he works part-time as a bank teller, Alex adeptly manages
his time so that he can pursue his interest in drama as an actor and
playwright and volunteer at a community food bank. This fall Alex will
be busy learning all that he can as he studies history, writing and
economics at the University of Pennsylvania.
Tsung Mou
Tsung Mou's West Covina High School transcript is replete with A+ marks
and his leadership efforts on behalf of his school and community are
equally exceptional. Yet when Tsung entered high school, he was a new
immigrant from Taiwan, hampered by little knowledge of English and even
less understanding of American culture. Devoting all his spare time to
reading classic literature, Tsung soon felt confident enough with his
communications skills to excel in honors courses, lend his strengths and
interests to organizations, and expand himself without feeling limited.
He explained, "While I was observing others, I realized that American
culture tends to respect people's creativity and allow freedom for
everyone to materialize their ideas; instantly I fell in love with the
atmosphere while preserving my Taiwanese culture of diligence and
perseverance." Described as a "dynamic motivator with organizational
skills to boot," Tsung couples his can-do attitude with commitment and
compassion. Recognizing that the local library could be a multicultural
resource for the immigrant families in his community, he set about
organizing numerous programs. From a Saturday morning tutoring program
to cultural heritage festivals, families came in droves to participate.
To staff these ventures, Tsung engaged his classmates in the California
Scholarship Foundation. Tsung's work has been recognized with a
nomination as LA Volunteer of the Year and a Rotary Youth Leadership
Award. When Tsung enters the University of California, Berkeley, he will
study biology. His goal is to become a doctor who establishes hospitals
with the Patch Adams' philosophy of healing the individual through
humor, caring and medicine.
Jocelyn Perez
When Jocelyn Perez recognized that only a small number of minority
students were successful at school, she vowed to volunteer her time to
benefit the youth in her community. Since then she has logged over 300
hours as a bilingual tutor at a gang prevention center in South Central
Los Angeles. "Being part of this organization made me realize that if
more people in our community get involved with centers like this one,
the better off our children will be," she says, citing her mother as her
inspiration and motivation. "Witnessing my mother work so hard taught me
that one can accomplish whatever goals one sets for him/herself. She
demonstrated the importance education has in our lives." Though Jocelyn
lives 50 miles from school and must take several means of transportation
each day, she sailed with distinction through the competitive Science
Magnet program at Reseda High School and will graduate fourth in the
class. Her counselor marvels at Jocelyn's extraordinary ability to
combine "sterling academic achievement with committed involvement in
school, family and community," and shared that Jocelyn's "superior
intelligence and determination opened pathways to her that were
previously untraveled by anyone in her family." A National Ventures
Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, and winner of a Spanish Honors
Award, Jocelyn leads several organizations and competes as a member of
the varsity cross-country track team. Her interest in biology was
heightened after she helped to deliver her baby sister. As Jocelyn
prepares to enter Yale University to study biological science, she hopes
that her example will inspire other youth in her community to see that
education means opportunity.
Diego Renteria
Mariachi music is Diego Renteria's prime passion. "It is what gives
reason and order to my life." Diego is the co-founder and lead guitarist
of a Mexican music ensemble that performs in small neighborhood
gatherings and has performed in front of thousands at the Hollywood
Bowl. He relishes knowing that he is able to "bring smiles to young and
old and spread the knowledge of the richness of Mexican culture." This
dedication to music and art earned Diego a commendation from the Los
Angeles United School District Board of Education. An academic standout,
Diego is a National Hispanic Scholar, a QuestBridge College Prep
Scholar, Social Studies Student of the Year, and ninth in his class of
623. When he attends Harvard University, Diego will continue developing
his "musical education, cultural expression, historical connection, and
academic ethnomusicology" while majoring in history and government.
While participating in the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project
Conference, Diego came to realize that "the biggest obstacle within the
Chicano communities was a lack of knowledge about political issues,
education and culture." He feels a "responsibility to educate and aid."
At South Gate High School, Diego founded an organization that serves as
a forum for students to freely express their opinions, celebrate the
Chicano culture and history, and fight for civil, economic and
educational justice through political mobilization. He serves as
president of the Model United Nations, news editor of the school
newspaper, peer counselor, legislative intern for Assemblymember Hector
De La Torre, and coordinator for L.A. Leadership Institute. Peeking into
the future, one may see Diego Renteria's name as Governor of California.
Hong Sio
West Covina High School salutatorian Hong Sio is "unequivocally the top
student I've ever taught," commented an AP history teacher. "He is able
to sort through increments of factual data, utilizing analysis and
synthesis to unite incredibly insightful and in-depth essays which
embellish his ability to bring clarity and meaning to remote historical
epochs and connect them to the contemporary age." With such outstanding
problem-solving skills, Hong will be well-suited for his study in
engineering and science at Harvey Mudd College. This AP National Scholar
scored fours and fives on nine AP exams between his sophomore and junior
year. The University of Rochester presented him with the Bausch & Lomb
Honorary Science Award and Rotary selected him as a recipient for their
Youth Leadership Award. For three years, Hong has been a member of the
Academic Decathlon team. Enjoying the broad, liberal background the
activity demands, he shared, "Knowledge draws me to the Academic
Decathlon, but the team keeps me there." His distinctions include Most
Valuable Player, Academician, and medalist in science, English,
interview, and economics. An immigrant from China who learned English as
a second language in the fifth grade, Hong's academic record shows no
weaknesses. One teacher noted that Hong "is usually the one who sets the
curve" in class. Despite an impressive list of accomplishments, Hong is
extremely humble, as witnessed in his statement, "I don't mind having
flaws along with achievement." He credits his older brother as his high
school guide. Since the ninth grade, Hong has volunteered as a tutor.
Students eagerly seek his help in subjects across the board. "If they
are willing to try, then I will too," he offers.
Kimberly Solomon
By creating her own opportunities, Kimberly Solomon learned early that
hard work could take her wherever she wished to go. "My whole life I
have had to work for what I wanted, both in and out of school." At the
young age of 12, with entrepreneurial talents in full display, Kimberly
passed out 200 business cards and opened her own babysitting business.
Over the next years, instead of joining her friends at parties or the
movies, she stuck to her plan and earned enough money to buy a car.
"Working hard is like having a car," she says. "It's not about where you
are, it's about where you are going." Kimberly knows where she is headed
next. She'll attend Dartmouth College, study law, and then work to break
down barriers and provide educational and health resources to help
minorities. Kimberly's innovative concepts for improving inner-city
schools won her the Friedman Foundation Annual Scholarship while her
ideas on diversity placed her first in the field of Liberal Arts at the
Bank of America Achievement Awards. She is an active volunteer for the
Make-A-Wish Foundation and numerous service organizations. The
salutatorian of her class of 500 at William H. Taft High School,
Kimberly was named Most Outstanding World Languages Student, received
the Women Engineer's Junior Award for Excellence in Science and
Mathematics, and is an AP Scholar with Honor. She captains the Speech
and Debate team and was a multiple state finalist in American Legion
Oratorical Contests. Emblematic of her unyielding drive, though she
couldn't afford cello lessons Kimberly was undeterred and not only
participated in Taft's Advanced Orchestra but became a member of the
prestigious Junior Philharmonic of California.
Huy Tran
Huy Tran has been named multiple times as the Most Inspirational member
of the Torrance High School track team. Although Huy acknowledges, "I
will probably never cross my foot past the finish line first, I will
always be the first to arrive to practice and the last to leave. My
hunger to improve feeds this commitment." He brings that same attitude
to his scholastic work. Ranked in the top two percent of his class, he
serves as president of the National Honor Society and has received
Outstanding Achievement Awards in English, Social Studies and Science.
He is a Toyota Community Scholar and a QuestBridge Prep Scholar
Finalist. Recalling his days as a young Vietnamese boy yearning to speak
fluent English, he thanks his ESL teacher for providing "a refuge from
the endless taunts about my torn shoes, obvious hand-me down clothes,
and less than perfect English," and the librarian who fostered his
interest in literature. Huy spent long hours reading and eventually
found great joy in the language that had earlier eluded him. Tenacious
in his interest to make a difference, Huy donates his time at a teen
center and has logged over 100 volunteer hours at the Harbor-UCLA
Medical Center. As a member of the Los Angeles City Youth Council, he
serves as a representative and advocate on behalf of youth. Through this
involvement Huy became interested in a career assisting the
disadvantaged, particularly inner-city youth, and will study economics
and political science at Stanford University.
Wyles Vance
As a volunteer researcher at UCLA's Molecular Biology Institute during
the summer of 2006, Wyles Vance worked on modifying a mini-prep robotic
system into a high throughput protein crystallization robot. By summer's
end, not only had he accomplished his task, but the Institute adopted
his system as their primary source for crystallization of
macromolecules. As one of the Institute's researchers noted, "Wyles
demonstrated a remarkable intellectual ability to understand a
scientific problem and to develop tools to solve it. His resourcefulness
and initiative proved to be the key to succeeding in this difficult
project." This experience opened Wyles' eyes "to a world of never-ending
fascination," and he has decided to study computer engineering at
Stanford University. A National Merit Commended Scholar who is
graduating in the top one percent of his class of 731 at Santa Monica
High School, Wyles is also a gifted athlete and musician. As captain of
the championship cross-county and track teams, he has earned six varsity
letters and was selected as a California Interscholastic Athlete. A
violin section leader with the school symphony, Wyles has performed at
Disney Hall, toured throughout China, earned the title of Grand Champion
at a National Orchestra Festival, and been named to the California
Honors Orchestra. With family and friends, he plays fiddle and mandolin
in a bluegrass band that performs at schools, festivals and fundraisers.
"Wyles amazes his coaches on the track, his audiences in the music hall,
and his teachers in the classroom," noted his AP English teacher. "His
perseverance and unlimited capacity for intellectual growth will take
him far, and his success will be an example for others."
Emanuel Yekutiel
When Emanuel Yekutiel transferred from a Hebrew academy to a secular
school he was warned that pressures would cause him to stray from his
strong religious faith. Yet, from the moment he entered Harvard-Westlake
High School as the only one of 800 students wearing a kippah, a
traditional Jewish head covering, Emanuel was determined that his
religious beliefs would be strengthened not diminished. He shared, "I
created the Jewish Prayer Club. Not only have I become a more spiritual
person in my own right, but I have used my fifteen years of religious
education to stimulate others." When Emanuel entered Harvard-Westlake,
he "hit the ground running," said the dean. "His passion for learning is
undeniable; I have never met a more enthusiastic student." Teachers
share that his excitement about learning stimulates and inspires other
students. In his first year, he won a prestigious award presented to a
sophomore who has made a significant and meaningful contribution to the
life of the school. As a member of the Mock Trial Team that captured the
L.A. County championship, he was named the Best Clerk of Southern
California and honored by the state senate. His volunteer efforts number
in the hundreds of hours and vary from working with the mentally
retarded to serving as president of Repeatafterus.com, a free Web site
for people who want to learn English. Emanuel also holds down several
part-time jobs. When Emanuel transferred high schools he shared, "I
bulldozed into the year with all my strength...leaving my mark on all
that I did." In the fall he will make his mark at Williams College.
Madhavi Gavini
Pseudomonas
aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that
causes secondary infections that often lead
to death in patients with compromised immune
systems, such as cancer, AIDS and burn
victims. Madhavi Gavini,
a 16-year-old junior at the Mississippi
School for Mathematics and Science in
Columbus, MS,
discovered a novel method to destroy this
common and deadly infectious bacterium. It
is difficult to fight because it protects
itself with a biofilm that antibodies can't
penetrate. Madhavi studied several commonly
available herbal compounds and extracts
known for their antiseptic qualities in both
traditional and alternative medicine. She
believed at least one might penetrate the
biofilm. She ultimately identified a
molecule in an extract that could penetrate
the biofilm and kill the bacterium.
Terminalia chebula (Tc) extract proved the
most potent inhibitor of the pseudomonas,
even after a 100-fold dilution. The
anti-microbial compound in Tc is very
stable, making it suitable for use in an
inhaler or antiseptic spray.
Meredith MacGregor
The phenomenon known
as the Brazil Nut Effect and its
implications for other industries captured
the attention of Meredith MacGregor, 17,
from Fairview High School in Boulder, CO.
One of the most significant implications of
understanding this effect is in the mixing
of compound pharmaceuticals to insure
particles
 of
different densities are evenly combined as
they are packaged for human
consumption. When a container of granular
material is shaken, particles separate by
size, with the largest rising to the top,
like the Brazil nuts that rise to the top of
a can of mixed nuts. Meredith sought to
better understand
these characteristics by
constructing a device that would allow her
to accurately control the frequency,
amplitude and duration of the shaking
process. She placed various "intruder"
particles in a granular sample and collected
data to create computer models of the flow.
The heaviest intruders rose fastest.
Intruders that rose most slowly under normal
atmospheric conditions sped up when pressure
was reduced, indicating that air pressure is
also involved in the size separation
process. The effect also becomes relevant in
natural phenomena such as rock slides.
Meredith plans to continue her research,
examining reverse effects and other
variations.
Hannah wolf
Imagine learning the
impact of the next California earthquake in
a 70 million-year-old rock face in Utah.
Hannah Wolf, a sophomore at Parkland High
School in Allentown, PA, studied formations
in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National
Monument caused by ancient earthquakes to
try to determine the
 epicenters
of the quakes and assess the impact.
Specifically she studied sandstone
deformations called seismites in the
Upper Cretaceous Wahweap Formation. This
area isn't seismically active now but can be
used as an analog for current active areas.
The seismites were caused by liquefaction of
sand and water. Hannah first became
interested in geology after a freshman earth
science class. She began
looking for a research opportunity and
joined a Kutztown University program that
sends students to be part of a large scale
project in Utah. There she gained
considerable field experience and was able
to develop her own project. Hannah mapped,
photographed and measured the formations
within the study area, then analyzed
characteristics of the formations to
determine the intensity of the quake and the
direction and distance it moved. The
patterns she observed indicate epicenters
north and west of the study area.
Understanding where the most damage has
occurred can lead scientists to more
accurate assessment and prediction of
seismic hazards.
Neela Thangada
"America's Top Young Scientist of the Year" - Discovery Channel Young
Scientist Challenge (DCYSC)
Inspired by a biology textbook's idea of a potato cloning experiment, Neela
set out to explore plant cloning. She wanted to determine how different nutrient
concentrations affected the multiple stages of growth in a potato.
Neela removed 60 shoot tips growing from potatoes. After sterilizing the tips,
she excised the bottom two segments, the meristem and primordial. She placed
each in a test tube of half-strength or full-strength nutrient solution and
incubated them. During her first trial, all the samples became contaminated.
Neela persevered and redid the entire experiment, finding that the potato clones
did indeed grow better in the full-strength solution.
Nilesh Tripuraneni
Nilesh had heard about hydrogen-powered cars but understood that producing
hydrogen requires fossil fuels. He sought to find a more environmentally
friendly approach through solar hydrogen production.
Nilesh built a solar-powered device that ran an electric current through a
beaker full of saltwater. The result: electrolysis, by which water is split into
hydrogen and oxygen. By clever manipulation of various gas laws, Nilesh measured
the temperature, pressure, and volume of the hydrogen gas produced. He found
that seawater produced almost as much hydrogen as solutions containing sulfuric
acid or sodium hydroxide.
Mary Lou Hedberg
While kayaking, Mary Lou was mesmerized by the swirling patterns her paddle
made. She wondered whether the swirls represented lost energy, and, if so,
whether paddles could be made to be more efficient.
Mary Lou built a flume made of PVC tubing, a whirlpool pump, and a butterfly
valve to control the flow. She made model paddles from plastic spoons that she
softened and reshaped, and then built a device to measure horizontal and
vertical forces on each paddle. After testing four blade shapes and three shaft
angles – taking more than 300 measurements – she concluded that a spoon-shaped
blade with a bent shaft delivered the most force. She has filed a provisional
patent application for the design.
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