Seventeen members of the Science Fair Club took part in the Central New Mexico STEM Research Challenge, with Ahana Kushik ’28 and Sowmya Sankaran ’27 earning spots at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in May and several students qualifying for the state science fair on April 12: Andrew Auyang ’31, Max Berger ’30 and Felix Gray ’30, Iris Huang ’30, Sahana Paruchuri ’30 and Elena Schwarz ’30, Eddy Bielejec ’28, and Aarush Tutiki ’27 as well as Sowmya and Ahana.
Sowmya, a sophomore, also mentored the team, doubling the size of the club, coaching them as they conducted research, and helping them gain insights into the judging process. “Whether you win an award or not, whether you qualify for state or not – all of that doesn’t really matter,” she advised the team. “What you should realize is that you did all of this hard work – all by yourself, you explored fields in science that you were passionate about, you learned a bunch of new things, developed your presentation skills, and got to explain your project to a group of wonderful people who were very impressed with what you have done.”
MIDDLE SCHOOL AWARDS
Andrew Auyang ’31
Junior Chemistry Category: 2nd place; American Chemical Society Award – New Mexico Section; Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum Award; Special Award in Memory of William Chambers; Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge
Zoheb Barrantes ’31 & Nash Robinson ’31
Regional Research Challenge Junior Encouragement Award
Iris Huang ’30
Junior Animal Sciences Category: Honorable Mention; DoD STEM Leadership Prize; Regional Research Challenge Junior Encouragement Award
Chelsea Avila-Rodriguez ’30 & Jayson Nguyen ’30
Regional Research Challenge Junior Encouragement Award
Max Berger ’30 & Felix Gray ’30
Junior Animal Sciences Category: 3rd place; Dr. John K. Prentice “Coolness” Award; Regional Research Challenge Junior Encouragement Award
Shahwar Imam ’30 & Sai-Megha Alavala ’30
Regional Research Challenge Junior Encouragement Award
Sahana Paruchuri ’30 & Elena Schwarz ’30
Top of Junior Division – Physical Sciences: 2nd place; Junior Computer Science and Robotics Category: 1st place; American Association of University Women Young Scientist Award; Broadcom Coding With Commitment Award; Kiwanis Club of Coronado Award; Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge
HIGH SCHOOL AWARDS
Eddy Bielejec ’28
Senior Materials Sciences: 2nd place; ENLACE Statewide Collaborative Excellence Award
Ahana Koushik ’28
Senior Medicine and Health Sciences: 2nd place; 3rd place overall (Senior Division); ISEF Qualifier; ISEF Finalist Awards sponsored by Nusenda Credit Union; Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) Awards; University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy Award; University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center Award; UNM Center for Stable Isotopes (CSI) Research Award
Sowmya Sankaran ’27
Senior Computer and Mathematical Sciences: 1st place; 1st place overall (Senior Division); ISEF Qualifier; Argus Investment Realty, Inc. Award; Engineering Excellence‐ New Mexico Engineering Foundation Award; ISEF Finalist Awards sponsored by Nusenda Credit Union; Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) Award; UNM Center for Stable Isotopes (CSI) Research Award
Aarush Tutiki ’26
Senior Materials Sciences: 1st place; 5th place overall (Senior Division); ISEF First Alternate; Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) Award; Regeneron Biomedical Science Award; Society for In Vitro Biology Award
FACULTY AWARD
Elliot Wilkinson, science teacher
mauro4micro Teacher Awards; Regional Research Challenge Junior Encouragement Teacher Award; University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy Teacher Award
“Thank you to Dr. Wilkinson,” Sowmya said, “for helping us all with our posterboards and giving us feedback, and helping with the registration process!”
