2012 JUNIOR DIVISION WINNERS
(Grades 7-9)
First Place
NICOLE KIM
Bergen County Academies
Hackensack, NJ
Sponsoring Teacher: Eric Zhang
Essay: One Breath Shorter
Nicole Kim, a freshman in the Academy for Culinary Arts and Hotel Administration, used her mother’s breathing difficulties and her father’s addiction to cigarettes as the inspiration for her study of second hand smoke (SHS) and asthma. Stopping SHS was a struggle for her dad, but it saved her mom. Nicole plans a dual career in journalism and the culinary arts…perhaps another Julia Child in the making!
Read an excerpt of Nicole Kim's essay
Second Place (TIE)
MIKE ESPY
Little Snake River Valley
Baggs, WY
Sponsoring Teacher: Carolyn Hicks
Essay: Moo-ing Energy
Mike Espy, a 9th grader, used his experience as a cattle rancher and FFA member and inspiration from his science project to focus on creating renewable energy (methane) from that cattle creation – manure. Mike, an honor student and secretary of the Student Council, says college is certainly in his future.
Second Place (TIE)
ROSHNI SETHI
Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy
Plainview, NY
Sponsoring Teacher: Francine Moustakalis
Essay: A Heart of Gold [Nanowires]
Roshni Sethi used her independent research class to focus on new science that may eradicate heart failure with a new use for nanowires. She hopes to become a neurologist specializing in geriatrics, with a dual M.D./Ph.D.
Third Place
SANDY PHONG
Garland High School
Garland, TX
Sponsoring Teacher: Sharyn Ethington
Essay: Using Bugs to Heal
Sandy Phong, a 9th grader at Garland High School, wrote about Maggot Debridement Therapy “because bugs interest me.” It is a centuries-old technique that is gaining new interest among many physicians. Sandy is on the school’s tennis and track teams and Garland’s Academic Octathlon team. Forensics may be her college focus.
2012 SENIOR DIVISION WINNERS
(Grades 10-12)
First Place
TAYLOR WARNER
InTech Collegiate High School
North Logan, UT
Sponsoring Teacher: Stephanie Kawamura
Essay: The Lowly Earthworm: A Powerful Protector of All
Taylor Warner, 10th grade, follows his sister, Jayme (2011 First Place Winner, Senior Division), to the DuPont Challenge winner’s circle, partly because of sibling rivalry but mostly because of his desire to find solutions to today’s many critical environmental problems. His earthworm research is one elegant solution. Taylor will attend Utah State and major in applied mathematics. He is also a history buff and is helping prepare an oral history of Purple Heart recipients for the Purple Heart Hall of Honor.
Read an excerpt of Taylor Warner's essay
Second Place
JASON ROSENBERG
Blind Brook High School
Rye Brook, NY
Sponsoring Teacher: Michele Sugantino
Essay: Splitting the Universe One Choice at a Time
Jason Rosenberg, 10th grade, has a passion for physics that led him to write about the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. His recent focus on the multi-verse theory caused him to focus on “the most compelling form of the multi-verse theory: the many-worlds interpretation.” Jason plans to major in physics and minor in ancient history when he heads to college in a few years. He plays three instruments: classical guitar, piano, and alto saxophone.
Third Place
ALEENA GLINSKI
Catalina Foothills High School
Tucson, AZ
Sponsoring Teacher: Bryan Sobehrad
Essay: Tying the Universe Together
For senior Aleena Glinski,“the anomaly of gravity has been a bother to me for quite some time. There must be a way to tie gravity into the rest of the known forces of the universe and create a wonderful, unifying law.” That curiosity drove her writing. Aleena will attend Yale University this fall with a major in physics and the equivalent of a minor in French. She is an aerial acrobat and may take a year or two off to join the circus.
