When a judge at Saturday's Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair asked Ryan Maurer why he built a system to test rocket motors, he didn't get into scientific gobbledygook about lift factors or voltage curves.
“I do it because it's cool,” Maurer, 18, a senior at Frazier High School in Perryopolis, said. “I think he was surprised when I said that.”
Maurer and three other local students will head to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix May 12-17 after taking top honors among more than 1,000 students representing 117 schools in the region at the Carnegie Science Center's 74th annual competition.
The others headed to Phoenix are: Michael Becich of Bradford Woods, a junior at North Allegheny Senior High School, for his genomic analysis on renal cell neoplasms; Rishi Mirchandani, a 10th-grader at Fox Chapel Area High School, for developing an algorithm for fairly dividing up resources, and Anishaa Sivakumar, 14, a freshman at Franklin Regional Senior High School, Murrysville, for her project on slime mold as a diagnostic tool for lung cancer.
Maurer also received the Carnegie Science Award, given to a top performer from the junior, intermediate and senior divisions.
The other two winners were: Orion Gangopadhyay of Peters, a sixth-grader at the PA Virtual Charter School, and Taylor Robinson of Regent Square, who attends Sister Thea Bowman Catholic Academy in Wilkinsburg, for the “Itch Matrix.”
For his project, Gangopadhyay, 11, listed “surprising” applications of soil electric conductivity. He said that after earning a geology Boy Scout badge for a trip to Laurel Caverns, he wanted to see if soil could conduct an electric current.
Learning that yes, indeed, it does, Gangopadhyay listed how that could have real-world application, such as gardeners and nurseries determining what nutrients are needed in soil, maybe helping predict earthquakes and determining soil stability when building structures.
Gangopadhyay said he was surprised that his project was picked from among those in biology, chemistry, computer science and math, and physics.
“I saw a lot of really good projects,” he said, including one in which a robot could help predict heart attacks.
Mirchandani, 16, of Fox Chapel said his project could be used to fairly divide land between Israel and Palestine, or for families splitting up an inheritance.
“I am totally speechless I made it (to Phoenix),” Mirchandani said. “What a great validation of the work.”
In all, students received more than $1 million in cash and scholarships during the competition. Projects that received first-place awards will be on display in the Carnegie Science Center on the North Shore until April 14.
Science fair winners
Winners of the 74th Annual Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair were announced Saturday at Heinz Field.
There were 1,031 participants from 117 schools. Here is the breakdown:
275 9th –12th grade students
548 7th -8th grade students
208 6th grade students
Advancing to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
• Michael Becich, North Allegheny Senior High School, Wexford, for “Genomic Analysis Reveals Variations Specific to Renal Cell Neoplasms”
• Ryan Maurer, Frazier High School, Perryopolis, for “ Rocket Motor Test System 7000”
• Rishi Mirchandani, Fox Chapel Area High School, for “Superadditivity and Subadditivity in Fair Division”
• Anishaa Sivakumar, Franklin Regional Senior High School, Murrysville, for “Slime Mold”
Carnegie Science Awards
• Orion Gangopadhyay of Peters Township, PA Virtual Charter School, for “Soil System Surprise”
• Taylor Robinson of Regent Square, Sister Thea Bowman Catholic Academy (Wilkinsburg), for “”The Itch Matrix”
• Ryan Maurer of Perryopolis, Frazier High School, for “ Rocket Motor Test System 7000”
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
Allegheny College
Justin Beiriger, Central Catholic High School
Cory Bird, Freeport Senior High School
Jen Cashman, Peters Township High School
Natalie Johnson, Northern High School
Lucas Switzer, The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School
Konrad Urban, Fox Chapel Area High School
Isabella Viducich, Vincentian Academy
Carlow University
Jen Cashman, Peters Township High School
Agnes Hoover, Cambria Heights HS
Donielle Horne, Perry Traditional Academy
Carnegie Mellon University
Raashmi Krishnasamy, Peters Township High School
Shea Minter, Shady Side Academy
Chatham University
Brinda Doshi, Upper St. Clair High School
Natalie Johnson, Northern High School
Clarion University
Nathan Disantis, Freeport Senior High School
Brinda Doshi, Upper St. Clair High School
Denny Loevlie, Freeport Senior High School
Mariam Shalaby, Tan HomeSchool
Duquesne University
Scholarships valued at $10,000:
Rhiannon Dodge, Northern High School
Robert Kunkel, Seneca Valley High School
Awards to participate in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program:
Alec Christensen, North Allegheny Intermediate High School
Denny Loevlie, Freeport Area Senior High School
College Credit in High School Awards:
Taylor Borrelli, Freeport Area Senior High School
Mariam Shalaby, Tan HomeSchool
Edinboro University
Daniel Schnurr, St. Joseph High School
Gannon University
Michael Becich, North Allegheny Senior High School
John Cahill, Blessed Pope John Paul II Science Cooperative
Casey Kinol, Shaler Area High School
Madilyn Riesco, Northern High School
David Schnur, St. Joseph High School
Michaela Schreyer, Cambria Heights High School
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Robert Kunkel, Seneca Valley Senior High School
David Shipe, Freeport Senior High School
Emily Yaruss, The Ellis School
Mt. Aloysius College
Taylor Borrelli, Freeport Senior High School
Rhiannon Dodge, Northern High School
Lauren Donatelli, Vincentian Academy
Shanelle Fernando, North Allegheny Intermediate High School
Agnes Hoover, Cambria Heights HS
Uriah Lindsay, Freeport Senior High School
Denny Loevlie, Freeport Senior High School
Michaela Schreyer, Cambria Heights HS
David Shipe, Freeport Senior High School
Zachary Stoltz, Cambria Heights HS
Penn State Altoona
Patrick Illig, Cambria Heights HS
James Pence, Cambria Heights HS
Zachary Stoltz, Cambria Heights HS
Penn State Greater Allegheny
Jarrod Cingel, Bethel Park High School
Mariam Shalaby, Tan HomeSchool
Kristal Sotomayor, Knoch High School
Emily Yaruss, The Ellis School
Point Park University
Taylor Borrelli, Freeport Senior High School
Lauren Casertano, St. Joseph High School
St. Francis University
Jen Cashman, Peters Township High School
Nathan Disantis, Freeport Senior High School
Denny Loevlie, Freeport Senior High School
Madison Minick, St. Joseph High School
Rachel Schratz, St. Joseph High School
Maddilyn Thoma, Knoch High School
St. Vincent College
Jen Cashman, Peters Township High School
Shanelle Fernando, North Allegheny Intermediate High School
David Shipe, Freeport Senior High School
Seton Hill University
Lauren Casertano, St. Joseph High School
Jordan Elmer, Knoch High School
Christopher Heldman, Peters Township High School
Uriah Lindsay, Freeport Senior High School
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
Jen Cashman, Peters Township High School
Emily Yaruss, The Ellis School
Waynesburg University
Jen Cashman, Peters Township High School
Brinda Doshi, Upper St. Clair High School
Uriah Lindsay, Freeport Senior High School
Perseverance Awards
Junior Scientists are Students in 8th, 9th, or 10th grades competing for their third or fourth year.
Emily Augustine, Bethel Park High School
Hayden Bergad, Freeport Senior High School
Sarah Boltey, St. John the Baptist
Christopher Cerminara, St. Mary of the Assumption Glenshaw
Aditi Chattopadhyay, Fort Couch Middle School
Noah Fitzpatrick, Manchester Academic Charter School
Hope Hoehler, St. Mary of the Assumption Glenshaw
Jahi Jackson, Manchester Academic Charter School
Thomas Kim, Carson Middle School
Lauren Kolenik, St. John the Baptist
Denny Loevlie, Freeport Senior High School
Caroline Maltese, St. Mary of the Assumption Glenshaw
Sophia Maltese, St. Mary of the Assumption Glenshaw
Sarah Mautino, St. John the Baptist
Neale Misquitta Jr., Fort Couch Middle School
David Mrazik, Carson Middle School
Brad O'Hara, Cambria Heights HS
Vashisth Parekh, Fort Couch Middle School
Vedant Parekh, Fort Couch Middle School
Kevin Scott, St. John the Baptist
Autumn Adams, St. Agnes
Rohan Chalasani, Dorseyville Middle School
Victoria Clarchick, Avella Jr/Sr High School
Austin Fisher, Dorseyville Middle School
Mihir Garimella, Dorseyville Middle School
Sabrina Helbig, Oakland Catholic High School
Aidan Hoffman, Quiet Creek School of Country Living
Brandon Kish, St. Agnes
Rachael Kondrat, St. Elizabeth Elementary School
Darwin Leuba, Dorseyville Middle School
Sarah Maidment, Avella Jr/Sr High School
Suvir Mirchandani, Dorseyville Middle School
MacKenzie Oravec, St. Agnes
Walker Orner, Quiet Creek School of Country Living
Varun Parwani, Dorseyville Middle School
Ellen Pil, Dorseyville Middle School
Ayan Sinha, Dorseyville Middle School
Taylor Stavor, St. Agnes
Evan Stephenson, Pine-Richland High School
Alexa Wilner, St. Agnes
Mary Anand, Blessed Pope John Paul II Science Cooperative
Andrea Arturo, The Campus School of Carlow University
Mohit Bhide, North Allegheny Intermediate High School
Ian Cavanaugh, Commonwealth Connections Academy
Dylan Grindle, Yough High School
Jahnik Kurukulasuriya, The Campus School of Carlow University
Michael McAllister, East Catholic School
Zain Mehdi, North Allegheny Intermediate High School
Sonnet Myers, The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School
Serena Nicoll, North Allegheny Intermediate High School
Arthini Pulenthiran, Franklin Regional Senior High School
Vibha Reddy, North Allegheny Intermediate High School
Gabe Ren, North Allegheny Intermediate High School
Anishaa Sivakumar, Franklin Regional Senior High School
Nila Suresh, North Allegheny Intermediate High School
Associate Scientist Awards go to students in the 11th and 12th grades with three or four years of participation, and 10th graders with five years of active participation.
Oruba Ahmed, North Allegheny Intermediate High School
Calvin Beideman, Beideman HomeSchool
Grace Brandstetter, Peters Township High School
Brendan Campbell, Upper St. Clair High School
Rhiannon Dodge, Northern High School
Molly Graham, Bethel Park High School
Nichole Helbig, Cambria Heights HS
Patrick Illig, Cambria Heights HS
Ashley Johnson, Cambria Heights HS
Serena Mani, The Ellis School
Jonathan Mulick, Bishop Canevin High School
Thomas Nash, Vincentian Academy
James Pence, Cambria Heights HS
Jed Price, Cambria Heights HS
David Shipe, Freeport Senior High School
Alex Vesey, Cambria Heights HS
The Honorary Scientist Award goes to 11th- and 12th-grade students with five or more years of active participation.
Taylor Borrelli, Freeport Senior High School
Margaret Burris, Pine-Richland High School
Lauren Casertano, St. Joseph High School
Jarrod Cingel, Bethel Park High School
Adam Dando, Franklin Regional Senior High School
Brinda Doshi, Upper St. Clair High School
Shannon Fagan, Bethel Park High School
Matthew Green, Franklin Regional Senior High School
Emily Kirk, Cambria Heights HS
Pragna Mannam, The Ellis School
Piyusha Sane, North Allegheny Senior High School
Emily Yaruss, The Ellis School
Category Awards
First Place, Junior Division
Consumer Science - Junior
Nadine Oury, Falk Laboratory School
Life Science - Junior
Simon Hebert, Sacred Heart Elementary
Physical Science - Junior
Orion Gangopadhyay, PA Virtual Charter School
First Place, Junior Division
First Place, Intermediate Division
Behavioral and Social Science - Intermediate
Taylor Robinson, Sister Thea Bowman Catholic Academy
Biology - Intermediate
Mary Anand, Blessed Pope John Paul II Science Cooperative
Chemistry - Intermediate
Ashwin Srinivasan, Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy
Computer Science/Math - Intermediate
Team of Alex Brufsky and Kevin Chen, Fort Couch Middle School
Consumer Science - Intermediate
Megan Huey, Ambridge Area Junior High School
Earth/Space/Environment - Intermediate
Suvir Mirchandani, Dorseyville Middle School
Engineering/Robotics - Intermediate
Mihir Garimella, Dorseyville Middle School
Medicine/Health/Microbiology - Intermediate
Ratujit Raviprakash, Ingomar Middle School
Physics - Intermediate
Sarthak Navjivan, Dorseyville Middle School
First Place, Senior Division
Behavioral and Social Science - Senior
Serena Nicoll, North Allegheny Intermediate High School
Biology - Senior
Rama Godse, Fox Chapel Area High School
Chemistry - Senior
Sarah Small, Shady Side Academy
Computer Science/Math - Senior
Rishi Mirchandani, Fox Chapel Area High School
Earth/Space/Environment - Senior
David Shipe, Freeport Senior High School
Engineering/Robotics - Senior
Ryan Maurer, Frazier High School
Medicine/Health/Microbiology - Senior
Mariam Shalaby, Tan HomeSchool
Physics - Senior
Matthew Green, Franklin Regional Senior High School
Second Place, Junior Division
Consumer Science – Junior
Paige Thatcher, Mother of Sorrows
Life Science – Junior
Alex Dalton, St. Bernadette School
Braiden Wills, St. Vitus School
Physical Science – Junior
Adelle Fernando, Ingomar Middle School
Sara Liang, Falk Laboratory School
Lyta Nicoll, Montessori Centre Academy
Second Place, Intermediate Division
Behavioral and Social Science - Intermediate
Sophia Spiker, St. Therese School
Taylor Stavor, St. Agnes
Biology - Intermediate
Justin Cook, St. Thomas More School
Chemistry - Intermediate
Anthony Pampena, St. Thomas More School
Computer Science/Math – Intermediate
… the team of….
Indra Alagar, Alagar HomeSchool
Krishnan Alagar, Alagar HomeSchool
Consumer Science – Intermediate
Augustine Collins, St. Thomas More School
Earth/Space/Environment - Intermediate
Emma Burnett, The Ellis School
Engineering/Robotics - Intermediate
Grace Schneider, Chartiers Valley Middle School
Medicine/Health/Microbiology - Intermediate
Yusuf Shalaby, Tan HomeSchool
Physics - Intermediate
Justin Abrahim, The Campus School of Carlow University
Evan Weston, Wilson Christian Academy
Second Place, Senior Division
Behavioral and Social Science - Senior
Molly Graham, Bethel Park High School
Biology - Senior
Rachel Schratz, St. Joseph High School
Chemistry - Senior
James Pence, Cambria Heights HS
Computer Science/Math - Senior
Nathaniel Horan, North Allegheny Senior High School
Earth/Space/Environment - Senior
Denny Loevlie, Freeport Senior High School
Engineering/Robotics - Senior
Arianna Carley, Sewickley Academy
Medicine/Health/Microbiology - Senior
Anishaa Sivakumar, Franklin Regional Senior High School
Physics - Senior
Lauren Gronbeck, Eden Christian Academy
Third Place, Junior Division
Consumer Science:
Jayanth Kashyap, Dorseyville Middle School
Life Science – Junior
Thomas Anand, Blessed Pope John Paul II Science Cooperative
Andi Reiser, St. Mary of the Assumption Glenshaw
Physical Science – Junior
Angalee Beall, Mother of Sorrows
Noah Black, Sacred Heart Elementary
Zachary Lakkis, Dorseyville Middle School
Team of Riley Bell, Chartiers Valley Middle School
Alexander Stoker, Chartiers Valley Middle School
Third Place, Intermediate Division
Behavioral and Social Science – Intermediate
Leah Colaizzi, Providence Heights Alpha School
Olivia Farmer, Freeport Junior High School
Biology – Intermediate
Pallavi Muluk, The Ellis School
Isabelle Schroeder, Mary Queen of Apostles
Chemistry – Intermediate
Andrea Arturo, The Campus School of Carlow University
Ryan Kendrick, St. Thomas More School
Jahnik Kurukulasuriya, The Campus School of Carlow University
Computer Science/Math – Intermediate
Alayna Bidlack, Providence Heights Alpha School
Consumer Science – Intermediate
Luke Gallagher, St. Thomas More School
Kaylee Polena, Freeport Junior High School
Earth/Space/Environment – Intermediate
Colin Aikins, Mary Queen of Apostles
Samantha Coulter, Gateway Middle School
Engineering/Robotics – Intermediate
Sahil Doshi, Fort Couch Middle School
Medicine/Health/Microbiology – Intermediate
Madison Havaran, St. Therese School
Physics – Intermediate
Julie Cepec, Freeport Junior High School
Christiana Kandra, Greensburg Central Catholic Junior High School
Ella Rosenblatt, The Campus School of Carlow University
Third Place, Senior Division
Behavioral and Social Science - Senior
Kyle Huber, Cambria Heights HS
Morgan Scott, Cambria Heights HS
Biology - Senior
Emily Augustine, Bethel Park High School
Chemistry - Senior
Jonathan Mulick, Bishop Canevin High School
Computer Science/Math - Senior
Gerry Chen, Fox Chapel Area High School
Earth/Space/Environment - Senior
Rhiannon Dodge, Northern High School
Engineering/Robotics - Senior
Nathan Disantis, Freeport Senior High School
Medicine/Health/Microbiology - Senior
Pranav Murthy, North Allegheny Intermediate High School
Physics - Senior
Cory Bird, Freeport Senior High School
Honorable Mentions
Consumer Science – Junior
Alexander Kinser, Mother of Sorrows
Abigail Osche, Mother of Sorrows
Life Science – Junior
Jessica Axelson, Falk Laboratory School
Matthew Moore, St. Vitus School
Chloey Pilston, St. John the Baptist
Kathryn Schwartzman, Dorseyville Middle School
Physical Science – Junior
Joseph Anand, Blessed Pope John Paul II Science Cooperative
Mark Bye, St. Agnes
Sarah Indyk, Mon Yough Catholic School
Sanam Parwani, Dorseyville Middle School
Sarah Sinnott, Dorseyville Middle School
Behavioral and Social Science – Intermediate
Lauren Brawley, Cambria Heights MS
Jared Congemi, St. Vitus School
Anthony Pignatelli, Freeport Junior High School
Samir Yellapragada, Ingomar Middle School
Biology – Intermediate
Rohan Chalasani, Dorseyville Middle School
Kyle Harper, Yough Intermediate/Middle School
Tanvi Meringenti, Dorseyville Middle School
Eleanor Yaruss, The Ellis School
Consumer Science – Intermediate
Renee Cebula, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament School
Sophia Yurkovetsky, Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy
…And the team of….
Jaya Alagar, Alagar HomeSchool
Rajan Alagar, Alagar HomeSchool
Earth/Space/Environment - Intermediate
Hope Kumpf, Providence Heights Alpha School
Ellen Pil, Dorseyville Middle School
Giovanna Tatananni, Mary Queen of Apostles
Engineering/Robotics - Intermediate
Benjamin Kowenhoven, St. Thomas More School
Team of Vashisth Parekh, Fort Couch Middle School
Vedant Parekh, Fort Couch Middle School
Team of Neale Misquitta Jr., Fort Couch Middle School
Pramod Narayanan, Fort Couch Middle School
Keshav Reddy, Fort Couch Middle School
Medicine/Health/Microbiology – Intermediate
Jack Farrell, Mary Queen of Apostles
Nina Khorey, The Campus School of Carlow University
Jesse Plung, Shady Side Academy Middle School
Physics – Intermediate
Alexander Gala, St. Thomas More School
Hannah Kendrick, St. Thomas More School
Henry Metzger, St. Thomas More School
Lidia Signorella, The Campus School of Carlow University
Biology – Senior
Surabhi Beriwal, North Allegheny Senior High School
Alex Michaels, Southern High School
Chemistry – Senior
Robert Kunkel, Seneca Valley Senior High School
Emily Yaruss, The Ellis School
Computer Science/Math – Senior
Sophia Lee, North Allegheny Intermediate High School
Earth/Space/Environment – Senior
Simran Parwani, Fox Chapel Area High School
Nila Suresh, North Allegheny Intermediate High School
Engineering/Robotics – Senior
Natalie Johnson, Northern High School
Medicine/Health/Microbiology – Senior
Songela Chen, North Allegheny Intermediate High School
Luke Deasy, Central Catholic High School
Serena Mani, The Ellis School
Physics – Senior
Patrick Illig, Cambria Heights HS
Uriah Lindsay, Freeport Senior High School
