Students at Aquinas Academy in Hampton earn awards at regional science competition

Eighth-graders at Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh in Hampton earned awards at the Region 7 Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Competition at Baldwin High School on Feb. 4.

Under the guidance of science teachers Ellen Kaffenes and Dorina Manolache, the 20 participating students from Aquinas Academy earned 16 first-place awards and four second-place awards for their science projects.

First-place awards were given to Katie Tarquinio, Aarona Casas Amedos, Claire Urban, Matthew McGrath, Aurora Predis, Samantha Falcon, Zach Schellhaas, Carly Bezila, Alice Dingle, Katrina Kedzierski, Thomas Pellathy, Tess Austin, Kay Chufo, Lucy Keverline, Tabitha Ridings, and Jack Stanton.

Second-place awards were given to Meriwether McCargo, Teresa Silvaggio, Ian Patterson, and Maddy Thompson.

Also, five students received special recognition:

• Katrina Kedzierski, Megan Roe Perseverance Award

• Ian Patterson, by Keep PA Beautiful and the Department of Environmental Protection

• Thomas Pellathy, award from the Pittsburgh Section of the American Chemical Society

• Aurora Predis, Director’s Award for Biology

• Jack Stanton, Bechtel Plant Machinery Award for the Best Engineering Project

The students who earned first-place awards will compete at the PJAS state competition on May 15, at Penn State.

The Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science is a statewide organization of junior and senior high school students designed to stimulate and promote interest in science among its members through the development of research projects and investigations. The state is divided into 12 PJAS regions.