Penn Students Earn Top Honors at Regional Science and Engineering Fair

Five Penn High School students earned top honors at the Northern Indiana Regional Science and Engineering Fair on Saturday, February 28 at Innovation Park at the University of Notre Dame. Each student received at least one award for their research, and three of the students will advance to the State Science Fair in Indianapolis on March 28.

Penn’s students competed against top young scientists from across the region, presenting original research projects and defending their findings before a panel of judges. Their work covered a wide range of scientific topics, from cancer research to environmental science and the effects of technology on living organisms.

Eleanor Niemier (9th grade) presented her project “Cisplatin Effects on Gene Expression in Lung and Colon Cancer.” She received several honors including the Notre Dame College of Science Dean’s Award, the Harper Cancer Research Institute Award, the Regeneron Biomedical Science Award, and a first place ribbon.

 

Viosa Hernandez (9th grade) earned recognition for her project “How do iPhones, iPads and WiFi affect the development of living organisms? A case study of Raphanus Sativus and Lepidium Sativum.” She received the Saint Mary’s College Dineen Award and a first place ribbon.

 

Ethan Doane (12th grade) presented “Fighting bacteria with liposomes: a better way to deliver antibiotics.” He was awarded the Notre Dame Biology Senior Award along with a first place ribbon.

 

 

Penn also had a strong showing in the team category. Jacob Pennington and Anthony Scott (11th grade) worked together on their project “The Effects of Municipal Wastewater Treatment on Microplastic Size and Concentration.” Their research earned the Community Impact Award, the Stockholm Junior Water Prize Regional Water Prize Award, and a first place ribbon.

 

Three Penn students will move on to represent the Northern Indiana region at the State Science Fair on Saturday, March 28 in Indianapolis:

• Eleanor Niemier ~ Cisplatin Effects on Gene Expression in Lung and Colon Cancer.” 

• Viosa Hernandez ~ “How do iPhones, iPads and WiFi affect the development of living organisms? A case study of Raphanus Sativus and Lepidium Sativum.”

• Ethan Doane ~ “Fighting bacteria with liposomes: a better way to deliver antibiotics.”