Rider Hosts Mercer Science and Engineering Fair

Editor's Note: The following is a news release issued by Rider University.

William Xu, a senior at Princeton High School, won the grand prize for his project, “Creating and Optimizing Porous Metal Organic Frameworks for the Capture of Carbon Dioxide from Flue Gas Mixtures,” at the 59th Mercer Science and Engineering Fair Tuesday tonight at Rider University in Lawrence Township, N.J. Nearly 420 students from 36 Mercer County schools in grades 4 to 12 registered for the fair, hosted by Rider for the 29th consecutive year.

As the grand prize winner, Xu earned an all-expense-paid trip to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Pittsburgh, Pa., from May 13 to 18. If he is unable to attend, Haley Wight of Steinert High School in Hamilton, who claimed first runner-up honors for her project, “Immune System Software: Creating an Educational Program and Testing its Efficiency,” will attend in his place. Xu and Wight are also eligible to compete in the SUNY-Oswego Genius Olympiad from June 24 to 28.

Judges from area companies, agencies, schools, Rider and the military evaluate the projects, and all senior division students were required to present their projects to numerous judges during a four-hour judging session on Monday.

The top winners in the junior division (grades 6-8) move on to the Society of Science & the Public Broadcom MASTERS competition this spring. The 50 finalists from that competition advance to Washington, D.C., for the finals.

This year, eight sponsors allowed the Mercer Science and Engineering Club to send the senior division grand-prize winner to the Intel ISEF. In addition to Rider University as the lead sponsor, the other local supporters include Covance, Educational Testing Service, Voicenet and Hovione.  The fair’s international supporters include Qinetiq, Digi International and Eurotech.

School and science administrators, as well as parent-teacher organizations interested in science and engineering should consult the Mercer Science and Engineering Fair website (http://www.mercersec.org/resource/fair) to learn how their students can participate in next year’s fair. Students may begin work on their projects starting in the summer.

Award Winners from the 59th Mercer Science and Engineering Fair:

Mercer Science and Engineering Club

General Science, Elementary Division

Superior Achievement: Kyle Dowgin, Yardville Elementary; Brynna Fisher, University Heights Elementary; Anne Jeanette Ardito, Villa Victoria; Olivia Buote, Yardville Heights Elementary; Nia Maywar, Villa Victoria; Julianna Martinetti, Kuser Elementary

Outstanding Achievement: Aidan McCann, Mercerville Elementary; Nicole Wagner, Robinson Elementary; Dora Krstic, St. Ann's; Meghan DiMercurio, Villa Victoria; Alyssa Basch, University Heights Elementary; Bettina Villegas, Villa Victoria

Meritorious Achievement: Peter Wright, Yardville Heights Elementary; Alexandra DiNovi, Chapin School; Anthony Ippolito, Morgan Elementary; Angela Roberts, St. Ann's; Johan Kramer, Mercerville Elementary; Anusha Aggarwal, Lawrence Intermediate

Honorable Mention: Aadarsh Ramakrishnan, Walter C. Black Elementary; Andrew Dusenshine, Our Lady of Sorrows School; Anthony Kathcart, Robinson Elementary; Annarose King, Villa Victoria; Rayna Indelicato, Lawrence Intermediate; Rachel Doan, Morgan Elementary; Rebecca Huizer, Villa Victoria; Catherine Peluso, Mercerville Elementary

Society For Science & The Public

Junior Division

Broadcom Masters Award – Biological: Mary Zsolway, Villa Victoria; Matthew Kim, Chapin School; Brayslin Gallagher, Villa Victoria; Laney Pope, Chapin School; Nicholas Stewart, St. Gregory the Great; Christian Fang, Lawrence Intermediate

Broadcom Masters Award – Physical: Kristen O'Mara, Villa Victoria; Cecilia Chianese, St. Gregory the Great; Yash Balaji, Timberlane Middle; Arleigh Curry, Chapin School; Amy Siegel, Villa Victoria; Nicholas Ehring, St. Gregory the Great

Mercer Science and Engineering Club

Physical, Junior Division

Superior Achievement: Kristen O'Mara, Villa Victoria; Amy Siegel, Villa Victoria; Nicholas Ehring, St. Gregory the Great;

Outstanding Achievement: Yash Balaji, Timberlane Middle; Arleigh Curry, Chapin School; Cecilia Chianese, St. Gregory the Great

Meritorious Achievement: Ashley Shutack, Villa Victoria; Marcelo Espana, St. Pauls; Tara Pandya, Villa Victoria

Honorable Mention: Grace Aaronson, Chapin School; Pranav Sabanayagam, Lawrence Middle; Matthew Wisniewski, St. Paul’s; Kristina Kubala, St. Gregory the Great; Natalie Klek, St. Ann's

Biological, Junior Division

Superior Achievement: Mary Zsolway, Villa Victoria; Matthew Kim, Chapin School; Nicholas Stewart, St. Gregory the Great

Outstanding Achievement: Christian Fang, Lawrence Intermediate; Laney Pope, Chapin School; Brayslin Gallagher, Villa Victoria

Meritorious Achievement: Rachel Taylor, St. Gregory the Great; Victoria Seymour, St. Ann's; Jayson Morelli, St. Gregory the Great

Honorable Mention: Alexander Domb, Chapin School; Alison Stewart, Villa Victoria; Tevy Vogel, Villa Victoria; Christina Trovato, Chapin School; Robyn Abrams, Villa Victoria

Rider University

General Science, Elementary Division

Most Superior: Brynna Fisher, University Heights Elementary

Biological, Junior Division

Most Superior: Matthew Kim, Chapin School

Physical, Junior Division

Most Superior: Kristen O'Mara, Villa Victoria

Chemistry, Senior Division

Most Superior: William Xu, Princeton High

Mercer Science and Engineering Club

General Science, Elementary Division

Earle S. Rommel Communications Award: Andrew Dusenshine, Our Lady of Sorrows School

Biological, Junior Division

Earle S. Rommel Communications Award: Nicholas Stewart, St. Gregory the Great

Computer Science, Senior Division

Earle S. Rommel Communications Award: Haley Wight, Steinert High

Cosmos Foundation

Environmental Management, Senior Division

International Sustainable World: Rachel Rivera, Steinert High

Le Camera and Video

Plant Sciences, Senior Division

Best Use of Photography: Hannah McDougall, Steinert High

Air Force Research Laboratory

Engineering Electrical and Mechanical, Senior Division

Certificate of Achievement: Adrianna Eppinger, Steinert High

Engineering Materials and Bioengineering, Senior Division

Certificate of Achievement: Noelle Wang, West Windsor-Plainsboro High North

Medicine and Health, Senior Division

Certificate of Achievement: Kyle Alinea, Steinert High

Physics and Astronomy, Senior Division

Certificate of Achievement: Michael Soskind, West Windsor-Plainsboro High

U.S. Navy/Marine Corps

Biological, Junior Division

U.S Navy/Marine Corps Award: Rachel Taylor, St. Gregory the Great; Nicholas Stewart, St. Gregory the Great; Mary Zsolway, Villa Victoria

Chemistry, Senior Division

U.S Navy/Marine Corps Award: William Xu, Princeton High

Physics and Astronomy, Senior Division

U.S Navy/Marine Corps Award: Michael Soskind, West Windsor-Plainsboro High

U.S. Army Research Office

Chemistry, Senior Division

First Place: William Xu, Princeton High

Engineering, Electrical and Mechanical, Senior Division

Engineering Award: Adrianna Eppinger, Steinert High

Honorable Mention: Chan Ho Park, Lawrenceville School

Environmental Management, Senior Division

Environmental Sciences Award: Rachel Rivera, Steinert High

Honorable Mention: Mackenzie Schlosser, Steinert High

Chemistry, Senior Division

Physical Sciences Award: William Xu, Princeton High

Honorable Mention: Ji Woong Kim, West Windsor-Plainsboro High

Microbiology, Senior Division

Life Sciences Award: Danielle Fabian, Steinert High

Honorable Mention: Lauren Cruz, Steinert High

Computer Science, Senior Division

Mathematics and Computer Science Award: Haley Wight, Steinert High

Energy and Transportation, Senior Division

Honorable Mention: Lauren Matrisciano, Steinert High

Engineering Materials and Bioengineering, Senior Division

Honorable Mention: Noelle Wang, West Windsor-Plainsboro High North; Edin Lopez, Trenton Central High

Physics and Astronomy, Senior Division

Honorable Mention: Michael Soskind, West Windsor-Plainsboro High; Charlotte Wood, Villa Victoria

Plant Sciences, Senior Division

Honorable Mention: Courtney West, Villa Victoria

Water Environment Federation

Environmental Management, Senior Division

Stockholm Junior Water Prize: Mackenzie Schlosser, Steinert High

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Earth Science, Senior Division

NOAA Award: Christian Malave, Trenton Central High

Theobald Smith Society

Environmental Management, Senior Division

First Place: Mackenzie Schlosser, Steinert High

Microbiology, Senior Division

Second Place: Danielle Fabian, Steinert High

Third Place: Lauren Cruz, Steinert High

Honorable Mention: Teresa Richardson, Steinert High

ASM International Foundation

Chemistry, Senior Division

Superior Achievement: William Xu, Princeton High

American Psychological Association

Computer Science, Senior Division

Superior Achievement: Haley Wight, Steinert High

Association for Women Geoscientists

Environmental Management, Senior Division

Special Award: Mackenzie Schlosser, Steinert High

Society for In Vitro Biology

Cellular and Molecular Biology, Senior Division

Superior Achievement: Elizabeth Carr, Steinert High

Intel Corp.

Computer Science, Senior Division

Intel Excellence in Computer Science: Haley Wight, Steinert High

National Society of Professional Engineers

Engineering, Electrical and Mechanical, Senior Division

Excellence in Engineering: Adrianna Eppinger, Steinert High

Yale Science and Engineering Association

Chemistry, Senior Division

Excellence in Engineering: William Xu, Princeton High

Ricoh Corp.

Environmental Management, Senior Division

The Regional Ricoh Sustainable Development Award: Rachel Rivera, Steinert High

Mercer Science and Engineering Club

Animal Sciences, Senior Division

Honorable Mention: Sara Baumgartner, Steinert High

Behavioral and Social Science, Senior Division

Honorable Mention: Amanda Peraino, Steinert High

Cellular and Molecular Biology, Senior Division

First Place: Taylor Kwok, Steinert High

Honorable Mention: Elizabeth Carr, Steinert High

Chemistry, Senior Division

First Place: William Xu, Princeton High

Second Place: Ji Woong Kim, West Windsor-Plainsboro High;

Computer Science, Senior Division

First Place: Haley Wight, Steinert High

Energy and Transportation, Senior Division

First Place: Lauren Matrisciano, Steinert High

Engineering Electrical and Mechanical, Senior Division

First Place: Adrianna Eppinger, Steinert High

Second Place: Chan Ho Park, Lawrenceville School

Third Place: Eddy Torres, Trenton Central High

Honorable Mention: Shannon O'Mara, Villa Victoria

Engineering Materials and Bioengineering, Senior Division

Honorable Mention: Noelle Wang, West Windsor-Plainsboro High North

Environmental Management, Senior Division

First Place: Mackenzie Schlosser, Steinert High

Second Place: Rachel Rivera, Steinert High

Environmental Science, Senior Division

First Place: Emily Haws, Hamilton High East

Honorable Mention: Wesley Rodriguez, Trenton Central High;

Medicine and Health, Senior Division

Honorable Mention: Gregory Pica, Steinert High

Microbiology, Senior Division

First Place: Lauren Cruz, Steinert High

Second Place: Teresa Richardson, Steinert High

Honorable Mention: Danielle Fabian, Steinert High

Plant Sciences, Senior Division

First Place: Hannah McDougall, Steinert High

Second Place: Courtney Golding, Steinert High

Third Place: Bennett Kapili, Steinert High

SUNY-Oswego

Chemistry, Senior Division

Genius Olympiad: William Xu, Princeton High

Computer Science, Senior Division

Genius Olympiad: Haley Wight, Steinert High

Mercer Science and Engineering Club

Computer Science, Senior Division

First Runner-up: Haley Wight, Steinert High

Chemistry, Senior Division

Grand Prize: William Xu, Princeton High