Bensalem Students Excel in Science

Thirty-five students attended the state competition of the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science held May 15-17 at Penn State University, State College. 

According to a release, thousands of students from all over Pennsylvania presented their scientific research at this annual competition.  Local students continued the Bensalem tradition of excellence in scientific research and brought home many awards. 

Kajol Shah was awarded two separate scholarships to Penn State totaling $16,000, one to the Eberly School of Science and the second to the College of Engineering.
 
Deepa Patel was awarded a Perfect Score for her research.

Thirty-five Bensalem High School students competed.  The winners are as follows:

First Place winners: Eva Chau, Ahmed Chaudhry, Taylor Destralo, Tiffany Ho, Tatyana Keshanech, Sunny Nahar, Emily O’Driscoll, Alita Ostapkovich, Deepa Patel, Dhruti Patel, Parth Patel, Bhaumik Shah, Kajol Shah, Neil Shah and Saumil Shah.
 
Second Place winners: Alyssa Breiner, Kathryn Ching, Anthony Ho, Fatima Javed, Nauman Javed, Riddah Khattak, Kelly Nolan, Sumit Pareek, Krina Patel, Neil Patel, Alay Shah, Eshita Shah, Sunny Shah, Shawn Shaji, Mareena Thottakara, Zacharia Thottakara and Neil Zalavadia.

Third Place winners: Elan Fingles, Justin Kurian, and Ami Rao.

The team and their sponsor, Kate Gallagher could not have been successful without the help of members of the science faculty at Bensalem High School. 

They issued a special thanks to Charles Morantz who helped chaperone the trip and to retired teacher Samuel Bates who sponsored many of their projects, judged at Regionals and States, and chaperoned the trip.

The school district offered congratulations to all the winners and their families.