March 22, 2018 – Six young scientists representing Greenwich Catholic School earned multiple awards at the 70th Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair.
GCS 7th grader Sebastian Henao won second place in the 7th Grade Life Science division for his project, “Hydrogen Power,” which evaluated the efficacy of hydrogen fuel cells in producing energy. Henao also received a certificate from the American Meteorological Society and has been invited to compete in the Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering for Rising Stars), a highly prestigious national competition.
Ella Ann Woei, an 8th grader, was a finalist in the 8th Grade Life Science division and achieved recognition from the Connecticut Association for the Gifted for her music therapy app, “Music Therapy APPlied.” The app is intended for use by therapists who wish to catalog and organize music according to patient needs. Woei has attended coding classes at MIT and worked with a mentor from the university during the course of her project.
GCS 7th graders Morgan Adamson, Sofia Caracciolo, and Maria Profili placed as finalists in the 7th Grade Physical Science division for their project “Creamalicious”, an all-natural skin moisturizer made with fruit, vegetables, and herbs to help relieve eczema. Additionally, 8th grader Monica Marino’s invention, “Vitagummies”, garnered an award from the Institute of Food Technologists. This is Marino’s second time attending the CSEF: at the 2017 fair, her fluoride-free toothpaste earned her an invitation to the Connecticut Invention Convention and the opportunity to compete at the National Invention Convention.
Last year Patrick McHugh, now an 8th grader, won first place in the 7th Grade Physical Science division for his project, “Mass Maglev Manufacturing.” He was also a finalist in the Energize CT/eesmarts Alternative/Renewable Energy Awards and he was invited to compete at the Broadcom MASTERS competition.
When asked why she thinks GCS students succeed at the annual science and engineering fair year after year, 7th and 8th grade science teacher Carol Ann Lutz said, “The projects our students choose to explore represent real-world problems and address common human concerns.” She also explained that many students seek out mentors – professionals with expertise in specific areas of science and engineering – to answer questions and help guide them throughout their research. Lutz went on to say, “The factor that I think has the most impact on our students’ success, however, is that they are following their interests and working on finding solutions to problems that truly interest them.”