![Student-Scientists win multiple awards at Minnesota State Science Fair and secure two additional spots in Regeneron competition]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1743435612/stpaulsummit/hddfi62ztjdvfubjudxy/AdditionalISEF.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1743435612/stpaulsummit/hddfi62ztjdvfubjudxy/AdditionalISEF.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1743435612/stpaulsummit/hddfi62ztjdvfubjudxy/AdditionalISEF.jpg","width":640}])
Over spring break, SPA student-scientists competed in the 2025 Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair (MSSEF). Qualification for MSSEF was based on results from the Twin Cities Regional Science Fair, which was held in February. Twelve students competed at the State Science Fair: Deling Chen '25, Jack Gao '28, Kate Gao '30, Amanda Hsu '26, Lam Le '26, Mariam Malik '25, Shefali Maegher '26, Evan Morris '26, Maren Overgaard '26, Charlotte Talbot '26, Huxley Westemeier '26, and Inga Wing '25. Several of these students were recipients of multiple awards (listed below).
Among the awards were two additional finalist spots in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) for Deling Chen and Evan Morris. Regeneron ISEF is the world’s largest international pre-college science competition, and two SPA projects conducted by Maren Overgaard and Huxley Westemeier previously qualified for ISEF at the regional science fair in February. Deling and Evan now join Maren and Huxley as ISEF finalists with their projects, An Artificial Intelligence - Electrocardiogram Model for Prediction of Dementia – the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study and A Novel Approach to Enhancing Treatments for Neurodegenerative Diseases: Frequency-Dependent Optogenetics in C. elegans. The ISEF competition will be held in Columbus, Ohio from May 10-16.
Award winners included:
- Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) Finalists: Deling Chen and Evan Morris
- Minnesota Academy of Science Gold Award: Evan Morris and Huxley Westemeier
- Minnesota Academy of Science Silver Award: Inga Wing
- Minnesota Academy of Science Bronze Award: Amanda Hsu and Maren Overgaard
- 3M Young Inventor Award: Huxley Westemeier
- American Fisheries Society, Minnesota Chapter: Aquatic Sciences Excellence Award: Amanda Hsu
- Beckman Coulter: Excellence in Biology Award: Evan Morris
- Beckman Coulter: Excellence in Engineering Award: Huxley Westemeier
- Muminah Nihaar Mohammed: Humanity Future Impact Award: Evan Morris
- Science Museum of Minnesota: Science Communication Award: Lam Le
Congratulations to all our student-scientists!