IN Ross Township Fall 2017 | Page 40

N orth Hills School District students won top honors at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) competition at Pennsylvania State University. All four students who competed placed first or second in their categories. Junior Maria Arlia notched a perfect score for her experiment along with many other honors. Junior Lauren Rebel was awarded $4,000 in annual scholarships for use at Penn State due to her experiment. Students designed a unique experiment and were judged on their ability to conduct and convey the results of their experiment using the scientific method. PJAS is a statewide organization of middle and high school students designed to stimulate and promote interest in science among its members through the development of research projects and investigations. N First Place H Maria Arlia – Junior – Biochemistry • Perfect Score • State Perseverance Award for five years of participation • Penn State Eberly College of Science Scholarship ($2,000 annually for the Penn State University Eberly College of Science) H Lauren Rebel – Junior - Microbiology • State Perseverance Award for five years of participation • Penn State Eberly College of Science Scholarship ($2,000 annually for the Penn State University Eberly College of Science). • Penn State University College of Agriculture Science Scholarship ($2,000 annually for the Penn State University College of Agriculture) H Lyndsay Edmonston – Grade 10 – Botany Second Place H Hannah Sciulli – Grade 8 – Microbiology North Hills Senior Selected for Pitt’s Prestigious Nordenberg Leadership Scholars Program orth Hills High School senior Ruby Brunet has been selected for the prestigious Nordenberg Leadership Scholars Program at the University of Pittsburgh. She is one of only 10 students selected for the program from across Pennsylvania. As part of the program, which is in its third year at Pitt, Brunet will receive a full tuition scholarship estimated at $110,000, three years of paid internships, a study abroad experience and a myriad of networking, career coaching and leadership activities. She plans to major in political science. Named in honor of the University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Emeritus Mark A. Nordenberg, the program is designed to attract and reward the best and brightest student leaders from high schools in Pennsylvania who have demonstrated excellent leadership skills, innovative thinking, intellectual curiosity and community involvement. The program is unique because it incorporates rigorous academic engagement with an ambitious and structured curriculum outside the classroom that is designed to challenge the scholars to excel in leadership, global awareness, citizenship and civic engagement. Upon graduation, scholars will be positioned to achieve deep mastery in their fields of study and prepared for leadership in their chosen professions as well as for service in their communities as responsible local and global citizens, according to the University of Pittsburgh website. 38 Ross Township