Award-winning research projects

PJAS Competition Winners

Three Seneca Valley students returned with first-place awards after presenting their research projects at the Region 9 Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) competition held at Slippery Rock University on February 24.

Senior Abby Bonno earned a first-place award with a perfect score for her project “Testing Effects of Salt used for De-icing on Aquatic Ecology.” She was also the recipient of the Don Orlowski Special Award which included a cash prize.

Junior Addison McLane earned a first-place award and the Director’s Award for Biology for her project “Impact of Stress Responses on Drp1 Knockout C. elegans.”

Sophomore Autumn Zacherl earned a first-place award with her project “Violet Light Cue and Altered Food-seeking Behavior in Ants.”

All three students will move on to present at the state PJAS competition held at Penn State University in May.

Entry fees for the regional PJAS competition were funded by the Seneca Valley Foundation (SVF). The Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) is a statewide organization of junior and senior high school students designed to stimulate and promote interest in science among its members through the development of research projects and investigations.