Team named state finalist in STEM competition

A team of Fox Chapel Area High School students was a state finalist and named among the top 20 teams in the 10th annual Pennsylvania Governor’s STEM Competition. The team members were 2023-24 juniors Rayna Huang and Etash Jhanji and 2023-24 sophomores Ulyana Kubini, Joanna Li and Joseph Shin. The theme of the competition this year was “Creating a Commonwealth with Universal Design in Mind.” The Fox Chapel Area team developed a product called LocknProtect, a modern-day pill protector they created to keep opioid medications locked away from children and teens.

Facilitated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Governor’s STEM Competition challenged and engaged 75 teams of high school students from around the state to work together to research, design and present a device or project that could help improve the lives of Pennsylvanians and fulfill real-world needs. The projects were then judged by STEM industry experts.

“STEM education prepares today’s learners for tomorrow’s high-wage, in-demand careers, and the Governor’s STEM Competition takes hands-on learning to the next level,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “By engaging in STEM activities that directly impact the world around them, participants are not only learning, but are also creating solutions to benefit their whole community.”

The Fox Chapel Area High School students’ advisor was gifted support facilitator Lisa Gibson.