News Post

St. Joseph’s Academy students participated in the 2020 Louisiana State Science and Engineering Fair, which was held online due to the statewide closure of schools caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Twenty of SJA’s 22 participants placed in this year’s event. 

Although the 2020 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair has been cancelled, two students were named finalists and would have competed in the event. Juniors Emily Marionneaux and Dhriti Shastri would have joined regional qualifiers Lucy Richardson, a sophomore, and senior Allee Rogers at the competition, originally slated for May 10-15 in Anaheim, California. All four students are considered alumnae of the Society for Science & the Public.
 
Jacqueline Savoia, SJA Science Fair coordinator, said the virtual state fair experience was unique for all involved. “While it was a very different experience and not based on individual interviews, we are grateful that we were still able to compete with our research papers,” she said. “These participants worked very hard this year, and I am so proud of what they have accomplished.” 

State fair placement is as follows. 

Animal Science: Sophia Guillory, 2nd place 

Behavioral and Social Science: Lucy Richardson, 1st place 

Biochemistry: Dhriti Shastri, 1st place

Biomedical Engineering: Amelia Lambert, 2nd place 

Cellular and Molecular Biology: Holly Franzo, 2nd place

Chemistry: Carsyn Smith, 1st place; Emma Lauret, Honorable Mention

Computational Biology and Bioinformatics: Elizabeth Lemann, 3rd place 

Energy Chemical: Brie Wilkins, 2nd place 

Energy Physical: Camille Cronin, 1st place; Jemma Wood, 4th place 

Engineering Mechanics: Emma Allen, 1st place
 
Environmental Engineering: Clare Dillman, 1st place; Evelyn Carley, 2nd place 

Materials Science: Emily Marionneaux, 1st place  

Microbiology: Olivia Hupperich, 2nd place 

Physics and Astronomy: Allee Rogers, 2nd place 

Translational Medical Sciences: Carolyn Herman, Honorable Mention

Participating SJA students received a number of special awards, as well. They are as follows. 

American Psychological Association Award: Lucy Richardson
ASM Materials Education Foundation Award: Emily Marionneaux
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Award: Clare Dillman
RICOH Americas Corporation Award: Emma Allen
Society for In-Vitro Biology Award: Dhriti Shastri
U.S. Air Force Award: Allee Rogers
U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Award: Camille Cronin
 

Mindy Brodhead Averitt
Communications Director

 

Photo from Regional Science Fair on February 19, 2020