As 8th graders, Stephanie Galvez ’29, Bonnie Ukperaj ’29 and Mia Cartagena ’29 created the project “Testing the Strength, Flexibility, and Biodegradability of a Watermelon Rind-Based Bioplastic” for the Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair (CSEF). Their innovative work earned them a finalist medal and the opportunity to advance to the next round of judging.
They went on to win first place in their category and qualify for the 2025 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge—one of the nation’s most prestigious STEM competitions for students their age—where they were recently recognized among the Top 300 students in the nation.
