SEPSACS is proud to recognize these outstanding young scientists in our region:
First Place:
Ethan Ma
Mercersburg Academy
Second Place:
Samuel Sachs
Camp Hill High School
Third Place:
Zephaniah Weaver
Halifax Area High School
Awards were presented to the winners on March 12th at Messiah University
A special thank you to Kathryn Barker for organizing our participation in this fair!
2026 CAPITAL AREA Science and Engineering Fair
FIRST PLACE
The Effect of Freeze-Thaw Cycles on Amino Acid Polymerization
Makayla Kienle, York Country Day School
SECOND PLACE
The effects of alcohol on enzyme productivity in the liver
Bly Jones and Carter Lindenmuth, Dallastown Area High School
THIRD PLACE
Self-Healing PVA-Borax Hydrogels: Effects of Composition on Strength, Healing, and Conductivity
Sanjay Satheesh and Steven Coulson, Dallastown Area High School
A special thank you to Dr. Dora Peelen, York College of PA for judging the projects.
2026 York/Adams Science and Engineering Fair
First Place:
Deeksha Rajesh
Cumberland Valley High School
Second Place:
Zephaniah Weaver
Halifax Area High School
Third Place:
Matthew Everett,
Greenwood Middle/High School
A special thank you to Cathy Santai for judging for SEPSACS at this fair!
2025 CAPITAL AREA Science and Engineering Fair
First Place:
Saisha Jindal
Dallastown Area High School
Effect of salinity on bacterial biodegradation of plastics
Second Place:
Peter Dand & Lucas Kesten
Red Lion Area Senior High School
The Effect of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles created through
co-precipitation on Modified, Small Form Factored Biological Sand Filters Using
Anthracite for Improving Decentralized Filtration Systems used by Impoverished
Third Place:
Lexie Kuzo
Dallastown Area High School
Which Coffee Roast is Most Acidic?
A special thank you to Dr. Dora Peelen, York College of PA for judging the projects.
2025 York/Adams Science and Engineering Fair
First Place:
Deeksha Rajesh
Cumberland Valley High School
The Efficacy of Natural Barriers in Blocking UV Waves
Second Place:
Alexa Kuhsner
Silver Academy
Hair Dye Debunked
Third Place:
Kezia Gagne
Silver Academy
Fired Up About Safety
A special thank you to Cathy Santai and Katie Barker for judging for SEPSACS at this fair!
2024 CAPITAL AREA Science and Engineering Fair
First Place:
Neva Kirk-Jadric
York Academy Regional Charter School
Evaluating the efficacy of intra-molecular bridging using a 3-cyanovinylcarbazole photo-crosslinking modification to increase b-estradiol aptamer stability
Second Place:
Namya Jindal
Dallastown Area High School
The effect of PFAs on the environment & organisms
Third Place:
Elizabeth Thuemmler
Dallastown Area High School
Copper (II) chloride’s color changing abilities in hair
A special thank you to Dr. Dora Peelen, York College of PA for judging the projects.
2024 York/Adams Science and Engineering Fair
1st place:
Shaunak Dalal, Hershey High School
"Enhancement of Anodal Biocatalytic Current Production in a Glucose Biofuel Cell"
2nd place:
Christine Tang, Hershey High School
"Rheology of Salad Dressing with Different Thickeners and Their Emulsion Stability"
3rd place:
Deeksha Rajesh, Cumberland Valley High School
"The Efficacy of Different SPFs of Sunscreen in Blocking UV Waves"
Honorable Mention:
Muhammad Choudry, Dauphin County Technical School
"Water Versus Electrical Physics"
A special thank you to Cathy Santai and Katie Barker for judging for SEPSACS at this fair!
2023 CapitAl Area Science and Engineering Fair
First Place:
Siya Patel
Dallastown
The Investigation of Quorum Sensing Inhibition in Aliivibrio fischeri.
Second Place:
Julian Bora
Dallastown
Thermal Conductivity of Sustainable Resources
Third Place:
Ava Grim
Red Lion
A Saving Measure for Some Aquatic Organisms: Can Phytoremediation Effectively Remove Harmful Chemicals from Wastewater?
Honorable Mention
Sanjay Satheesh
Dallastown
Does temperature and salinity affect the specific heat of water?
A special thank you to our judges: Dr. Jessica Fautch, Dr. Kyle Howard, Dr. Dora Peelen, and Dr. Alison Kennicutt, and our award presenter (on behalf of our local section), Dr. James Foresman!!
