Science fair season is one of the most exciting times of year at Rowland Hall, when months of curiosity, experimentation, and hard work take center stage.

From March 10–12, Rowland Hall students were among the hundreds of students who gathered for the University of Utah Science & Engineering Fair. This event is the highest level of science fair competition for Utah students in grades 5–12, open to those who qualify through regional competition.

With projects in seven of the event’s 12 categories, Rowland Hall students showcased an impressive range of scientific inquiry, much of which they’ve worked on all year through our Advanced Research program. The results were impressive: 19 of 26 students who attended USEF earned awards at the event, and four qualified to compete at the international level.

We’re incredibly proud of our students, not just for the recognition they’ve earned, but for the meaningful, relevant questions they’re choosing to explore.—Mick Gee, head of school

“It has been incredibly rewarding to be part of the growth of STEM research at Rowland Hall,” said science teacher Tascha Knowlton, who’s watched participation at USEF grow from two students her first year to more than two dozen in 2026. Tascha’s dedication to supporting young scientists has included completing a weeklong training through the University of Utah’s Advancing STEM Research Teaching program, which equipped her with tools to guide students through the research process.

“Since then, I’ve been able to better support my AR Chemistry students and share those resources more broadly with AR STEM students, as well as any middle or upper school student pursuing an independent research project,” she said. “I am excited to see where the momentum takes us.”

At USEF, qualifiers compete at three divisional levels: elementary (grades 5–6), junior (grades 7–8), and senior (grades 9–12). Cash awards and trophies are given to projects that place first through fourth in each category, with honorable mention medals also awarded at the elementary level. Projects may additionally earn USEF special awards and Scientific Merit Awards, which recognize strong scientific thinking, sound methodology, and clear understanding of the research process. Top projects in the Senior Division go on to compete internationally. Rowland Hall students were well represented across these distinctions.

“We’re incredibly proud of our students, not just for the recognition they’ve earned, but for the meaningful, relevant questions they’re choosing to explore,” said Head of School Mick Gee. “Their work, guided by talented faculty mentors, reflects our ongoing investment in science and our commitment to developing people the world needs.”

Elementary Division

Biomedical Engineering & Health Technologies

• 1st: Layla Saleh (grade 6): “A Motorized Inhaler Aid for Patients with Hand Disability.” Layla’s project also won three of her division’s special awards: the SAB Award (1st), T.D. Williamson's Outstanding Young Scientist (1st), and the ThermoFisher Junior Innovators Challenge.

Senior Division

Biology, Microbiology, & Genetics

• 1st: Rayne Weinstein (grade 11): “UnFolding Cancer: Evaluating AlphaFold's Ability to Simulate Models that Predict Pathogenic Mutations.” Rayne was also named a Regeneron ISEF Grand Champion Winner and will go on to compete at the international science fair (see below).
• 3rd: Cecelia Hyman and Dylan Johnson De Lacy (grade 12): “Crop-Specific Microbial Biofertilizer for Indian Ricegrass: A Sustainable Strategy to Supplement Alfalfa Cultivation.” The team also won the Wilkes Center Climate Change Award (2nd).

Biomedical Engineering & Health Technologies

• 3rd: Aimee Solzbacher (grade 10): “Development and testing of a simulator for multiple types of blindness and an accompanying app to help spread awareness.” Aimee also won the Airavata Bioengineering Award (3rd).

Chemistry & Biochemistry

• 1st: Asher Orenstein and Samantha Wright (grade 12): “Combining soybean-induced carbonate precipitation (SICP) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) to prevent wind erosion.” The team also won the Wilkes Center Climate Change Award (3rd) and were invited to compete in the GENIUS Olympiad (see below).
• Scientific Merit: Cassidy Bahna and Alden Rhodes (grade 12): “Restoring native riparian vegetation in Utah: Halophilic rhizobacteria to improve black cottonwood establishment in saline soils.”

Electrical & Computer Engineering

• 4th: Harrison Lasater (grade 12): “Automated Table Recognition and Data Extraction using Hybrid CNN-YOLO Architectures.”

Mechanical & Materials Engineering

• 4th: Evan Elkin (grade 12): “A Model for the Distribution of Cadmium Interstitials in Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaics.”

Medicine & Health Sciences

• 2nd: Samuel Lu (grade 12): “Tumor microenvironmental signatures associated with low DARC/ACKR1 expression in solid tumors, and potential mechanistic insights.” Samuel was also named a Regeneron ISEF Grand Champion Winner and will go on to compete at the international science fair (see below).
• 4th: Aanika Boe, Jacob Conover, and Darshan Pani (grade 12): “Molecular docking and in silico ADMET approach to identify potential phytochemical lead molecules targeting the oncoprotein ATAD2 for treatment of AR-low triple-negative breast cancer.”

Physics, Astronomy, & Math

• 2nd: Hans Baker, Jane Borst, and Leo Pickron (grade 12): “Predicting Cycling Aerodynamics: Can Statistical Models Replace CFD and Wind Tunnel Testing?”
• 3rd: Kendra Larson (grade 12): “Effect of Charon’s Mass in the Stability of the Pluto-Charon System.”

Regeneron ISEF Grand Champion Winners

In addition to state-level honors, USEF selects six projects each year to advance to Regeneron ISEF, the world’s largest pre-college science competition. Rowland Hall senior Samuel Lu and junior Rayne Weinstein were two of the six students named Regeneron ISEF Grand Champion Winners, making Rowland Hall the only school at USEF with multiple ISEF qualifiers. Samuel and Rayne will travel to Phoenix this May to compete internationally, and we look forward to sharing updates on their experience.

GENIUS Olympiad Winners

Along with taking first place in the Chemistry & Biochemistry category, seniors Asher Orenstein and Samantha Wright were selected to compete in the GENIUS Olympiad, an international high school competition in which students present projects addressing global environmental challenges across STEM and the creative arts. Asher and Samantha’s project was one of four selected by USEF for this honor. They will travel to Rochester, NY, this June to compete.

USEF Writing Awards

As a supplemental component of the annual fair, USEF also holds a writing competition between November and early January. Participating students are asked to respond to one of three prompts selected by the USEF Student Advisory Board, which also chooses the winners. Six Rowland Hall students were recognized for their submissions—complete with a clean sweep of one category.

Prompt #1: What is a major scientific event you wish you could have witnessed and why?

• 2nd: Fanni Ventilla (grade 12)
• 3rd: Kaya Akkor (grade 11)

Prompt #2: What scientific field should receive more funding and why?

• 1st: Amelie Tan (grade 12)
• 2nd: Gavin Schmidt (grade 12)
• 3rd: Olivia Yang (grade 11)

Prompt #3: How will schools change over the next decade/century? What improvements are needed?

• 1st: Evan Owens (grade 11)

Visit USEF’s home page to read the students’ responses.

Congratulations to everyone on an exceptional year at USEF!