Five Hudson Falls Seniors to Compete in RPI Science Competition

March 20, 2018 – Hudson Falls, N.Y. — Five Hudson Falls High School seniors will join dozens of other science students at Rensselaer Polytechnic University in Troy this weekend, capping off months of hard work.

Abby Swartz, Jessica Petteys, Annie Kiernan, Sena McLaughlin, and Sierra Ellsworth have been selected to present their work at the Greater Capital Region Science and Engineering Fair. The GCRSEF is a STEM competition which highlights unique research projects of high school students.

If parents or community members are interested in coming out to support our students, you can come to view their projects and talk with them on Saturday, March 23rd from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm at Walker Labs on the RPI campus.

Here are the topics they are presenting:

  • Abby Swartz – Effect of pH, Salinity Levels, and the Alzheimer’s-associated Aβ Protein on Memory Formation and Regenerative Abilities in Planaria (Dugesia tigrina)
  • Sena McLaughlin – Environment or Beekeeping Practices: What affects survival rate in honey bee colonies with Varroa mite infestations?
  • Annie Kiernan – Prevalence of Orthorexia Nervosa in a College Population based on the ORTO-15 and EDE-Q Questionnaires
  • Jess Petteys – Intercropping Solanum Tuberosum and Calendula Officinalis to attract the Coleomegilla Maculata as a biological control method for Leptinotarsa Decemlineata and Macrosiphum Euphorbiae populations
  • Sierra Ellsworth – Health-related Quality of Life in Individuals Diagnosed with Juvenile-Onset Huntington’s Disease

We wish our seniors well! Overall winners from this event are chosen to present at the prestigious Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona; as well as many other prizes such as scholarships.

To read further about our science research course and their research, as well as the research of the Juniors and Sophomores, please visit our Science Research Website.