SRU awards $24,000 in scholarships to PJAS regional winners

Special Award winners at the 2019 Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science 62nd Annual Region IX meeting were provided cash awards by the event committee, donors and various Slippery Rock University academic departments.

Feb. 28, 2019

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Slippery Rock University presented $12,000 scholarships to a pair of students as part of the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science's 62nd Annual Region IX meeting Feb. 23 in the Smith Student Center Ballroom. It was the 22nd consecutive year SRU has hosted the event. William Sigmund, SRU professor of biology and Nicole Dafoe, SRU associate professor of biology served as University coordinators.

More than 540 students, grades 7-12, from several counties in western Pennsylvania participated. Students were required to do an oral PowerPoint presentation showcasing the results of their science research project.

Nicolette Pierce, a high school senior from New Castle, captured the PJAS Senior Scholarship, for her work in behavior, and Jason Hess, a high school junior from West Middlesex, won the PJAS Junior Scholarship for his work in physics. Each scholarship provides $3,000 per year for four years to attend SRU.

Special Award winners earned $100 awards from various SRU academic departments, including:

• India Krug, a junior from Indiana Senior High School (Biology Department).
• Elsie Lindsay, a junior from Freeport High School (Biology Department).
• Andrea Jones, a sophomore from Butler Area High School (Mathematics Department).
• Jennifer Cichra, a freshman from Butler Area High School (Mathematics Department).
• Victoria Poelcher, a sophomore from South Side High School (Chemistry Department).

Top presenters in each discipline also earned cash awards or gift certificates from the Region IX committee and other program sponsors.

Nearly 200 judges, including SRU and high school faculty, professionals and SRU students, participated in the program, spending 8-10 minutes reviewing individual student works and asking questions about the project before rendering a final ranking.

Participants who received a "First Place" ranking have the opportunity to participate in the state competition that will take place at Penn State University in May.

MEDIA CONTACT: Robb King | 724.738.2199 | robb.king@sru.edu