Student news: Fox Chapel Area music accolades, art awards and science and engineering fair

Ten Fox Chapel Area School District students won awards at the virtual Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair (PRSEF), and two students qualified for an international science and engineering fair.

Junior Zoe Lakkis and sophomore Arvind Seshan were named two of seven overall winners and qualified to participate in the virtual Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (Regeneron ISEF) — the Olympics of student science competitions. Judging for the international competition will take place May 3-6, via video conferencing, and hundreds of students from nations across the world will compete for prizes worth millions of dollars.

Seshan won first place in the senior division computer science/math category; sponsor awards from FedEx Ground and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH); and an associate scientist perseverance award. Lakkis won the second-place award in the senior division computer science/math category, a Princeton Alumni Association of WPA sponsor award and an honorary scientist perseverance award.

Freshmen Lakshanya Rajaganapathi was named the first-place winner in the senior division medicine/health/microbiology category. Junior Siddharth Yende won second place in the senior division physics and astronomy category and an affiliated sponsor award from the U.S. Metric Association. Junior Janise Kim was named a fourth-place winner in the senior division computer science/math category, won a sponsor award from the Society of Women Engineers and received an honorary scientist perseverance award. Senior Sanjay Seshan received sponsor awards from Carnegie Mellon University – Leonard Gelfand Center, Eaton and the Pittsburgh Intellectual Property Law Association; an affiliated sponsor award from the Office of Naval Research, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.; and an honorary scientist perseverance award. Freshman Adhitya Thirumala received a junior scientist perseverance award.

Dorseyville Middle School award winners were eighth grader Etash Jhanji, who won first place in the intermediate division medicine/health/microbiology category, as well as a Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh sponsor award; eighth grader Alex Kim, who won FedEx Ground and Society of American Military Engineers – Pittsburgh Post sponsor awards; and sixth grader Param Thawani who won Eaton and FedEx Ground sponsor awards. In addition, as a place-winner, Jhanji was also nominated for the national Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology, and Engineering for Rising Stars) program.

The PRSEF is open to students in grades 6-12 from 21 counties in Western Pennsylvania and Garrett County in Maryland. More than 400 students from about 70 schools competed for cash prizes and scholarships. All of the students who participated in the virtual fair conducted individual science research, prepared a project report and video conferenced with a committee of judges.

District recognized for music education

The Fox Chapel Area School District has been named among the 2021 Best Communities for Music Education. This is the 10th year in a row that the district received the designation.

It is one of 109 in the state and one of 686 school districts in the nation chosen for the honor that recognizes outstanding commitment to music education.

The districts were selected through a program sponsored by the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Foundation which recognizes outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education and who help ensure access to music for all students.

To qualify for the Best Communities for Music Education designation, Fox Chapel Area music teachers responded to a detailed survey with questions pertaining to funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities and support for the music program and community music-making programs.

Art and writing accolades

Fox Chapel Area High School senior Jessica Jing McCann was named a national winner in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards of 2021. McCann won a gold medal for her jewelry titled “Wings of Deception,” and a gold medal and a prestigious American Visions Medal for her jewelry titled “Anxiety’s Flight.”

Her jewelry (wearable art) is designed to communicate how stress and anxiety impacts her and others and how it takes a toll on her mental and physical health. Her artwork is meant to serve as statement pieces.

This year, nearly 230,000 works of art and writing were submitted by students in grades 7-12 through regional contests, and about 1,700 were recognized at the national level, including 66 from Pennsylvania. Prior to being named a national winner, McCann was named a Gold Key winner in the Pittsburgh Region of the Scholastic Art Awards 2021. Gold Key works were then judged at the national level by a panel of creative-industry experts and some were selected as the most talented young artists and writers in the nation by receiving national awards.

McCann’s work will be published as part of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Online Galleries in June at artandwriting.org. Her name will also be listed in the Yearbook 2021, a companion publication to The Best Teen Art and The Best Teen Writing anthologies which feature a selection of work by national medalists.

She will also be honored with the other national winners as part of the 2021 Scholastic Art & Writing National Ceremony that will take place virtually June 9 at 7 p.m.