Eleanor Barth Wu, Class of 2022, earned the Dr. James Manner Award from the American Chemical Society and an award from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Duquesne University. Netta Dobzinski, Class of 2025, earned the Excellence in Biology Award from the University of Pittsburgh. Meghan McNabb, Class of 2022, earned the Dr. James Manner Award from the American Chemical Society.

“Our students performed incredibly well during this unique year of PJAS. Each student explored a topic of interest, completed extensive background research, and then created a procedure to run their experiments,” shared Lynne St. Hilaire, Upper School Chemistry Teacher and PJAS Faculty Advisor. “With the switch to remote learning between Thanksgiving and winter break, the students were truly forced to complete their research independently. The students did not let this deter them as they borrowed materials from school and set up laboratories in their basements, bedrooms, and kitchens! I am so incredibly proud of all the work they put towards their research and want to also give special thanks to our Eliis families for supporting our PJAS program this year!”

PJAS is an organization that promotes and encourages science and mathematics research and analysis among middle and high school students. At the competition, students participate within different scientific categories of research— such as Computer Science, Engineering, Biochemistry, Biology, Mathematics, etc.—and present their hypothesis and findings to a panel of judges. Once the judges deliberate and determine student’s scores, the awards are announced and all first place winners automatically receive a spot at the final state competition.