AZ Science and Engineering Fair Winners!

Join PVSchools in congratulating elementary and high school students who showcased exceptional talent, creativity, and dedication while earning top honors at the Arizona Science and Engineering Fair!

At the elementary level, students from Grayhawk Elementary, Sonoran Sky Elementary, and Desert Shadows Elementary distinguished themselves in a wide range of competitive categories, including cellular biology, chemistry, computer science, physics, and plant sciences. Their projects tackled meaningful, real-world challenges—from investigating the presence of microplastics in plant cells to developing artificial intelligence tools to improve recycling systems, and evaluating the effectiveness of different materials for insulation.

At the high school level, students in Paradise Valley High School’s CREST program demonstrated advanced research skills and innovation across the bioscience, engineering, and computer science disciplines. Among the highlights, students earned first place in Biochemistry for their research on cardiac tissue and growth factor recovery, as well as first place and the DRIPBL Innovation Award in Systems Software for a project focused on improving imaging safety through the use of neural networks.

Additional honors included second-place in chemistry, and multiple third-place finishes in categories such as: cellular biology, embedded systems, and engineering. Notably, one student team earned first place and qualified for the International Science and Engineering Fair with their project exploring data-driven strategies to enhance music practice.

Across all divisions, judges praised PVSchools students for their depth of scientific inquiry, strong experimental design, and ability to clearly communicate complex ideas. These achievements highlight the strength of the district’s STEM and Career and Technical Education pathways, where students engage in authentic research experiences and apply their learning to solve real-world problems.

First Place Winners: 

• Brayden Perry and Eli Hubbell - Grayhawk Elementary (Grade 5-6): Cellular and Molecular Biology (CB)
• Nikhil Puttamraju - Paradise Valley High School (CREST): Biochemistry (BCHM)
• Anagha Vippagunta - Paradise Valley High School (CREST): Systems Software (SOFT)

Aariya Udhayasankar, Aritro Chatterjee, and Liam Whelan - Paradise Valley High School (CREST): Technology Enhances the Arts (TECA) and ISEF qualifiers.

Enroll today and help your child shine in STEM and CTE in Paradise!