Palo Alto Student Wins 2nd Place in Global STEM Competition

July 25, 2018, Palo Alto, CA – The top three teams of high school students from around the nation and the globe were named at the Spellman HV Electronics Clean Tech Competition on July 12, 2018. Teams of high school students from five nations – two from California, two from Long Island, three from Singapore and one each Ireland, Australia and Peru participated in the 7th annual event held at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY USA. The competition's sponsor, Spellman High Voltage Electronics is the world's leading provider of high performance, custom and standard DC high voltage power converters. Winning second place for his project relating to changing colored Thermochromics Roof Coatings used to capture or reflect the energy of the sun was Benjamin Liao representing the Henry M. Gunn High School Team of Palo Alto, California, who received a prize of $7,500. The 10 international finalist teams that traveled to Long Island presented their STEM-based solutions for climate change after beating out a record number of almost 550 teams from 39 countries.

First place recognition and a $10,000 prize was given to the team comprised of Danielle Kelly of Friends Academy, Locust Valley, NY and Audrey Shine of Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School, Plainview, NY, representing the Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School Team whose project focused on enhancing the efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells. Its title was "Application of Graphene Oxide/Amine Functionalized Graphene Oxide onto Polymer Electrolyte Membranes (PEM) and Electrodes to Optimize Hydrogen Fuel Cell Performance," which focused on improving the performance of hydrogen fuel cells through incorporating graphene oxide into layers of the fuel cell. In conjunction with winning first place, these students will have the opportunity to attend and present at The World Congress on Climate Change in Rome, Italy in September. To support the students' trip to Rome, please visit: https://www.cstl.org/clean-tech-donation. Ms. Shine and Ms. Kelly will also continue their relationship with a professional mentor, who will advise them regarding their work and education.

The third place finisher was Elise Ireland of the Republic of Ireland representing the Regina Mundi College Team of Ireland who received $5,000 for her project that used rain water in downspouts to produce electricity.

The Spellman HV Electronics Clean Tech Competition is the only STEM competition with a focus on using clean technology to solve environmental challenges.

According to Dr. Loren Skeist, President of Spellman HV Electronics, the sponsor of the competition, "Solving the challenges of our environment will require creative and innovative solutions from everywhere around the world. The innovative thinking and dedication of these young people is needed now more than ever. The fact that almost 550 teams from all over the globe submitted project ideas to this competition makes me optimistic about the future, not only of science, but of our planet."

"Clean tech is more than just a competition – it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to collaborate with young scientists around the globe. I am incredibly honored and grateful to receive the top award," said winner Ms. Shine.

"Clean Tech provided us with an amazing opportunity to interact with students from around the globe. Winning was incredible, and I am so grateful for the honor, but the true value of the experience was collaborating internationally to solve the pressing and universal issue of climate change," said winner Ms.Kelly.

"Stony Brook University was proud to host the Clean Tech Finals. The deep level of research and creativity presented by the high school finalists was impressive and these students are poised to help the world solve major environmental issues," said Joan Dickinson, MA, Director Community Relations of Stony Brook University.

"All of the students who participated in the finals demonstrated their creativity and understanding of STEM principals. These young people are a shining example of the importance and the potential of STEM. With Spellman HV Electronics, we continue to show government leaders, educators, parents and the business community the importance of STEM and the need to embrace new STEM education initatives," said Dr. Ray Ann Havasy, Director of The Center for Science Teaching & Learning.

The 2018 Spellman High Voltage Electronics Clean Tech Competition is hosted and managed by Rockville Centre, New York-based Center for Science Teaching & Learning (CSTL). CSTL is a not-for-profit organization with a mission of encouraging science learning and literacy.

For more information about, CSTL or Spellman High Voltage Electronics Clean Tech Competition, please visit www.cleantechcompetition.org or call (516) 764-0045.

Spellman High Voltage Electronics is the world's leading provider of high performance, custom and standard DC high voltage power converters and Monoblock® X-Ray sources for medical, industrial, semiconductor, security, analytical, laboratory and under-sea cable power-feed applications. As a global supplier with strategically located design and manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia, Spellman is committed to providing best-in-class support to OEM customers and end-users throughout the world. For more information, contact: Suzanne Muller at smuller@spellmanhv.com.

The Center for Science Teaching & Learning (CSTL) is a not-for-profit organization with a mission of encouraging science learning and literacy. CSTL develops programs for people of all ages and utilizes inquiry-based learning as its foundation for program development. This year marks the first for which CSTL is serving as the administrator of the Clean Tech Competition. For more information, visit www.cleantechcompetition.org.For more information about CSTL visit www.ctsl.org.

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PHOTO CAPTIONS (Photo credit for all photos is Courtesy of Center for Science, Teaching & Learning (CSTL)):
SHVE CT Top 3 Winners: Pictured from left to right is Director of The Center for Science Teaching & Learning (CSTL) Dr. Ray Ann Havasy; 2018 Spellman HV Clean Tech Competition third place winner Elise Ireland of the Republic of Ireland from the Regina Mundi College Team of Ireland; 2018 first place winners Danielle Kelly of Woodbury from Friends Academy and Audrey Shine of Plainview representing the Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School Team; 2018 second place winner Benjamin Liao of Palo Alto, CA representing the Henry M. Gunn High School Team of Palo Alto, CA; and President of Spellman High Voltage Electronics Dr. Loren Skeist.

SHVE CT All Teams: Director of The Center for Science Teaching & Learning (CSTL) Dr. Ray Ann Havasy (far left), President of Spellman High Voltage Electronics Dr. Loren Skeist (second right), and Director of Community Relations for Stony Brook University Joan Dickenson (far right) with 2018 Spellman HV Clean Tech Competition Finalists. Seated from left to right are third place winner Elise Ireland of the Republic of Ireland from the Regina Mundi College Team of Ireland, first place winners Danielle Kelly of Woodbury from Friends Academy and Audrey Shine of Plainview representing the Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School Team, and second place winner Benjamin Liao of Palo Alto, CA representing the Henry M. Gunn High School Team of Palo Alto, CA.
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