Bensalem Students Shine In State Science Competition

BENSALEM, PA — The Bensalem Township School District announced this week that 11 Bensalem High School students received first awards, and 15 received second awards, in the 2021 Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science State Competition. Further, 13 BHS students were honored for their more than three years of participation in the PJAS at the state and regional levels. All told, 26 Bensalem students competed at the state level this year.

“It amazes me that these students put in hours of their own time to explore the curiosity they have for the sciences,” Lisa Tokmajian, a teacher who mentored the high school students, said in her speech at the school’s Night of Champions. “Their ambition and integrity is admirable. They are our future leaders, innovators, doctors, and engineers.”

One student, Mohak Parmar, did in fact earn an $8,000 scholarship to the Penn State College of Engineering for competing in the PJAS. The organization, created in 1934, holds meetings, conventions, and competitions to promote student interest in science and mathematics. Around 3,000 students, having secured regional first awards, advance to present their research before judges in the State Competition each year.

“Due to the pandemic, students presented their research and experiments virtually,” Tokmajian explained. “I am very proud of the determination that all of the PJAS students showed. This was a challenging year for all of them, but they persevered through and stayed with the program.”

Two students from Cecilia Snyder Middle School, Michael Larbi and Diya Patel, were invited to participate based on their success at the regional level and went on to win first awards at the state level, too. These students were advised by Kate Liese and Tom Hoffman.

Please see below the full list of awarded students:

High School Students Receiving First Awards

Aayushi Patel
Sofia Ferrandez
Tiffany Gao
Brian Olsen
Mahi K. Patel
Zaid Shaik
Ali Ahmad
Kathleen Ho
Shiv Parekh
Mohak Parmar
Hugh Kominsky

High School Students Receiving Second Awards

Kaitlyn Higgins
Julia Mathews
Gunjan Patel
Aastha Patel
Jiya Patel
Astha Patel
Diya Shah
Vedika Sharma
Krishiv Gandhi
Jeffrey Ho
Jia Patel
Danielle Armstrong
Sia Desai
Taylor Hood
Maxwell Palamarchuk

High School Students Receiving Regional Perseverance Awards

Hugh Kominsky
Maxwell Palamarchuk
Patrick Le
Sami Rana

High School Students Receiving State Perseverance Awards

Ali Ahmad
Maxwell Palamarchuk
Patrick Le
Danielle Armstrong
Shiv Parekh
Katie Ho
Taylor Hood
David Larbi
Sami Rana

Middle School Students Receiving First Awards

Michael Larbi
Diya Patel