On February 8th, several Grier students attended the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Competition (PJAS) at St. Francis University in Loretto, PA. Students from various grades participated, including junior Zara Dawodu, sophomore Sophia Richards-Cordell, and 8th graders Greta Burke, Bixie Friedman, and Brooklyn Hurlbut.
Upon arrival, students were led into the auditorium before being split into groups of ten, each assigned two judges. Every participant had ten minutes to present their project before receiving feedback.
Junior Zara Dawodu’s project focused on the effects of succession on invasive plants. “I had an amazing time at the university, hearing about everyone’s projects and their accomplishments,” said Dawodu. “I thought it was an amazing way to encourage STEM outreach among students.”
The trip also included lunch at the university and several afternoon activities, such as science games with the head of the Science Department at Grier, Dr. Burke, and a hands-on ice cream-making session using chemical reactions.
Many students earned awards for their projects, along with merchandise from the university. Second-place awards were given to Zara Dawodu, Greta Burke, Brooklyn Hurlbut, and Sophia Richards-Cordell, while Bixie Friedman received a third-place award.
After the awards ceremony, students gathered for a group photo before heading back to campus, arriving around 3 p.m. Reflecting on the experience, they described it as both fun and intellectually stimulating. “It was a memorable experience that I hope to return to,” said Richards-Cordell. “The competition was very rewarding, and I greatly enjoyed the opportunity.”
