STAMFORD – Seventh-grade scientists at Bi-Cultural Hebrew Academy in Stamford had an impressive showing at the 2019 Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair (CSEF), bringing home a treasure trove of medals and honors from the prestigious statewide event, including several top awards.

Approximately 320 prizes and scholarships worth $225,000 were awarded to students from across Connecticut at the Fair’s 71st annual award ceremonies held at Quinnipiac University on March 16.

Seven Bi-Cultural students were among the finalists taking home awards.

For their CSEF projects, the Bi-Cultural students were tasked with choosing a research topic related to life science – the focus of the seventh-grade science curriculum. In addition, says Graseck, the project had to be one students “thought would be helpful for mankind or the world in general.”  

Students Charlotte Moreen and Jason Kwalwasser won first place in the Jackson Life Sciences Award for their project “Drought Tolerance of Herbs,” making the team a CSEF Life Sciences Middle School finalist.

Other Bi-Cultural award winners included Ella Hecht and Nily Genger, who earned second place honors for their project “Is Salt Beneficial for Plant Growth?” Seventh graders Teresa Wiener and Samuel Sendersky also took home a second place ribbon for their project “Salt Tolerance of Plants.” And Esther Goldstein won third place for her project “What Nutrients Help Azolla Grow? How Can We Use This to Fight Climate Change?”

Supported by the state’s academic and industrial organizations, the purpose of the fair “is to teach young people how science works and how it can be used to discover and predict,” says Bi-Cultural middle school science teacher Christopher Graseck.

Head of School Jackie Herman lauded her students for their achievements.

“These young scientists combined what they have learned in the classroom with their natural creativity and inquisitiveness that we have nurtured,” she said. “Their incredibly hard work paid off and we could not be more proud.”