On Saturday, February 8, 2025, the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) Regional Competition was held at Baldwin High School. Quaker Valley Middle School had the best showing of scientific experimental design they have had in many years. A total of 13 students from Ms. Margot Bruno's 8th Grade 4000-Level Physical Science Class presented their experimental design project to the judges at this year's regional competition. One high school student under the mentorship of Mr. Dave Robertson also participated.
Students are placed in small presentation groups by topic category and age group to present their self-designed experiment which they have worked on for many months. Students compete against the criteria of a well-controlled experiment and presentation quality rather than competing against each other.
The five Quaker Valley Middle School students who earned a first-place award are also invited to present their experiment at the PJAS state competition in May, which is held at Penn State University in State College.
QVMS Students:
Thomas "Charlie: Burns - PHYSICS - Analyzing the Effect of League of Baseball on Height Bounced
2nd place
Adara Carrillo - CHEMISTRY - Cookie Ingredients Effect on Volume and Mass
2nd place
Nathan Grabiak - Physics - Analyzing the Effect of shape on 3D Print Time
2nd place
Allison Hawes - Physics - Slippery Sleds
1st place
Special Award from the American Nuclear Society ($100 prize)
Campbell Homer - PHYSICS - Mass Held by Different Rubber Band Bracelet Patterns
2nd place
Wesley Horton - PHYSICS - Analyzing the Effect of Tennis Racket Sizes on Ball Bounces
2nd place
Savannah Jordon - BIOLOGY - The Effect of Different Warmups on Long Jump Results
1st place
Lauren Kirkham - BOTANY - Analyzing the Effect of Clover Type on Grass Growth in Lawns
1st place
Lincoln Liao - ENGINEERING - Types of Truss Bridges and Weight They Can Hold
2nd place
Maddie Ruddle - BEHAVIORAL PSYCHOLOGY - Analyzing the Effect of Musical Genres on Heart Rate
2nd place
William Webster - PHYSICS - Effect of a Model Cars Center of Mass on Speed Down a Slope
1st place
Elizabeth York - MICROBIOLOGY - Analyzing the Effect of No Boil Mouthguards on Bacteria Grow
1st place
Oliver Zutter - PHYSICS - How Does Music Volume Affect a Runners 100 Meter Time
2nd place
QVHS 11th Grade Student - Mentored by Mr. Dave Robertson
Colin York - ECOLOGY/BIOLOGY- Experiment on the Distance from Water Source on Eastern Red-Backed Salamanders Population Density
2nd place