Local Students Obtain Awards and Full Scholarship at International Science and Engineering Fair

Palm Beach County is proud to have the top two State Science and Engineering Fair finalists, Christopher Wan and Youssif Hassanein, who represented Palm Beach County at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) that was recently held in Pittsburgh, PA. Approximately 1,549 finalists from 69 countries participated in the ISEF, which is sponsored by Intel and is considered one of the most prestigious science competitions held in the world. 

Christopher Wan attends A. W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts as a Junior;  His project was “Modeling Salinity to Evaluate Saltwater Intrusion: A Case Study of the Loxahatchee River”. Youssif Hassanein attends Suncoast High School as a Junior; His project was “The Art of Chess; Strategy and Artificial Intelligence.”

Christopher Wan received a Fourth Place Grand Award and $500.00 for the overall competition, a Second Place Special Award from the American Geosciences Institute along with $750.00, and a Full Scholarship to Drexel University. Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania awarded full tuition scholarships for projects in the categories of Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Medicine and Health, and Physics or projects aligned with Drexel’s curriculum.  The scholarship is valued at $150,000.

The awards, exciting special events, opportunities to meet Nobel Laureates, and meeting and exchanging ideas with their peers all make the competition an event to be remembered. Christopher and Youssif are already planning their research for their Senior year in hopes of returning to the International competition in 2013.

Christopher Wan and Youssif Hassanein at the 2012 ISEF

For more information contact Greg Goebel at 561-357-1128 or via email at gregory.goebel@palmbeachschools.org.

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 Public Affairs Contact: Natalia Arenas – (561) 357-7662 – natalia.arenas@palmbeachschools.org