Hempfield High School Senior named Grand Champion
Hempfield High School Senior named Grand Champion at 73rd North Museum Science & Engineering Fair
From among STEM-focused students in grades 6 through 12 from 23 Lancaster and Lebanon County schools, Hempfield senior Ethan Albright was named 2026 Grand Champion at the North Museum Science and Engineering Fair (NMSEF) on Thursday, March 12 at Millersville University. At the 2025 NMSEF, Albright distinguished himself as Senior Division Champion.
Read More on our Science Fair Winners Page.
Albright and his winning 2026 project, “Bugged Out: A Novel Approach to Reforestation” competed among more than 250 student finalists, an increase of 39% over 2025 participation levels, and the largest level of participation since prior to the Pandemic.
Senior Division Champion 2026 is Lancaster Country Day School senior Benedikt Kienle, for his project, “New Green Chemistry Iridium Catalysts.”
Both students are eligible to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) at Phoenix, Arizona, May 9 through 15, among 1700 students from throughout the world in the largest international science competition for pre-college students. Should a student choose to attend, the North Museum underwrites the ISEF registration fee. Should the Grand Champion or Senior Champion choose not to attend, the Senior Reserve Champion will be eligible to attend ISEF.
Finalists also include Senior Division Reserve Champion, Emily Stauffer, Warwick High School, senior for “Rats on Roughage: The Effects of Dietary Fiber on Rattus norvegicus”; Junior Division Champion 8th grade student Alex Anspach, St. Leo the Great for “A Natural Solution: Using Polysaccharide Based Polymers in Fenugreek to Remove Microplastics from Water”; and Junior Division Reserve Champion 7th grade student Charlie Teachworth, Lancaster Country Day School, for “How Staging Affects the Power of a Gauss Accelerator.”
More than 70 expert judges from a wide cross section of local educational institutions and STEM-focused businesses reviewed the students’ projects. The NMSEF is one of just six fairs in Pennsylvania associated with ISEF.
“The North Museum is grateful for the generosity of our many sponsors, and their commitment to supporting access to STEM education opportunities for students in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties,” says Scott Downs, Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships. “Additionally, we are thankful for the outstanding contributions from our judges, volunteers and participating teachers and students.”
The 2026 North Museum Science & Engineering Fair is sponsored by Electron Energy Company, Kenvue, Eurofins, the Lancaster County STEM Alliance, Matt Glick, Lancaster Area Sewer Authority, The Stangl Foundation and Millersville University. Those interested in sponsoring future science fairs to keep them free to all students should contact Scott Downs, Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships at sdowns@northmuseum.org.
The North Museum has managed the Science & Engineering Fair in Lancaster County since 2009. The NMSEF has been a staple of science education in Lancaster County for more than 70 years, inspiring thousands of young researchers to create, design and discover the joys of science and engineering through their projects. The mission of North Museum of Nature & Science is to enable knowledge of nature and science by inspiring individuals, engaging communities, and connecting organizations.
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Read More on our Science Fair Winners Page.
NMSEF 2026 Category Winners and Auxiliary Awards
Senior Division Category Winners
Animal & Behavioral Science
1st Place: Geno Falduts, Conestoga Valley High School, 11th Grade
2nd Place: Madison Gonzalez, Conestoga Valley High School, 11th Grade
3rd Place: Rosemary Jacobs, The Stone Independent School, 10th Grade
Biochemistry & Biomedical Science
1st Place: Claire Duan, Linden Hall School for Girls, 11th Grade
2nd Place: Shamil Issayev, Conestoga Valley High School, 10th Grade
3rd Place: Olivia Hagy, Ephrata High School, 11th Grade
Honorable Mention: Kylee Wood, Elizabethtown Area High School, 11th Grade
Honorable Mention: Nyana Perera, Veritas Academy, 11th Grade
Chemistry, Energy, & Materials Science
1st Place: Anya Dwivedi, Warwick High School, 10th Grade
2nd Place: Samantha Ilustre Do, The Stone Independent School, 10th Grade
3rd Place: Sona Rezhalova, J.P. McCaskey High School, 12th Grade
Honorable Mention: Kyle Reidenbaugh, Ephrata High School, 11th Grade
Honorable Mention: Timothy Breckbill, Ephrata High School, 12th Grade
Earth & Environmental Sciences
1st Place: Ruby Garner-Valle, J.P. McCaskey High School, 11th Grade
2nd Place: Benjamin Koser, The Stone Independent School, 10th Grade
3rd Place: Zoe Keller, Ephrata High School, 11th Grade
Honorable Mention: Owen Koser, The Stone Independent School, 9th Grade
Environmental, Engineering Technology & Robotics
1st Place: Kai Unwin-Wisnosky, JP McCaskey High School, 12th Grade
2nd Place: Bruce Burkholder, Ephrata High School, 12th Grade
3rd Place: Brady Shoff, Columbia High School, 11th Grade
Honorable Mention: Rojus Pauza, Lancaster Country Day School, 11th Grade
Honorable Mention: Pearly Mikhil, Ephrata High School, 10th Grade
Honorable Mention: Nicholas Reigner, Elizabethtown Area High School, 10th Grade
Microbiology
1st Place: Tirth Parikh, Manheim Township High School, 11th Grade
2nd Place: Anna Weidman, Ephrata High School, 11th Grade
3rd Place: Yi-Wen Liu, Dayspring Christian Academy, 12th Grade
Honorable Mention: Audrianna Resetar, Elizabethtown Area High School, 12th Grade
Honorable Mention: Kiera Navarich, Ephrata High School, 11th Grade
Physics & Mathematics
1st Place: Dev Marwaha, Conestoga Valley High School, 12th Grade
2nd Place: Hannah Szobocsan, Elizabethtown Area High School, 10th Grade
3rd Place: Connor Saxon, Elizabethtown Area High School, 10th Grade
Honorable Mention: Ethan Zhou, Lancaster Country Day School, 10th Grade
Honorable Mention: Landon Becker, The Stone Independent School, 9th Grade
Honorable Mention: Matt Savage, Ephrata High School, 10th Grade
Honorable Mention: Nehemiah Jackson, The Stone Independent School, 11th Grade
Plant Sciences
1st Place: Mariel Pasternak-Post, Lancaster Country Day School, 9th Grade
2nd Place: Emily Comerford, Ephrata High School, 11th Grade
3rd Place: Lily Wolfe, Ephrata High School, 11th Grade
Honorable Mention: Shepherd Todd, Warwick High School, 11th Grade
Junior Division Category Winners
Botany
1st Place: Lena Skiadas, Lancaster Country Day School, 7th Grade
2nd Place: Presley Clicqennoi, Ephrata Middle School, 8th Grade
3rd Place: Ira Chanko, Sacred Heart School, 7th Grade
Honorable Mention: Benson Shank, Landisville Middle School, 7th Grade
Honorable Mention: Finley Schulze, Our Mother of Perpetual Help School, 7th Grade
Consumer Science
1st Place: Arvind Jhaveri, Lancaster Country Day School, 8th Grade
2nd Place: Nolan Fidler, Lancaster County Christian School, 8th Grade
3rd Place: Eleanor Cavanaugh, Lancaster Country Day School, 7th Grade
Honorable Mention: Rima Pasupuleti, Lancaster Country Day School, 7th Grade
Honorable Mention: Corey Jones, Lancaster Friends School, 8th Grade
Honorable Mention: Luke Stoltzfoos, Lancaster County Christian School, 8th Grade
Honorable Mention: Kay Kraus, Lancaster Country Day School, 8th Grade
Earth Science
1st Place: Holt Carlson, Lancaster County Christian School, 8th Grade
2nd Place: Eily Schulz, Lancaster Country Day School, 7th Grade
3rd Place: Nayeli Santos, Landisville Middle School, 7th Grade
Engineering
1st Place: Madelyn Sheller, Our Mother of Perpetual Help School, 6th Grade
2nd Place: Noelle Wolgemuth, Lancaster Mennonite, 7th Grade
3rd Place: Ashley Thomas, Our Mother of Perpetual Help School, 6th Grade
Honorable Mention: Andrew Holton, Landisville Middle School, 7th Grade
Honorable Mention: Delaney Smith, St. Leo the Great, 8th Grade
Honorable Mention: Evan Ciampanelli, Lancaster County Christian School, 8th Grade
Honorable Mention: Gavin Schock, Lancaster County Christian School, 8th Grade
Honorable Mention: Katherine Vaughn, Our Mother of Perpetual Help School, 6th Grade
Honorable Mention: Joel Tambo, Lancaster Mennonite, 7th Grade
Life Science
1st Place: Everett Cristaldi, Ephrata Middle School, 7th Grade
2nd Place: Olivia Kelsey, Lancaster Country Day School, 8th Grade
3rd Place: Grace Phan, St. Leo the Great, 6th Grade
Honorable Mention: Cameron Lefever, Sacred Heart School, 8th Grade
Honorable Mention: Olivia Rodrigues, Lancaster Country Day School, 7th Grade
Physical Science
1st Place: Alaina Atkinson, Our Mother of Perpetual Help School, 7th Grade
2nd Place: Arianna Allen, Lancaster Country Day School, 8th Grade
3rd Place: Jai Kataria, Lancaster Country Day School, 7th Grade
Honorable Mention: Martin Kowitz, Our Mother of Perpetual Help School, 7th Grade
Honorable Mention: Noah Costello, St. Leo the Great, 6th Grade
Honorable Mention: Akash Praveen, Lancaster Country Day School, 7th Grade
Honorable Mention: Anushka Kurian, Lancaster Country Day School, 8th Grade
Honorable Mention: William Ryan, Marticville Middle School, 8th Grade
Honorable Mention: Owen Cellucci, St. John Neumann Catholic School, 8th Grade
Honorable Mention: Mariah DanPullo, Lancaster Country Day School, 7th Grade
Honorable Mention: Teddy Stairs, St. Leo the Great, 8th Grade
Honorable Mention: Aubrey Alexander, Ephrata Middle School, 8th Grade
Champions & Grand Champion
Junior Division Reserve Champion
Charlie Teachworth, Lancaster Country Day School, 7th Grade
Project Title: How Staging Affects the Power of a Gauss Accelerator
Junior Division Champion
Alex Anspach, St. Leo the Great, 8th Grade
Project Title: A Natural Solution: Using Polysaccharide Based Polymers in Fenugreek to Remove Microplastics from Water
Senior Division Reserve Champion
Emily Stauffer, Warwick High School, 12th Grade
Project Title: Rats on Roughage: The Effects of Dietary Fiber on Rattus norvegicus
Senior Division Champion
Benedikt Kienle, Lancaster Country Day School, 12th Grade
Project Title: New Green Chemistry Iridium Catalysts
NMSEF 2026 Grand Champion
Ethan Albright, Hempfield High School, 12th Grade
Project Title: Bugged Out: A Novel Approach to Reforestation
Auxiliary Awards
Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories: Achievement in Analytical Chemistry
Senior Division: Ruby Garner-Valle, J.P. McCaskey High School, 11th Grade
Junior Division: William Ryan, Marticville Middle School, 8th Grade
Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers – Lincoln Chapter Engineering Excellence Award
1st Place: Kai Unwin-Wisnosky, JP McCaskey High School, 12th Grade
2nd Place: Nicholas Reigner, Elizabethtown Area High School, 10th Grade
3rd Place: Malachi Ream, Veritas Academy, 11th Grade
Society of American Military Engineers (SAME)
Senior Division: Pearly Mikhil, Ephrata High School, 10th Grade
Junior Division: Evan Ciampanelli, Lancaster County Christian School, 8th Grade
Southeastern Pennsylvania Section of the American Chemical Society
Senior Division 1st: Benedikt Kienle, Lancaster Country Day School, 12th Grade
Senior Division 2nd: Ethan Albright, Hempfield High School, 12th Grade
Senior Division 3rd: Anya Dwivedi, Warwick High School, 10th Grade
Senior Division Honorable Mention: Shamil Issayev, Conestoga Valley High School, 10th Grade
Senior Division Honorable Mention: Samantha Ilustre Do, The Stone Independent School, 10th Grade
Association of Women Geoscientists Foundation: Outstanding Woman in Geosciences Award
Senior Division: Zoe Keller, Ephrata High School, 11th Grade
Junior Division: Brianna Ufret, Sacred Heart School, 8th Grade
Creative Solutions to Lancaster County Problems
Junior Division 1st: Tyler Cumberbatch, Our Mother of Perpetual Help School, 7th Grade
Junior Division 2nd: Jovan Aldae, Lancaster Country Day School, 8th Grade
Junior Division 3rd: Everett Cristaldi, Ephrata Middle School, 7th Grade
North Museum of Nature and Science Earth & Environmental Science Award
Senior Division: Andrew Otto, The Stone Independent School, 9th Grade
Junior Division: William Ryan, Marticville Middle School, 8th Grade
North Museum of Nature and Science Physical Science Award
Senior Division: Benedikt Kienle, Lancaster Country Day School, 12th Grade
Junior Division: Daivyam Trivedi, Landisville Middle School, 7th Grade
Longwood Gardens Award for Excellence in Horticulture & Plant Science
Junior Division: Catherine Graver, Sacred Heart School, 7th Grade
Jack O. Daneker Memorial Prize
Award: Qicheng (Claire) Duan, Linden Hall School for Girls, 11th Grade
Award: Rima Pasupuleti, Lancaster Country Day School, 7th Grade
Einstein’s Grandmother Award for Excellence in Science Communication
Award: William Ryan, Marticville Middle School, 8th Grade
North Museum Science and Engineering Fair Student Choice Award
Senior Division: Anthony Froggatt, Ephrata High School, 11th Grade
Junior Division: Dorian Flower, Our Mother of Perpetual Help School, 6th Grade
2026 Naval Science Award
Senior Division: Timothy Breckbill, Ephrata High School, 12th Grade
Senior Division: Anya Dwivedi, Warwick High School, 10th Grade
Senior Division: Carter Matthews, Ephrata High School, 12th Grade
Junior Division: Maddox Smith, Lancaster County Christian School, 7th Grade
Junior Division: Nayeli Santos, Landisville Middle School, 7th Grade
Junior Division: Katherine Vaughn, Our Mother of Perpetual Help School, 6th Grade
Junior Division: Madelyn Sheller, Our Mother of Perpetual Help School, 6th Grade
John S. Downs Memorial Award
Award: Abriella Rodriquez, Ephrata Middle School, 7th Grade
Regeneron Biomedical Science Award
Senior Division: Emily Stauffer, Warwick High School, 12th Grade
Record Number of Students in NM Science & Engineering Fair
Students compete in 73rd annual North Museum Science & Engineering Fair, presented by The Arconic Foundation
The 2026 NMSEF includes more than 250 student finalists, an increase of 39% over 2025 participation levels, and the largest level of participation since prior to the Pandemic.
(LANCASTER)—The public is invited to join families, fans and friends to see over 250 young scientists’ and engineers’ experimental projects as Lancaster and Lebanon County students in grades 6 through 12 as they present a diverse body of science projects at the North Museum Science & Engineering Fair (NMSEF), Thursday, March 12 at Millersville University. Student projects will be accessible to the public from 4pm to 6:30pm. The NMSEF Awards ceremony follows at 6:30pm.
The 2026 NMSEF includes more than 250 student finalists, an increase of 39% over 2025 participation levels, and the largest level of participation since prior to the Pandemic. More than 70 volunteers from a wide cross section of local educational institutions and STEM- focused businesses will judge the student projects representing 16 high schools and 12 middle schools.
The top two students’ projects from the NMSEF’s senior division—the Grand Champion and the Senior Champion—earn the right to travel to the International Science and Engineering Fair and compete with 1,700 of their peers from around the world in Phoenix, Arizona from May 9 through 15, 2026.
North Museum has been organizing the Science & Engineering Fair for 16 years, welcoming students in grades 6–12 from public, private, charter, online, parochial, and home schools. The NMSEF is one of just six fairs in Pennsylvania associated with the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s largest international science competition for pre-college students.
“The North Museum is grateful for the ongoing generosity of our many sponsors, and their commitment to supporting access to STEM education opportunities for students in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties,” says Scott Downs, Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships. “We are also thankful for the outstanding contributions from our judges, volunteers and participating teachers and students.”
Dr. Dan Daneker, the museum’s Science Fair Coordinator, commented, “Seeing these young stemologists excited for their research is not only gratifying as a science teacher, but reassuring that the future is bright. The Science and Engineering Fair helps our young scientists and engineers learn if research is right for them. Coupled with the commitment of the local STEM community who rallies behind our students, the results are amazing!"
Those interested in sponsoring future science fairs to keep them free to all students should contact Scott Downs, Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships at sdowns@northmuseum.org.
The 2026 North Museum Science & Engineering Fair is sponsored by Electron Energy Company, Kenvue, Eurofins, the Lancaster County STEM Alliance, Matt Glick, Lancaster Area Sewer Authority, The Stangl Foundation and Millersville University.
List of Categories
NMSEF Categories (Senior Division)
- Animal & Behavioral Science
- Biochemistry & Biomedical Science
- Chemistry, Energy, & Materials Science
- Earth & Environmental Sciences
- Environmental, Engineering Technology & Robotics
- Microbiology
- Physics & Mathematics
- Plant Sciences
NMSEF Categories (Junior Division)
- Botany
- Consumer Science
- Earth Science
- Engineering
- Life Science
- Physical Science
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Lancaster Science Fair Winner—Now International Winner!
Hempfield High School Student Brings Home Top Honors at the World’s Largest International Science Competition
Hempfield High School junior Ethan Albright was awarded 3rd place in the Materials Science category at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) last week, held in Columbus, Ohio. His winning project, “Reel Problems. Reel Solutions. Combating Microplastics in Aquatic Ecosystems with Biodegradable Fishing Lures,” had earned Albright the Senior Division Champion award at the North Museum Science & Engineering Fair (NMSEF) in March 2025.
NMSEF’s 2025 Grand Champion Ansh Dwivedi, a senior at Warwick High School, also competed at ISEF, which is the world’s largest international science competition for pre-college students.
The two Lancaster County students traveled to Columbus to compete among 1,657 other students from 63 countries. North Museum paid all registration fees, travel and accommodation expenses to provide the two winning student competitors with this opportunity.
Albright’s win marks the first finalist award for an NMSEF champion since 2017. He is the son of Jennifer and Justin Albright. Warwick High School chemistry teacher Doug Balmer, who accompanied the two students to ISEF, noted the support of local educational resources in the students’ preparations.
“Millersville University allowed Ansh to use its scanning electronic microscope (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) free of charge,” he said, “and Ethan was able to come to Warwick and use the infrared spectrometer (IR) and poster plotter.”
The 2026 Science & Engineering Fair will be held at Millersville University on Thursday, March 12, 2026, and is one of just six fairs in Pennsylvania associated with ISEF. Students from every public school district in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties, as well as all private, charter, online and home schools are invited to enter the competition. Next year’s competition will begin with registration in October 2025, and is free of charge to all participating students.
The NMSEF has been a staple of science education in Lancaster County for 72 years, inspiring thousands of young researchers to create, design and discover the joys of science and engineering through their projects.