Congratulations to Zoe Prats –
2016 York County Science & Engineering Fair Junior Division Grand Champion!
York Suburban High School freshman, Zoe Prats, brought home her second consecutive (a YCSEF record!) Junior Division Grand Champion Award at the 2016 York County Science and Engineering Fair held on Wednesday, March 9 at Penn State York.
With a project titled “Cytotoxic Effects of Metal Nanoparticles in Cancer Cells,“ Zoe’s project examined how cells which ingested nanoparticles helped in eliminating colon cancer.
Zoe’s interest in cancer research and oncology began in 7th grade under the tutelage of one of her favorite teachers, Mrs. Katie Green at YSMS. Since Mrs. Green sparked her interest in the topic, Zoe has been passionate about researching, reading, and conducting oncological projects. Through an uncle who is friends with a Johns Hopkins University administrator, Zoe connected with Dr. Robert Ivkov at JHU and conducted her research there. In fact, she is already hard at work at JHU on next year’s project, which will add-on and repeat what she did this year assessing the cytotoxicity of radiation treatment along with both nanoparticles and radiation treatment. If the project is successful, the hope would be doctors could use lower radiation dosages which would be less taxing to healthy cells.
Zoe also represents YSHS on the softball field and in the orchestra, where she plays cello.
We are YS Proud of all of our YCSEF participants!:
Zoe Prats
- 1st Place Junior Division
- 1st Place American Chemical Society
- Junior Division Grand Champion
Grace Pindzola
- 1st Place Senior Division
- American Statistical Association Award
- Scholarship to Harrisburg University
Rachel Peters
- 2nd Place Senior Division
Anne Baskwill
- 3rd Place Senior Division