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The 2023 PJAS Regional Competition was in person for the first time since 2020! The event was held on Saturday, February 4th at Baldwin High School. Overall, 468 students participated from 50 local high schools and middle schools, with 56% female participants. OCHS had 13 students compete, earning seven first place awards and six second place awards. Students conducted their own research projects in the fields of behavioral psychology, biochemistry, biology, botany, chemistry, earth and space, ecology, and microbiology. Shoutout to Heather Helwick and Maia Ramirez for volunteering their time to be technicians at the event.

Below are the results:

• Sarah Cavanaugh- 2nd place in biology
• Charlotte Devlin- 1st place in microbiology
• Soldae Givens- 2nd place in behavioral psychology
• Gianna Kennelly- 2nd place in earth and space
• Adelaide Kreutel- 2nd place in botany
• Clara Lopresti- 1st place in behavioral psychology
• Briella Lucadamo- 1st place in chemistry
• Korina Mikhonin- 1st place in biology
• Anna Nguyen- 1st place in biochemistry
• Erin Price- 2nd place in earth and space
• Ella Reed- 1st place in ecology
• Gretchen Waruszewski- 1st place in chemistry
• Bella White- 2nd place in behavioral psychology

Our amazing students also won some special awards, too:

• Briella Lucadamo and Bella White- Perseverance Award for 6 Years of Participation in PJAS. This was only awarded to 4 students in the entire competition! 
• Charlotte Devlin- Perseverance Award for 3 Years of Participation in PJAS
• Briella Lucadamo- Society of Women Engineers Award
• Ella Reed- Director’s Award in Ecology (chosen by directors of PJAS)