Acworth Resident, Kennesaw Student a Finalist for America's Top Young Scientist

Sara Makboul from Acworth, and who attends Palmer Middle School in Kennesaw, is one of 10 student finalists in the 2016 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge.

The competition recognizes fifth through eighth grade students who create projects that improve lives in their local community or globally. She will be competing against nine other finalists for a grand prize of $25,000 and the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.”

Sara created a project that imitates natural filtration systems in forests to decrease storm runoff by 50 percent, after experiencing storm runoff contamination in her own community.

Sara will partner with a 3M scientist through a summer mentorship program. She and the other finalists will compete on October 17-18 for the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist” during a live event at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, MN. The winner will also receive $25,000 and a trip to watch the taping of a Discovery Network show.

After submitting a short video on their project, the finalists were selected based on their science acumen, innovative thinking and communication skills demonstrated in their entry videos. The finalists – six girls and four boys, ranging in age from 12-14 – include those from public, private and home schools, from locations all across the nation.