John Jay MS Student Wins Top Prize at Science, Tech Fair

CROSS RIVER, NY — Ara Beigi, a seventh grader at John Jay Middle School, won the top award — the Judge Edith Miller Science Award — at the Tri-County Science and Technology Fair held April 29 at White Plains High School. His project, Resonance and Natural Frequency, also won first prize in the physics category. In addition, the top eight exhibits, including Beigi’s, won a nomination to the Broadcom MASTERS national competition held in Washington, DC in October, according to a spokeswoman.

“Ara is a very keen science student,” said Suzanne Guziec, seventh grade Life Science teacher at John Jay Middle School. “He has a wonderful ability to analyze information and he gets excited when he can draw parallels to information he has been exposed to outside of class.”

Beigi’s award-winning project was developed from his own initiative and interests.

“My dad showed me a video about the destruction of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, a bridge that was almost identical to the Whitestone Bridge that we take frequently," Beigi said. "To see a huge bridge fall apart by the mere force of the wind brought a lot of questions to my mind. My dad explained that it was due to reaching the resonance frequency of the bridge."

That experience triggered Beigi's exploration.

"I think that if you force something to vibrate at its natural frequency, it will vibrate noticeably more violently than at other frequencies," Beigi stated in the hypothesis for his project.

The Tri-County Science and Technology Fair is organized by the Putnam Children's Discovery Center, Inc.

Broadcom MASTERS stands for Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering for Rising Stars, a science and engineering competition for middle school students.

“Science fairs support project-based learning and encourage students to enter STEM careers,” said Zach Miller, Earth Science/Physical Science teacher at John Jay Middle School. “Congratulations to Ara and to all participants.”

Photo credit: Katonah-Lewisboro School District.