HHH HS West Student Named Regional Winner in Siemens Competition

Posted Nov. 15, 2016:

A Half Hollow Hills High School West student was named a winner of the regional phase of the Siemens Competition held at the University of Notre Dame over the weekend.

Alice Wu was named a National Finalist in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology after earning top spots in one of two regional competitions.

The students presented their research to a panel of judges at the University of Notre Dame, which hosted the Region Three Finals.

Pranav Sivakumar of Tower Lakes, IL, earned top individual honors and a $3,000 scholarship for his research studying Almost Dark Galaxies, which are masses that are mainly composed of dark matter, to learn more about this substance and the history of the universe.

Wu, along with Katherine Cao of Mequon, WI, and William Hu of Saratoga, CA, shared the $6,000 team scholarship for developing a novel technique for growing dental pulp stem cells, which could potentially improve bone and teeth regeneration.

These regional winners are among 96 students selected to compete in regional competitions across the country.

"These competitors never cease to amaze me with the depth and breadth of knowledge they have acquired on these topics," David Etzwiler, CEO of the Siemens Foundation, said in a press release. "They are the future of scientific research and they make it clear the possibilities are endless."

Wu will now move on to the final phase of the competition where she will present her work at the National Finals in Washington, D.C., on Dec 5-6. There will be $500,000 in scholarships awarded, including two top prizes of $100,000, at the finals.

Wu and two other Half Hollow Hills students were also announced as 2016 semifinalists in the prestigious Siemens Competition last month. Wu was announced as a regional finalist a week later.

File photo