Saturday
June 22, 2024 
Bensalem Township School District students attended the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science State Competition, held from May 17-21, at Penn State University.
Thousands of students from all over Pennsylvania presented their scientific research at this annual competition. These projects are a culmination of months of hard work and dedication.
Thirty-four Bensalem High School students competed with 16 receiving first place awards. They are: Greeshma Annagowni, Heeti Desai, Lucas Ferrandez, Dhruv Gohil, Rishi Jani, Michael Larbi, Anna Marks, Abigail Nanakobi, Chudier Nyak, Aarav Patel, Jeet Patel, Meet Patel, Veer Patel, Snaha Paul, Diya Shah, Princi Shah.
Second-place award winners are: Arya George, Julia Mathews, Isaac Mathieu, Marnaath Nyak, Oluseyi Oduntan, Teni Onilari, Aastha Patel, Aayushi Patel, Diya Patel, Jiya Patel, Vedika Patel, Yash Patel, Eesha Shah, Sanya Shah, Nitasha Sharma, Phoebe Ting.
Jhanvi Pathak placed third.
The following Bensalem students earned Monetary Regional Awards and State Perseverance Awards for four-plus years of participation: Aastha Patel (six), Aayushi Patel (six), Julia Mathews (five), and Diya Shah (four). Gunjan Patel (six), Jiya Patel (five), and Astha Patel (four) received Perseverance Plaques.
The BHS team is sponsored by advisor Lisa Tokmajian. Chris Sterman served as a chaperone.
In the middle school division, 14 Robert K. Shafer Middle School students participated with eight earning first-place awards. They are: Aiden Frank, Benjamin Joy, James Mocarski, Manan Patel, Siya Patel, Nashmia Rana, Abigail Schwartz, and Sean Winters.
The second-place award winners are: Nicki Bibeck, Peyton D’Andrea, Joseph Hughes, Divit Kaka, and Hasnain Kazmi. Shiven Patel received a third-place award.
The Shafer Middle School students are sponsored by Morgan Golombek.
Four Cecelia Snyder Middle School students attended states. Emily Knight earned a first-place award. The second-place award winners are: Patrick Marks, Daniel Mathieu, and Kirtan Patel.
The Snyder Middle School students are sponsored by Kate Liese and Tom Hoffman.
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