The district is proud to celebrate two outstanding seniors who earned top honors at the SAAWA Science Fair on Dec. 4. Their dedication, hard work and commitment to strengthening their research through new data collection and peer-review rehearsals truly paid off!

🥇 First Place – Behavioral & Social Sciences
( Gabrielle Parrado — “Growing Pains: The Correlation Between TikTok Usage, Aging Anxiety, and Cosmetic Surgery Intention Among Adolescents”
As social media continues to shape how young people communicate, gather information, and view themselves, (Name)’s research examines how beauty standards on platforms like TikTok influence aging anxiety and cosmetic surgery intention among today’s adolescents.

🥈 Second Place – Environmental Sciences
Sebastian Truong — “The Effect of Pseudomonas stutzeri on the Inhibition of Alexandrium tamutum: Exploring Biosurfactant (Rhamnolipid) Amplification”
With harmful algal blooms posing growing threats to marine ecosystems, (Name) investigated whether the marine bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri could serve as a sustainable biocontrol agent against toxins released during blooms of Alexandrium tamutum.

Congratulations, Gabby and Sebastian, on these hard-earned and truly impressive achievements. We are so #MineolaProud of both of you!