SLIPPERY ROCK — The Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Region 9 Meet was held recently at Slippery Rock University.

About 500 students from nine counties and 29 school districts and individual schools competed. School teams ranged from one student to more than 50 students.

Butler School District, Butler Catholic School, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School, Evangel Heights Christian School, Freeport School District, Holy Sepulcher School, Karns City High School, Mars High School, Seneca Valley High School and St. Gregory School participated.

Each PJAS participant formulates and tests a hypothesis, analyzes the data and draws a conclusion. During the competition, the student gives a timed oral presentation about the project to a small team of judges.

[naviga:h3]Special Awards[/naviga:h3]

Outstanding 11th grade: Julie Cepec, Freeport

Innovation Award Senior High: Jessica Lincoln, Freeport

Slippery Rock University (SRU) Junior High Biological Science: Anastazia Herbst, Freeport

SRU Senior High Chemistry: Jessica Bishop, Butler

SRU Junior High Chemistry: Logan Francis, Butler

SRU Junior High Mathematics: John Zurisko, Freeport

Ernest P. Hall Award, senior high: Michaela Mattivi, Freeport

Ernest P. Hall Award, junior high: Lurena Stewart, Freeport

[naviga:h3]Director's Awards[/naviga:h3]

Junior high biochemistry: Gracie Muth, Holy Sepulcher

Junior high biology: Erin Gianneski, Butler

Junior high chemistry: Spencer Brackett, Butler Catholic

Senior high chemistry: Drew Kolek, Freeport

Junior high ecology: Summer Arner, Freeport

Senior high engineering: Julie Cepec, Freeport

Junior high engineering: Rebecca Hollobaugh, Freeport

Junior high mathematics: Nathan Ellis, Butler

Senior high mathematics: Alexandria Parrotto, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic

Junior high physics: Addison Stewart, Freeport and Delanie Toy, Freeport

Senior high physics: Erin Lemay, Butler

In addition to the Special Award and Director's Award winners, below are other available team results. Students achieving a first place award will compete at the PJAS state level competition in May at Penn State Main Campus.

[naviga:h3]Seneca Valley High School[/naviga:h3]

First place award: Julia Kooser and Bailey Hixon

Second place award: Cassidy Friedrich

[naviga:h3]Freeport High School [/naviga:h3]

Perfect score: Drew Kolek and John Zurisko

First place award: Brook Arner, Julie Cepec, Haley Crosby, Abby Fuhrman, Daniel Gregory, Rebecca Hollobaugh, Alex Kladny, David Kinniburgh, Josh Leonard, Jessica Lincoln, Isabelle Lindsay, Tyler Lucas, Michaela Mattivi, Caitlyn Pascucci, TJ Pascucci, Isabella Parks, Sydney Pastorek, Rebecca Reese, Sophia Reitz, Nathaniel Shaffer, Lurena Stewart and Katie Zingaro

[naviga:h3]Freeport Middle School [/naviga:h3]

Perfect score: Anastazia Herbst, Addison Stewart and Delanie Toy

First place award: Summer Arner, Hanna Brenneman, Isaac Carley, Liam Dress, Noah Golgan, Loryn Henry, Maggie Hollobaugh, Sophia Hower, Amanda Huff, Hannah Kiffer, Anuj Lele, Eli Lindsay, Nicholas Mattivi, Maddie Ravotti, Gary Seger and Mackenzie Wolff

Second place award: Amber Cepec and Alex Legin