LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — The Patuxent Partnership (TPP), in collaboration with the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) and St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM), celebrated the achievements of 18 student finalists at the Maryland Regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) on February 22, 2025. Held at SMCM, the event showcased high school students’ advanced research through oral and poster presentations, with five awardees earning spots at the National JSHS in April.
The symposium featured a diverse array of projects, from machine learning applications to protein crystal design, reflecting the students’ collaboration with mentors and research labs. Dr. Michael Simpson, STEM Grants Program Officer for the Office of Naval Research, delivered the keynote address, tracing the contributions of pioneering scientists to modern breakthroughs. Bonnie M. Green, TPP Executive Director, welcomed attendees and urged students to pursue STEM careers within the Department of Defense, emphasizing their role in national security.
Kelly Ji of Centennial High School took first place with her oral presentation, “Decoding Circadian Gene Regulation Using Novel Machine Learning,” earning a $2,000 undergraduate tuition scholarship. Druv Veda of Montgomery Blair High School secured second place with “Reducing Mortality Risk in Veterans,” a machine learning model integrating genomic data and patient records, receiving $1,500. Nadiat Adedoyin from Springbrook High School claimed third place with her poster “Observing Social Intelligence Across Rhesus Macaque Social Groups,” awarded $1,000. Fourth and fifth places went to Mia Sproge and Diya Kamalabharathy for their posters on protein crystals and RNA-based aptamers, respectively.
All five winners will represent Maryland at the National JSHS in Chantilly, Virginia, from April 22-26, 2025, competing against top student researchers nationwide, per the JSHS website. The event, moderated by Dr. Troy Townsend of SMCM, also featured talks from NAWCAD professionals Bobby Dietrich and Jennica Bart, who shared their journeys from local education to Navy careers.
A panel of distinguished judges evaluated the presentations, including Dr. Simpson, former engineer George I. Allen, NAWCAD’s Josh Considine, Dr. Leah R. Eller, Dorothy Cobb Hammond, Richard Hammond, Dr. Andrew Koch, and Dr. Ryan J. Lane. Their expertise spanned engineering, chemistry, and human systems, ensuring a rigorous review of the students’ work.
The symposium underscored TPP’s mission to foster STEM education, supported by partners like Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division, Joint Base Andrews, and the College of Southern Maryland. Green highlighted the students’ potential to drive innovation, noting the Department of Navy’s investment in STEM talent through programs like JSHS, which has engaged over 10,000 students annually since 1963, according to the Office of Naval Research.
The event drew 18 finalists from across Maryland, selected from a broader pool of applicants, showcasing topics critical to science and defense. Ji’s circadian gene research, for instance, aligns with emerging health tech trends, while Veda’s veteran-focused model addresses real-world medical challenges. The competition’s success reflects St. Mary’s County’s growing role as a STEM hub, bolstered by NAWCAD’s presence at Patuxent River, a key naval aviation research center.
As the winners prepare for nationals, TPP and its partners continue to champion STEM opportunities, bridging education and industry for the next generation.
