Participants in this year’s Bobbie Cates Hicks Science and Medicine Academic Research Training (SMART) and Biotechnology Magnet Academy (BTA) at Southwood High School programs recently competed and placed in the Louisiana State Science and Engineering Fair.
Both programs are part of BRF’s EdVentures education initiative to build the region’s science and technology workforce.
SMART student winners:
- Nhi Dao – 1st Place, Mathematics
- Elizabeth Klotzbach – 2nd Place, Microbiology
- Raj Letchuman – 1st Place, Biomedical Engineering and received a bid to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
- Chloe Miller – 1st Place, Cellular & Molecular Biology
- Kate Michael – 3rd Place, Behavioral & Social Science
- Gabrielle Miller – 1st Place, Microbiology
The SMART program, launched in 1997, is a yearlong research experience for 8-12 academically advanced high school seniors from Caddo, Bossier and DeSoto parishes. The students work alongside investigators at LSU Health Shreveport on research studies. SMART students have a career interest in medicine, biomedical research or biomedical engineering. The program is a partnership among BRF; LSU Health Shreveport; and the Caddo, Bossier and DeSoto Parish School Boards.
Southwood High School Biotechnology Magnet Academy (BTA) winners:
- Whitney Jones – 3rd Place, Cellular & Molecular Biology
- Kasen Wright – 3rd Place, Biochemistry
- Chris Kirkpatrick – 4th Place, Biochemistry
- Lexi Livingston also presented her research in Biomedical Engineering
