Top Photo: From left are Chloe Naquin, Sara Paige Baggett, Shemai’ya Peak and Teacher Jennifer Daniels. (Photo by Sarah Stephens)
BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Three seniors at Stanhope Elmore High School had exceptional scores at recent Science Fair competitions.
Shemai’ya Peak was the overall winner in regional competitions. One of her teachers, Jennifer Daniels, said “She scored so high at Regionals that they did not place second and third.”
Two other SEHS seniors who did exceptionally well include Chloe Naquin and Sara Paige Baggett.
State Fair competitions will be held April 4-8 virtually with Auburn University hosting. Shemai’ya and Chloe will be competing.
Shemai’ya’s project -Her project was Algal Applications to the Aerobic Bioremediation of Wastewater and the Promotion of Plant Growth.
Chloe’s project – She began work on her project over the summer during an internship with Duke University. Her experiment was an Accoustically Driven Mini Centrifuge.
Sara Paige’s project – Her project was Spinning Up Answers. It tested the effects the absence of moisture, wind shear and left would have on a tornado.
Chloe’s awards – She placed first at County and second at District. She received The Office of Naval Research Naval Science Award, a Senior Division Biophysical Society Award, and second in Senior Division for Bio-Engineering
Shemai’ya awards – 1st place county science fair in January. At Regionals she won five awards. She placed first in her category. She received the Community Innovation Award which is for any project that seeks to better the community and improve local conditions. She won the Stockholm Junior Water Prize. She has competed for the past two years in a row and was an Alabama state representative. Last year she won a national award and she will compete again this year. She also received a 100 Women Strong Award placing third. She won the AU Spirit of Excellence Award which is given to any minority who excels in research.
Sara Paige’s awards – She placed second at county. At Regionals she received two awards including second place in 100 Women Strong and the NASA Achievement Earth System Science Project Award.
After graduation, the ladies have impressive plans for their future.
Chloe – She plans to attend Duke University again this summer and continue her research. She wants to go into the engineering field, either biomedical or chemical engineering.
Shemai’ya – Last year she was at UA for five weeks and took two classes in chemistry and creative writing. She hopes to do that again. Upon entering university in the fall she plans to attend Hawkins or AU to major in environment engineering and continue her wastewater research. She would like to apply it to third world countries in the hopes of curbing or mitigating the wastewater crisis.
Sara Paige – She plans to attend AUM with a double major in chemistry and biology and become a pediatrician. Then she would like to go to UAB and work at Children’s Hospital. As for her tornado machine research, her father uses it in his work as the Autauga County EMA Director. Ernie Baggett uses the machine to help kids at schools understand what a tornado is, how it forms and how to spot them for safety.
Teacher Jennifer Daniels admits she is like a proud parent when it comes to her students.
“I have Chloe and Shemai’ya and I have taught them for three years. I feel like they are my children. Sara Paige is new to me this year, but I love all of them. I could not be more proud of them if they were my own.
SEHS Principal Ewell Fuller expressed his pride in these students, saying “I wish we had 1,100 more of them. There are amazing students, but they are all extremely active as well in extra-curricular programs. We are so very proud of them.”
Aside from excelling in all areas of academics, the ladies are extremely active in extra-curricular activities as well.
Chloe -She is co-captain of the Varsity Cheerleaders, President of Mu Alpha Theta, member of the Computer Science National Honor Society, English National Honors Society, National Honors Society, Science National Honor Society, Beta Club, Junior Civitan, Computer Science National Honors Society and has been president for the past two years. She is also a member of Mu Alpha Theta.
Shemai’ya – She is the Class secretary and has held that position for four years. She is in the National Technical Honors Society, Computer Science National Honors Society, is the Beta Club secretary and is the President of the Science National Honors Society. She is the Treasurer of National Honors Society, Vice President of the National English Honors Society, President of HOSA Chapter at SEHS, and is very involved in the JROTC program as the battalion training and operations officer. She is in Junior Civitan and a member of the Women’s Varsity Tennis Team. She competed last month in the State Poetry Out Loud event in the category of social justice. She is Captain of the Robotics Team. She is also currently a state finalist for the Gorgas Award.
Sara Paige – She is Treasurer of HOSA, Beta Club, Junior Civitan, National Science Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, FBLA and DECA. She is a member of the National Technical Honors Society.
These ladies have a plan to make the future better! Good luck to them in their endeavors.
