Students from Kanawha County Schools have earned top honors at the 2025–2026 Region 3 Science Fair, advancing to the West Virginia State Science & Engineering Fair scheduled for March 9, 2026. The event brought together students from Boone, Clay, and Putnam counties in addition to those from Kanawha County.
The high school winners from George Washington High School covered a wide range of scientific fields including animal sciences, mathematics analysis, biochemistry, biomedical and health sciences, aerospace engineering, environmental engineering, cellular and molecular biology, behavioral and social sciences, and translational medical science.
The students recognized for their research are:
– Ella Krason (9th grade), who worked on frontal lobe development.
– Hope Wu (9th grade), who analyzed Lionel Messi’s impact on MLS game outcomes.
– Pranav Ponugupati (9th grade), who tested compounds from sweet peppers for effects on aging and stress resistance.
– Shrija Malkaram (9th grade), who compared epigenetic profiles across different cancer types.
– Henry Davis (10th) and Ian Osborne (10th), who designed a hybrid rocket nozzle to maximize thrust at varying altitudes.
– Saja Huggi (10th), who explored water usage linked to online activity.
– Manvitha Sanjaya (11th) and Charvitha Sanjaya (9th), who enhanced spinach with Omega-3 nutrients to address obesity and heart disease risks.
– Vihaan Kakani (11th), who compared spaced study sessions versus cramming for memory retention and test performance.
– Iqraa Zaman (12th), who studied genetic survival patterns in glioblastoma to identify potential biomarkers under stress.
Middle school students also received recognition. Nathaniel Dodd of John Adams Middle School examined the speed of different sorting algorithms in systems software. Vedanshi Pachaun of John Adams Middle School conducted research on wave–particle duality in nuclear and particle physics.
“Congratulations to these outstanding students for their curiosity and commitment to excellence. Their success at the Region 3 Science Fair reflects the strength of STEM education across our district and the bright future ahead for these young innovators as they prepare to compete at the state level.”
Kanawha County Schools offers comprehensive public education from preschool through grade 12 with a focus on innovative learning experiences that connect with the community. The district supports student achievement not only in science but also in art, music, forensic investigations, career training programs, honors courses, leadership opportunities such as JROTC, house point systems for pride and leadership development, as well as partnerships involving nature trail maintenance and collaborations with professional educators. These efforts aim to foster both academic excellence and community engagement throughout Kanawha County in West Virginia (official website).
