Morgantown students advances to international science competition

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Morgantown High school student will be one of two representing the state in an upcoming science and engineering fair.

Alice Guo from Morgantown High School and Alexandria Harper from Riverside High School in Belle will represent West Virginia during the 2021 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair virtually May 16-21. Both advanced to the international event by competing in the state Science and Engineering Fair.

Guo, a junior at Morgantown High School in Morgantown, West Virginia, was awarded top honors for her project titled, “Automated Recognition of Autism Based on Visual Analysis with Artificial Intelligence Techniques.” Guo also represented the West Virginia Science and Engineering Fair at ISEF 2019.

Harper, a freshman at Riverside High School in Belle, West Virginia, was awarded top honors for her project titled, “Chasing Fireflies: Creating a Firefly Sanctuary to Increase the Firefly Population.” This will be her first appearance at ISEF.

The pair will show their projects more than 1,800 ninth through twelfth graders from around the world competing for nearly $5 million in awards, prizes and scholarships.

“Our West Virginia students are an important piece of the puzzle when we talk about building the next generation of scientific innovators for our state,” State Superintendent of Schools W. Clayton Burch said. “We are grateful to those who continue to inspire, celebrate and elevate young scientific superstars like Alice and Alexandria. These young ladies are a product of the tremendous science education we offer within West Virginia, and we are extremely proud of their accomplishments.”

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