King School’s Advanced Science Program for Independent Research and Engineering (ASPIRE) students and STEM Research Elective students are having a landmark year, earning top recognition at multiple prestigious science competitions. From the Connecticut STEM Fair to the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium and the Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair, students continue to demonstrate exceptional research skills and scientific innovation.

Director of Science Research Victoria Schulman said that this year, more students advanced to the finals and earned podium placements than ever before.

“It’s always a pleasure to work with the ASPIRE students and see them succeed, but this year was special because we also had some STEM Research Elective students and some 2024 King Science Fair winners compete and succeed as well,” she said.

Schulman highlighted the achievement of the King event winners, noting that they were in Grade 9 and rising to the challenge of competing alongside advanced science students. “It’s great to see more students at all levels of research offered at King engaging in these competitions to showcase their work.”

In February, students delivered standout performances across various categories at the Connecticut STEM Fair. 

Maddie Scanlon ’25 earned first place in Behavioral Sciences for her project, "Assessing the Public’s Awareness and Susceptibility to Cyber Attacks," which analyzed how different populations recognize and respond to cybersecurity threats. 

Dillon Maltese ’26 took the top prize in Physical Sciences with his "Voice-Controlled Robotic Arm for Assisting Complex Surgical Tasks," a project that has implications for medical technology and robotics.

In Environmental Sciences, Lucia Vivanco ’26 secured second place for her research on mitigating heat stress in marine algae, studying how nutrient additives could enhance resilience to climate change. 

Bruno Reinhoefer Ribeiro ’26 earned third in Physical Sciences with his work on "An Effective Water Treatment Method: Adsorption of Nickel (II) Ions in Water Using DNA-Wrapped Carbon Nanotubes," which explores sustainable ways to improve water purification.  

Other notable placements included Leon Wang’s ’26 third place finish in Health & Medical Sciences for his study on Alzheimer’s disease treatments, Vito Scutari’s ’26 third place in the Physical Sciences Proposal category for "CAED: Comprehensive Assessment for Executive Dysfunction.” Nick Marti ’27 and Isabel McDonald ’27 earned second place in the team's category for their research “Determining Whether Personality-Type Influences a Person’s Interpretation of Ambiguous Images.”

Students also excelled at the Connecticut Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (CT-JSHS), where five students were named finalists. Dillon and Vito were selected as oral presenters, while Bruno, Lucia, and Sowa Laryea-Adjei ’26 qualified as poster presenters. The symposium, which invites only the top 36 student researchers in the state, serves as a platform for students to present their work alongside Connecticut’s best young scientists.  

Students also had a strong showing at the 2024 Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair (CSEF), a statewide competition that encourages innovation across various scientific disciplines. Dillon led the way, winning first place in the Applied Technology category, third place in Physical Sciences, and placing in the top 10 for Biotechnology. He also received the Office of Naval Research Special Award and was named the alternate for Connecticut’s delegation to the International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF). Several other students were recognized as finalists across multiple categories, highlighting the depth of talent in King’s science program.

“Competitions and prizes are rewarding as they validate my work and push me to go even further,” said Dillon, who lost his grandfather to a brain tumor. Dillon channels his grief into his work with surgical robotics, hoping to help other families avoid such losses. “At the end of the day, the real reward is the impact.”

With continued success at state and national competitions, King students are reinforcing the school’s reputation as a leader in high school scientific research. These achievements reflect not only their dedication but also the strength of King’s ASPIRE and STEM Research Elective programs in advancing independent inquiry and scientific discovery.