Superintendent Paul Zinni and Principal Dr. Lisa Mobley announce that several King Philip Regional High School students will be graduating with Distinction in STEM as members of the Class of 2023.
To achieve distinction status, students must propose a project and work with an advisor to complete action steps approved by a KPRHS faculty panel.
“I’m pleased to announce this year’s Distinction in STEM recipients and share information about their extremely interesting and highly informative projects,” Superintendent Zinni said. “These projects allowed each student to build upon the knowledge they already possessed regarding a certain topic, and through their work they have now shared that knowledge with others through their unique projects. I ask that you all join me in congratulating the following students.”
Students who will be graduating with Distinction in STEM include:
- Allison Bois – Impact of Social Norms on High School Students
Bois conducted an analysis of the 2021 MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey and partnered with the Healthy KP Youth Coalition to design a social norms campaign. The goal of this school-wide campaign was to reduce the use of alcohol, marijuana and nicotine at King Philip Regional High School. As part of her campaign, Bois created visual displays that were posted throughout the school during the year.
- Emily Campbell – The Design and Publication of an App
Campbell designed an app that could be used by lacrosse goalies and field players to record and track their in-game statistics. Campbell used Android Studio, Android App Developers, and the Google Play Console to design and publish her app. This unique app allows users to track and calculate their individual game statistics to be used for personal improvement and/or during the college recruiting process. Campbell’s app is available for download on the Google Play store. She has submitted an application to copyright the design of this app.
- Jason Gonatas – The Financial Dilemma
Gonatas researched topics associated with financial literacy and created a simulator-like game to teach students about personal finance. Gonatas designed all graphics, wrote the script and coded the game to help students learn about topics such as budgeting, bank accounts and loans. The game was enjoyed by students in the school’s financial literacy course, as well as members of the Math Department.
- Jackson Hom – The Benefits of Eating Local and Organic
Hom researched the benefits of eating both locally sourced and organic foods. He worked with White Barn Farm, an organic farm located in Wrentham, to promote eating locally grown organic produce. Hom created informational flyers and supplied samples of produce grown at White Barn Farm during the King Philip High School color run this past fall and during smaller events held at the farm throughout the year.
- Raadhay Patel – The Impact of PFAS in Public Drinking Water
Patel worked closely with the Plainville Department of Public Works to create an infographic to be shared with the public regarding PFAS in the local water supply. PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are man-made and considered “forever chemicals” because they do not break down quickly. His infographic contained information about PFAS, how they are affecting Plainville, what the DPW is doing to address the contamination and how residents could protect themselves. Patel’s infographic was shared with the public and received positive feedback for its effectiveness in communicating information about this public health concern.
- Collin Peck – Cemetery Database for the Town of Norfolk
Peck partnered with the Norfolk Department of Public Works to create a database for its local cemetery. As part of curating the database, he worked with the town to create an app to log data and form a map for each gravestone in the cemetery. Using the app, Peck logged thousands of names, death dates, and pictures of the headstone as well as their specific location in the cemetery. This app provides the public with a way to find and connect with family members buried in the Norfolk Cemetery.
- Alea Shammas – The Role of Educational Materials in Protecting Massachusetts’ Biodiversity
Shammas researched the importance of preserving biodiversity at the local and national levels. She worked collaboratively with the Stony Brook Audubon Society to design illustrative and informational educational tools that detail how to identify four endangered species that reside in Norfolk’s environment. The posters included instructions on how to interact with these at-risk species if they are detected by citizens visiting the Stony Brook Audubon. These beautiful posters will remain on rotational display for visitors of the Stony Brook Audubon to view for years to come
Each of these students’ diplomas will indicate their graduation with distinction status, and they will be recognized during any senior awards ceremony or graduation exercise that the District holds later in the year.
King Philip Regional High School offers two graduation distractions, one in liberal arts and another in STEM. Information regarding Distinction in Liberal Arts recipients was shared earlier this week.
###