Ethan Sperry, a student at Terre Haute South Vigo High School, was recognized for his research at the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium April 26 - 30 in Albuquerque, N.M.
Sperry was among only 18 nationwide finalists who received recognition at the 44th symposium. He won third place in the Life Sciences category for the project "A Molecular Analysis of Variation within Micro-satellite Loci of a Controlled Population of White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from Southern Maryland."
Sperry advanced to national by placing first in regional competition at Indiana State University in March. His teacher at Terre Haute South is David Drake. He also worked with Rusty Gonser, assistant professor of life sciences at Indiana State, and is currently doing college-level research in the ISU life sciences department's Molecular Ecology and Conservation Genetics Laboratory.
Sperry was the recipient of significant military-sponsored awards. His third- place honors include a $2,000 scholarship. He was also named as an alternate to the prestigious London International Youth Science Forum, to be held July 26 - August 9 at London University. The London Forum is an international scientific and cultural exchange program bringing together more than 400 students from 70-plus nations.
The National Junior Science & Humanities Symposium is sponsored jointly by the United States Army, Navy, and Air Force. Its major goals are to recognize our best and brightest science-oriented students and to encourage their future contributions to the nation?s scientific and technological progress.
The National JSHS Program is administered by the Academy of Applied Science, a non-profit educational organization located in Concord, N.H.
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Contact: Rusty Gonser, assistant professor, life sciences, Indiana State University, (812) 237-2395 or rgonser@isugw.indstate.edu
Writer: Dave Taylor, media relations director, Indiana State University, (812) 237-3743 or dave.taylor@indstate.edu