Hanna was selected as a Top 30 Finalist from 1,997 applicants nationwide, placing her among the country’s most accomplished middle school student scientists. She will represent Long Beach Schools in Washington, D.C., at the end of October, where she will compete for the opportunity to win $100,000 and other prizes. Hanna’s journey began at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair (LISEF), where her research earned first place. She was one of only eight students from across Long Island to receive this distinction, qualifying her to apply to the highly competitive JIC. She was subsequently named one of the Top 300 Junior Innovators, before advancing to the national Top 30.

Her research, “Investigating Saltwater Intrusion on the Development and Growth of Vigna radiata and Heart Modulation of Daphnia magna,” examines the effects of saltwater intrusion on plant growth and aquatic organisms. The research is particularly meaningful for a student from Long Beach, a coastal community where changing environmental conditions are both relevant and tangible.
“Hanna has demonstrated what it means to think and work like a scientist while leading with excellence and determination,” said Science Research Teacher Kristen Conklin-Kearney.

Hanna’s achievement also highlights the opportunities provided through the Long Beach Schools Science Research Program, where students are encouraged to move beyond learning about science and experience the process of thinking and working like scientists.  Long Beach Schools proudly congratulates Hanna on this outstanding achievement and celebrates the curiosity, ambition, and excellence in science that have brought her to the national stage.