Paterson students picked as NJ finalists in national Samsung STEM contest
PATERSON — Four students from Paterson’s P-Tech High School are researching whether algae from the Passaic River can be converted into an alternative energy source.
Their work recently won them the honor of being among eight teams picked as New Jersey finalists in a national STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — contest sponsored by Samsung.
The students, all juniors, are Thaddeus Chestnut, Amina Pleasant, Ahzier Clerveaux and Jesus Pimienta Diaz.
“We are tremendously proud of our young scientists who are applying their knowledge of science to solving a problem right here in Paterson, and potentially the world,” said Superintendent of Schools Eileen Shafer. “Knowing that this is the kind of work our students are involved in is its own reward.”
The students’ faculty advisers on the project are chemistry teacher Joyce Waweru, workplace learning teacher Stephanie Peltzer and technology teacher Dilek Demirors, officials said.
As state finalists, the P-Tech team won $2,500 in Samsung products and classroom resources for their school.
National finalists get $50,000 in equipment and resources for their schools, and the national winners get $100,000, according to Samsung.
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The other New Jersey finalists are from Bayonne, Belleville, East Orange, Howell, Pennsauken, Princeton and Woodcliff Lake.
In 2020, a team from Paterson’s School 8 was one of four from New Jersey that made it to the national competition, and in 2017 a team from John P. Holland Charter School in Paterson made it as national finalists.
Joe Malinconico is editor of Paterson Press.
Email: editor@patersonpress.com
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson NJ students picked as finalists in Samsung STEM contest
